Advanced Search

Just Bending the Truth?


Question:

Why should we tell the truth? I realize that civilized society has accepted not to lie (in principle at least). But does Judaism offer a reason “Why not lie?” I honestly thank you!



AskTheRabbi.org answered:

Obviously you are talking about a lie that does not hurt anyone, where the only immorality is that it is not true. In order answer what is wrong with such a lie, permit me to pose a different question. Why are we here and why is there a world?

This question is asked by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzattoand in the writings of other great Jewish scholars and philosophers. The gist of what they say is the following: The purpose of Creation is kindness. God wants to bestow the greatest possible good upon us. The ultimate and greatest good is God Himself, and therefore, the ultimate good is closeness to God. Closeness to God requires compatibility and similarity to God. Therefore beings must have free will and not be created already similar, as this would be dissimilar to God (i.e. God acts because He chooses to do so, not because He is coerced).

Therefore, we must be in a world in which there is choice so that we can try to be as "God-like" as possible. The good has to be internal, not external, just as God is intrinsically good. The only way to internalize and be intrinsically good is to do it through challenge and free will, and therefore this world was created.

Now, God is perfect, which means He is the ultimate reality, i.e., True. Lies, on the other hand, do not parallel reality; therefore, they distance us from the reality of God, make us incompatible and negate our relationship with Him.


Similar Questions
Philosophy > Ethics
Changing a Character Trait
Revenge
Dog Euthanasia
Judging Others
Chutzpah or Love?
Kosher Speech
The Candy Truth
Funeral Etiquette
"Lying"
The Need for Torah
Forgiveness
Persuasion and Business Ethics
German Coins
"Fixing the World"
Business Ethics and Job Security
Splurging
Long Time No See!
Charity Boxes
Does the End Justify the Means?
Nisyonot ("Tests") in Life
Bringing God into the Workplace
Abortion & Pro Life
Harry Potter
Courage
Does the End Justify the Means?
Stoppping a Food Thief
Why Not Watch TV?
Am I a Bad Jew?
Trusting in God & Medical Treatment
Global Warming
Saving Lives
Obligation to Vote
An Honest Broker
The Silent (Mis)treatment
What is "Humility"?
Wisdom
Directing a TV Advertisement
The Torah Work Ethic
Persuasion
Award for Excellence
The $98,000 Question
You Don’t Be the Judge
An Honorable Mention
The Merchant of Vegas
I-Sight
Color-Blind
A Light Unto the Nations
Collection Agency
"Too Nosey"
Quality of Life
A Moral Dilemma
Unstamped Postage Stamp
The Golden Ticket
Tell Me Something New
Healthy Hypocrisy
The Ten Tenets
Euthanasia for Animals
Lighting the Way
Rental Ethics
Winning by a Nose
What to Tell the Patient
Can I Really Make a Difference?
Benefit of the Doubt
Living It Up
Perpetuating a Loved One
Racism
A Cure for the Incurable
Guilt Feelings for the Guilty?
Friends
“Morality and Haughtiness”
Business Ethics
Employment Ethics
What Would America Do?
The Baltimore Riots
“The Eleventh Commandment”
Honesty is the Best Policy
Hypocrisy?
Jaywalking
A Family Dilemma
Honor
“White Lie”
Criticism
A Time to Return
Embarrassing in Public
Lying
A Carpet Caper
Educational Ethics - Making Grade
Using Ma’aser Money
“Eyes Only”
Freedom of Speech
Have a question?
 
Gateways - Your Key to Jewish Continuity

AskTheRabbi.org is a service of the Gateways Organization © 2024
Technical problems? Please contact the AskTheRabbi Support team