At a time when lying has become accepted, even respectable, who among the world’s religious leaders will call all of us to a new place of honest dialogue, asks Good Samaritan Sister Clare Condon.
As a child I was reared to believe and to act from the principle that honesty is the best policy. There was no questioning.
Be honest, was the encouragement of my parents and my educators. Your integrity is more important than any other perceived gains by lying. It seems that over my lifetime, that principle has changed and society now applauds the very opposite: honesty is NOT the best policy.
Whether in society, or with political leadership, business negotiations, sporting fraternities, or the Christian churches’ responses to the sexual abuse crisis, it is clear the standard is now: Get away with what you can. Keep face! Don’t be a loser and definitely don’t be seen to be a loser.
It seems to me that a chief proponent of the lie is the current President of the US, Donald Trump. The Washington Post documented that during his first term as President (2016-20), he made 30,573 false and misleading claims.
It appears his comments are specifically intended to deceive. He is an accomplished and effective liar. He is praised for it. Lying has become respectable. Trump was elected to one of the highest offices in the world not necessarily despite his lies, but because of his lies.
One critic called Donald Trump “a liar in chief.” Tara Setmayer, a former Republican communications director on Capitol Hill, wrote, If you can undermine institutions and credible sources of information you can get away with lying and deceiving people.
Similarly in Australia, at the political level, anything goes in order to win votes. It is acceptable to lie about one’s political opponents, to name call and to canvass lies so that one can be a so-called winner.
Much of the media is driven by the sensational story and ideological divides to push a so-called controversial story. It doesn’t seem to matter whether the story is true or false. If it is controversial and if it can grab the short-term concentration span of the audience, who will care if it is based on facts or lies?
William Damon in an article as far back as January 2012 entitled The Death of Honesty noted: The failure to cultivate virtue in citizens can be a lethal threat to any democracy. It seems to me we are at that critical tipping point where virtue, like honesty, is no longer valued but denigrated as belonging to a former age.
So, what has replaced virtue? Money, status and social and economic advancement are the new gods driving our societies, political elites, business tycoons and powerful leaders. Are we being seduced by the promises of self-interest, individualism and material advancement at the expense of the common good and the wellbeing of the planet and its people?
In last year’s US election, this agenda of self-interest was also the agenda of outspoken white evangelical and Catholic Christians, particularly those who are church attendees on a regular basis, and those who support Christian nationalism (Pew Research Centre). That agenda had very little to do with Gospel values, which are foundational to the ethical behaviour of Christian believers.
I wonder if it is similar for other major religions. There seems to exist a divide between religious affiliation and the core values of the various world religions, not only Christianity.
Research by Population Connection senior manager Pam Wasserman found 85% of the earth’s people identify with a religion: Christian 31%, Islam 24%, Hinduism 15%, Buddhism 7% and Judaism just 0.2%.
All these religions have strong ethical tenets and belief systems.
Judaism: You shall not deal deceitfully or falsely with one another;
Islam: sayings are always truthful and identical to deeds;
Hinduism: truth and truthfulness are considered a form of reverence for the divine;
Christians are challenged in 2 Corinthians 4:2: we refuse to practise cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by open statement of truth, we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.
What has caused this monumental change in the influence of the core values of the major religious traditions, especially in the demise of the practice and support of honesty and the increase in the acceptability of deceit as a way of life, a way of being and a way of leadership?
I think this is a central issue for the leaders of the religions of the world to begin to tackle. They are failing their adherents. It seems they have become part of the divisiveness and cultural wars within society. They are part of the war mongering that confronts the world. They are part of the problem that we all face on a global scale. Who among them will stand up and be prophetic?
Who will call all of us to a new place of honest dialogue, where each human interaction is respected and supported? Is the task too great? Or can each of us find a new way of relating, even on social media.
Is there not place on earth for honest, respectful dialogue which can bring hope to our world and to every one of us?
