>It would be interesting to know what the "regular" person actually does with truth telling. <
I would imagine the regular person tells the truth when it does not threaten to cause harm, especially to himself, and lies when he thinks it expedient.
>Is it practical or absolute?<
This is the Great Question, now isn't it? There was a time when a man's word meant more to him than it does today. This is not to say everything was perfect then, but clearly honesty was held in higher regard when compared with how it is held today.
>How great is the average person's distance between the complete truth and what people actually say and do?<
As great as the average person thinks it has to be.
>And what about promises?<
To be broken if necessary.
>What about shading truth so as to not cause greater harm?<
I would imagine the average person considers this the noble lie. If a man once cheats on his wife, with no desire to ever do so again, should he tell her the truth?
It is a horrid position in which to be, for on the one hand the man does not want to cause the terrible anguish to his wife that would surely result were she to know the truth, and on the other he has forever broken his solemn vow to her. It is impossible to repair a vow, once broken. So then in every intimacy he shares with his wife, every action symbolic of utter faithfulness, vulnerability and trust, he will be lying once again.
(I'm interested in opinions here. I personally lean toward telling the truth, groveling for forgiveness, literally making another marriage vow, and living such a way that my sincerest repentance would be obvious. But I would understand how one might think it best to go on living the charade of an unbroken vow.)
Brrrrr. It just seems to me best to avoid lying at all cost because every lie is an attack against another human being-- no adultery, no stealing, even "sampling" at the grocery store or copying software or videos or music tapes or CDs or anything of the sort, no calling in sick and then going fishing, no hooky, no Easter bunnies, chimney hopping Santa Clauses, or Great Pumpkins, no nothing <g>-- tell the truth period, and sleep well at night. |
