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Do you classify a lie by omission as being less, equally, or more severe than a lie committed with an intentional untruth?

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pjmom23
pjmom23
Marked as Best! November 17, 2009 12:47 AM
I classify a lie by omission as being equally bad if that lie was done with intentional omission. If, however the lie was something that was done, and the person comes back and tells me, "Oh, I forgot, I should have said that I did this when I said I didn't". This person wants my forgiveness for their omission, and of course I am going to treat that lie as less severe, and try my best to forgive them right then. However, if I find this person omits on a regular basis, then asks me for forgiveness all the time for those omissions, I am going to think they are intentionally manipulating circumstances, and are more in line with deliberate liars, and should be treated as such.
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experience with liars
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silverhamm...
silverhamm...
November 17, 2009 01:49 AM
Lying is lying. Doesn't matter how you color it or try to justify it. If you aren't going to be honest either say so or keep your mouth shut and stay out of it.
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pjmom23
pjmom23
November 17, 2009 12:25 PM
You are right. Lying is lying. But I am not God. Only He can see things in black and white, and truly punish the liars for their behavior. When in your life can you say there was NEVER a time you didn't lie? We have all sinned and come short of the glory and perfection of our Heavenly Father, and I choose to see things this way about lies, because I find it makes forgiveness a reality for me.
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thebandit
thebandit
November 17, 2009 10:58 PM
It depends on the kind of lie, just as an intentional untruth would be. So in one sense, that means I treat them the same. A white lie by omission isn't so bad, but then, an intentional white lie wouldn't be either. And a major lie of omission is just as bad as an intentional major lie.

But if you look at it a certain way, almost all conversation is lying by omission. Suppose someone asks you about work. You've probably got a whole lot that you could say, and that would color your opinion, but that you obviously don't. So in that way, lies by omission, if not "better," are more inevitable.
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