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Would you lie for your religion?

Parsimony

Well-Known Member
Would you tell a lie in support of your religion? Would you fabricate evidence, make up a story, or pass along a story that you knew was false if you felt that doing so would increase the chances of getting someone to convert to your religion (or to keep someone from leaving it?). If not you, then would you feel that someone else telling a lie for the sake of your religion would be justified at all? For example, if a person hoaxed a miracle and said their God did it and you happen to worship that same God, would you consider that a justifiable hoax if such an action won converts? Do you know anyone who would consider such a thing acceptable?
 

Sees

Dragonslayer
Hell no is my answer to all of the questions...sadly the last one being the exception. Apologetics tends to be both lame and deceptive, among other things.
 

Saint Frankenstein

Wanderer From Afar
Premium Member
No. Lying and proselytism are both against the ethics of my religion. Lucifer and the rest of the Gods I revere don't need masses of followers and don't care if humans believe in them. If you have to use deception, that means your beliefs are weak and will easily topple over like a house of cards.
 

LuisDantas

Aura of atheification
Premium Member
Would you tell a lie in support of your religion? Would you fabricate evidence, make up a story, or pass along a story that you knew was false if you felt that doing so would increase the chances of getting someone to convert to your religion (or to keep someone from leaving it?).

Under the appropriate circunstances, I suppose it could happen. But it could only be a failure of mine. It is self-defeating by definition.


If not you, then would you feel that someone else telling a lie for the sake of your religion would be justified at all?

Only very unconfortably and by virtue of some external circunstance - say, if their survival somehow depended on it.


For example, if a person hoaxed a miracle and said their God did it and you happen to worship that same God, would you consider that a justifiable hoax if such an action won converts?

Heck, no.

Do you know anyone who would consider such a thing acceptable?

I prefer not to think much about that, because I fear that I do indeed. I would rather not be certain if I can help it.
 

Brinne

Active Member
Never. I see no need to proselytize; if it's the path for them they'll come on their own accord. Not to mention I absolutely despise lies.
 

Sha'irullah

رسول الآلهة
I have seen apologist lie all the time. It is a staple for religions based upon thousands of years of creed and dominance. The less dominant and dogmatic a religion is the less there is to lie about.
I would not lie about Atheism but then again what is there to lie about.
 

George-ananda

Advaita Vedanta, Theosophy, Spiritualism
Premium Member
Would you lie for your religion?

No I wouldn't, and I don't think you'll find many here who'll say 'Yes'.

There are many people with miracle and spiritual experience claims in my school of thought and experiences with holy figures and I'm quite certain they are not lying as I don't think making up lies is that common.
 

Sha'irullah

رسول الآلهة
Would you lie for your religion?

No I wouldn't, and I don't think you'll find many here who'll say 'Yes'.

There are many people with miracle and spiritual experience claims in my school of thought and experiences with holy figures and I'm quite certain they are not lying as I don't think making up lies is that common.

I made up lies about religious experiences when I was a Christian. I deluded myself into thinking such things and accidently deluded someone else into thinking they had a mystical experience.
Some lie about it and the rest are deluded. It is quite common
 

George-ananda

Advaita Vedanta, Theosophy, Spiritualism
Premium Member
I made up lies about religious experiences when I was a Christian. I deluded myself into thinking such things and accidently deluded someone else into thinking they had a mystical experience.
Some lie about it and the rest are deluded. It is quite common

Delusion is different than lying. 'Lying' as the OP meant it, I don't think is very common.
 

LuisDantas

Aura of atheification
Premium Member
In some cases, sure. But the pressure from proselitism can be very cruel and confusing.

Heck, I should know. I did go through Eucharisty training despite being an atheist. I had to choose often between lying on the spot or going through very awkward situations while there.
 

Sha'irullah

رسول الآلهة
How about in some cases 'neither' (lying nor delusion) as a possibility too? (i.e. genuine)

Yes, in a dark room when nobody is there.

It is good to know though that people think I am stupid enough to accept something on the basis of nothing despite the contradictory holding evidence. If "religious experiences" were true Neuro-science would be set back 2,000 years and it just ain't happening.
 

George-ananda

Advaita Vedanta, Theosophy, Spiritualism
Premium Member
Yes, in a dark room when nobody is there.

It is good to know though that people think I am stupid enough to accept something on the basis of nothing despite the contradictory holding evidence. If "religious experiences" were true Neuro-science would be set back 2,000 years and it just ain't happening.

I feel genuine miracles and spiritual experiences do happen. I can tell already were you're at so we'll have to disagree.
 

Levite

Higher and Higher
Would you tell a lie in support of your religion? Would you fabricate evidence, make up a story, or pass along a story that you knew was false if you felt that doing so would increase the chances of getting someone to convert to your religion (or to keep someone from leaving it?). If not you, then would you feel that someone else telling a lie for the sake of your religion would be justified at all? For example, if a person hoaxed a miracle and said their God did it and you happen to worship that same God, would you consider that a justifiable hoax if such an action won converts? Do you know anyone who would consider such a thing acceptable?

No, to all of the above. I cannot conceive of what possible good that kind if deception could accomplish.

And once again I bless my good fortune that Judaism prohibits active proselytization.
 

Parsimony

Well-Known Member
No I wouldn't, and I don't think you'll find many here who'll say 'Yes'.
True, but I was thinking that perhaps a few might say 'yes' to the idea of a lie being used to save a soul from Hell, you know? Some might consider the ends to justify the means.

By lying I mean intentionally deceiving someone else, not self-delusion.
 

Sha'irullah

رسول الآلهة
I feel genuine miracles and spiritual experiences do happen. I can tell already were you're at so we'll have to disagree.

LIAR! Oops, spoke to soon :D

Yeah, I figured as much. I have dealt with so many people claiming religious experiences and they fall dramatically short and in every case they mention it at the end of an argument when they cannot support the existence of a god logically. They almost always used HIGHLY flawed logic. Most of the people I have dealt with are known liars and the worst of the bunch when it comes to people.
Do not even get me started on Black Baptists and Lutherans who are the pinnacle of liars. I have many in my extended family which ranges from Asian to African and the African side is always the most dishonest. I guess it is because of church roots being established amongst blacks during the early years of enslavement. Long racial issue and I won't get into it now though.

When a religion becomes a emotional support (crutch) it becomes relied upon and lies are almost always established to support that crutch. Depending on the background, culture, gender and ethnicity of a person it really varies
 

George-ananda

Advaita Vedanta, Theosophy, Spiritualism
Premium Member
True, but I was thinking that perhaps a few might say 'yes' to the idea of a lie being used to save a soul from Hell, you know? Some might consider the ends to justify the means.

By lying I mean intentionally deceiving someone else, not self-delusion.

I understand what you mean. I didn't say it never happens just that I think it is not common. True, someone with an exclusivist view of the afterlife would be more likely to entertain lying.
 
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