Did the WT Policy on Lying Bother You When You Were a JW?

by Sea Breeze 15 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Sea Breeze

  Here's the WT standard for lying:
  
  "While malicious lying is definitely condemned in the Bible, this does not mean that a person is under obligation to divulge truthful information to people who are not entitled to it" - Insight pp. 244-245

  vs. Websters Dictionary:
  
  

  LIE, noun

  1. A criminal falsehood; a falsehood uttered for the purpose of deception; an intentional violation of truth.

  Watchtower seems to say that it is OK to lie as long as it is not "malicious". Of course, the liar gets to decide if he is malicious or not.
• 

  Ding

  They turn it into a virtue -- theocratic war strategy.

  It will probably come in handy during Armageddon.
  
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  TTWSYF

  When I heard “Lying for the Truth”

  I immediately thought, how sad that a person could be fooled like that. If that doesn’t wake you up, then no history of false prophesy could ever.

  ttwsyf
• 

  Rattigan350

  And the problem with this is what?
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  TTWSYF

  Well Rati, The problem is

  It’s false.

  it’s not true

  Its a lie

  Basing real world decisions on how you live and die (hello, blood doctrine, college, friends/family/associations)

  TTWSYF
• 

  Sea Breeze

  Here's the one the got my attention as a kid:
  
  Householder: Are you trying to change my religion?
  
  Dad: No we are just here encouraging bible reading

  A few years later:

  Dad: Son are you smoking marijuana?

  Me: No, of course not. I'm just taking anti-anxiety medication.
• 

  carla

  My jw said it was a lie I was telling when I first told him about the policy. Then I said to see for himself and he sputtered and danced around it trying to change the subject. Then I asked him who the father of lies was and that pretty much ended the conversation, at least for that day.

  That was years ago. Today? I ask who is 'entitled' to the truth? he will then try to bring up governments, spies, etc... to say, "see? they have legitimate reasons to lie too"
• 

  HereIam60

  I never viewed it as "permission" to lie. Although they state "a person is not obligated to give truthful information to those not entitled to it..", they stop short of saying they may give false information. The implied course of action is that one should remain silent, but I'm sure there are those who take it beyond that...
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  Balaamsass2

  It always rubbed me the wrong way. 100% unscriptural. As the years rolled on, it became a keystone belief with Watchtower HQ in dealing with governments and even publishers.
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  TonusOH

  Telling your wife "no, that dress doesn't make you look fat" is an acceptable lie, as it may prevent severe injury or even death. And, by the time you get to that part of your life, she probably knows you're lying and only asked the question to help to remind you of where you stand.

  Telling a prospective Bible study target that they're not a prospective Bible study target is a good way to guarantee that, at some point, they'll realize you lied to them. And, if they ever have questions or doubts, they will not be able to trust a JW to help them, because they know JWs will lie to them to keep them in the fold. "Lying for the Truth" just doesn't have a very good ring to it.