Why is it that the people who claim to be the most moral are the most dishonest?

Question

Have you ever noticed how those who proclaim their morality are often the ones who are the most dishonest? The ones who lie, cheat, etc?

There is evidence supporting this:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21820808/

This is a prime example of why people of faith have it backwards. You are good person if you do good things. Believing you are a good person doesn't mean that what you do is good. Rely on evidence, not belief.

What do you say?

Mr. Taco:

Um...where did I proclaim my own morality? I said nothing about my own sense of morality anywhere in this question.

Telling lies isn't a great way to prove a point.

Answer 1

Very true. Actions speak louder than words, remember that old saying from elementary school?

Answer 2

You are generalizing and finding a way to pick on others. Here is a direct quote from your reference

"...a new study finds that a sense of moral superiority can lead to unethical acts, such as cheating. In fact, some of the best do-gooders can become the worst cheats"

Key words, can and some. You are over-generalizing based on an article of dubious value. Being moral righteous is good by design but, yes, some people do make mistakes.

Answer 3

While they cite two examples of pastors, this is not referring only to people of faith:

The researchers found similar results when they surveyed 290 managers, asking them whether they had engaged in 17 workplace "no-no's," including using company services for personal use, padding an expense account and taking longer than necessary to do a job. The managers with moral identities were also most likely to engage in the sketchy office behavior. I think you are misreading the survey and its results to fit your worldview; I am a Christian but I too despair at those in the faith that act like Jim Bakker and Ted Haggard (even before they each got caught). We of faith should be working on our own relationship with God and not worrying as much about others!

"When people have a strong moral identity, they think of themselves as great moral people, their behavior tends to go to the extremes," Reynolds said.

Answer 4

To some extent I agree with you, but I think it is an oversimplification. You can't ignore people who are completely immoral, know they are immoral, don't hide that they are immoral, and do immoral things. And most people who honestly DO avoid cheating and do good works usually know they are doing it. I think the article is right, no doubt, but that doesn't make this a black-and-white issue.

Here's another problem: you are doing it right now. You are proclaiming your moral superiority by claiming not to be one of "those" people who proclaim their morality. Hmm...

Answer 5

There are always those who call themselves good who are not. In ALL walks of life, not just faith-based. They are taking some extreme examples of this. But, I will agree that satan disguises himself as an "angel of light" and does his work through those who are prone to turn from good to bad.
All people of faith don't do this. The Bible says "No man is good. Not one." The only good one is God. We are all sinners in need of a Savior. Just because some "good" people don't do good, doesn't mean we all are that way. That's pretty much generalizing it, isn't it? "People of faith have it backwards" It sounds like you are saying everyone who claims to be a Christian isn't. That is just not true, and not a fair statement, only based on this one article you are posting, you are saying everyone who calls themself good fits into this category. I don't think so.

Answer 6

I say this is a generalisation used by someone who is wanting to justify not wanting to be accountable for their own actions. (Denying the one who says do not commit adultery frees one up do commit adultery while pointing the finger at hypocrites as a justification for their own action.) This applies to many areas but it is more often than not applies to sexual related morality.

Answer 7

yes, i know it long time ago.
the reason is given in the article.

edit: this quote is getting from a book. "if the person who tell you about morals, he is not a moral man, he just want to control your actions. A moral person don't go around tell other how moral are them."

Answer 8

The guilty party usually talks the loudest. Humans have this bad habit of trying to talk a good game when they aren't playing fair in order to try to justify themselves/convince themselves they play fair/try to make others believe they are fair.

Answer 9

It is not always so! It's unfortunate that there are cases of cheating, breach of trust etc. in unexpected quarters!

Answer 10

You misinterpreted this. MANY who claim to be most moral are in fact dishonest.
Not all.

“ The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it? "

Jeremiah 17:9