Moral Lying

[Alveus Lacuna]

This passage comes from the Benedicta Ward translation of The Sayings of the Desert Fathers:

A brother went out to the cell of Arsenius in Scetis, and looked in through the window, and saw him like fire from head to foot.  (He was a brother worthy to see such sights.)  When he knocked, Arsenius came out, and saw the brother standing there amazed, and said to him, 'Have you been knocking long?  Did you see anything?'  He answered, 'No.'  After talking with him, Arsenius sent him on his way.

As an aside to our resident doubting-Thomas Asteriktos, I just wanted to point to this as another example of 'moral lying' within Christianity, one of his noted contradictions in the Christian faith.  

[Asteriktos]

As an aside to our resident doubting-Thomas Asteriktos, I just wanted to point to this as another example of 'moral lying' on Christianity, one of his noted contradictions in the Christian faith

I found out a few years ago that some people really dislike that concept! My Roman Catholic uncle came to visit shortly after my first daughter Athanasia was born. Since he is a pious Roman Catholic, I thought he would appreciate hearing the story of St. Athanasia, someone I assumed his Church would also consider a saint. Well, I got to the point in the story where Athanasia dresses up like a man to trick some monks, and he just about exploded. "Why did she lie?" he demanded in an obviously perturbed tone. His wife diffused the situation before it went any further.

I wouldn't say that righteous lying is so much a contradiction as an evidence that morality calls for contextual judgment, and morality is not as cut and dry as some Christians would like to believe.

[Alveus Lacuna]

I wouldn't say that righteous lying is so much a contradiction as an evidence that morality calls for contextual judgment, and morality is not as cut and dry as some Christians would like to believe.

I absolutely agree.  I just got into an argument with my wife a week or two ago about moral lying, and how lying is necessary and acceptable in many situations.

[Salpy]

This topic was split off from the following thread:

http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php/topic,24005.0.html

[Alveus Lacuna]

What does this thread have to do with Oriental Orthodoxy?  Shouldn't it be moved to Faith Issues?

Also, can you please leave the first portion of the post in the initial thread, as it was pertinent to the topic of supernatural manifestations being discussed?  Thanks! 

[Salpy]

What does this thread have to do with Oriental Orthodoxy?  Shouldn't it be moved to Faith Issues?

Also, can you please leave the first portion of the post in the initial thread, as it was pertinent to the topic of supernatural manifestations being discussed?  Thanks! 

You were the one who posted it in the OO section.  You tell me what it has to do with Oriental Orthodoxy.     Are you implying that OO's don't lie?  That would sound like my mom:  "Armenians don't lie."   

If you want, I'll move it, but I would have to move the whole thing, including the initial post, as it started the whole exchange.  If you want, you can repost the passage from Benedicta Ward's book in the Bilocation thread, without the aside about moral lying.

[Alveus Lacuna]

Done and done.

[Salpy]

I see you reposted the passage from Benadicata Ward's book.  Thank you, darling.   

I'll move the thread to Faith Issues.

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OrthodoxChristianity.net > Moderated Forums > Faith Issues (Moderator: Michał Kalina) > Topic: Moral Lying