Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nate Lundgren on October 12, 2012 at 8:46pm

One of Bertrand Russell's "ten commandment for atheists" that are obviously just suggestions since there aren't concrete "commandments" for anyone, states that you should not lie to others unless they are exercising tyranny over you.

In this case I believe that suggestion applies. Therefore it would not be immoral to me since the immoral situation was created by the family member and not me.  

I would make this clear to them and then if they still didn't change their moral stance on it, I might feel justified to lie to them. Just depends on who that person is or what the required religious commitments I would have to make, etc.

So, it is not a clear cut situation but what is clear is that the family member that asks such things from their family members is a bigot and intolerant asshole that is not being reasonable or kind. I also agree with what Wayne says about the money and where it would end up.

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Permalink Reply by Ed on October 13, 2012 at 10:25am

"In this case I believe that suggestion applies. Therefore it would not be immoral to me since the immoral situation was created by the family member and not me."

But you're participation in the immoral situation might qualify for "two wrongs don't make a right." The allure of a lot of money makes it tempting and that placing religious conditions on your eligibility might make one vengeful to the point of playing the role. Nonetheless it is still a deception and you have ask yourself about the content of your character. 

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Permalink Reply by Strega on October 12, 2012 at 9:59pm

I'm with Galen.  Sure I would, for a chunk of cash.  I'd be acting, for money.  Substitute Santa for gob and jesus, and it all seems relatively clear.  If someone wants me to perform a little pantomime to get paid a lot of cash... pass the facepaint..

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Permalink Reply by Doug Reardon on October 12, 2012 at 10:38pm

If I do something, I won't feel guilty.  If I'll feel guilty, I won't do something.

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Permalink Reply by Damean Williams on October 12, 2012 at 10:48pm

All depends. Truly the best answer i can think of. All depends.

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Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on October 13, 2012 at 12:14am

I ain't got nuthin' and don't want nothin', so I'm probably not the one to ask --

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Permalink Reply by kOrsan on October 13, 2012 at 2:46am

Hah. I'm with Strega and Galen. Forget the others. Of course I'd lie. Half a million? Hell yes, as soon as they're dead and the money changes hands I'd be openly back to atheist anyway, what's the problem? Would I have any mental anguish? Haha. Come on people, you gotta be emotionally more resilient than that. You're not lying to anyone important. Maybe if I did have some moral qualms for a couple of seconds I could just take a nap on my big pile of money and feel better. You're still true to yourself when you're acting, or do you think actors feel mental anguish when acting out a movie role? They get payed by their company for acting, similarly I'd get payed by the heritage for my acting. There is easy cash to be made in the field of theology and superstition (same thing really). So that's my plan B anyway. If I can't get a good honest job in life and fail, I'll just go and become a priest or imam and suck the sheepy masses dry of their money. It's my safety net.

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Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on October 13, 2012 at 3:00am

And this would be the other --

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Permalink Reply by Ed on October 13, 2012 at 10:10am

"You're not lying to anyone important."

What about yourself?

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Permalink Reply by John Phillips on October 13, 2012 at 5:15am

Christians quote the bible as saying, "the wealth of the wicked is laid up in store for the righteous."

Well I say the wealth of the so-called "righteous" is laid up in store for the so-called "wicked".
Adding religious stipulations to an inheritance is discrimination in some sense.

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Permalink Reply by Byrnes Steel on October 13, 2012 at 6:08am

Yes, I would lie. No doubt in my mind, no matter the situation. And I wouldn't feel guilty, at least not for long.

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Permalink Reply by Wesley on October 13, 2012 at 6:37am

Say you added a stipulation that carried out the lie..   Say the money was in a Trust Fund and you only got it on a monthly basis if you became a preacher and continued to preach the gospel.  If you stopped, so would the money.    You had to make the people believe in you and keep believing in you and not get voted out. 

How many would LIVE this continuous lie for the money?

I know I couldn't do it.

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