What Makes a Decent Human Being?

The religious would have you think that you can’t be decent unless you have the same thoughts and beliefs as they do.  But, I submit that they’re wrong.  Hypocrisy knows no bounds when immoral people are involved.

Of course, we all lie.  See Pamela Meyer: “How to spot a liar” on YouTube here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_6vDLq64gE and then you can realize that something innate is very difficult to eliminate.  Lying is a human trait.  It probably will never be eliminated, but we can learn to deal with some of it.

The problem is when a “white lie” which can be something unimportant such as answering the question, “Honey, do I look fat in this dress?” turns into a serious lie like “No, I didn’t steal that car.” Or, “I did not have sex with that woman…” (President Bill Clinton).

Some of the least trusted people are salespeople.  Sometimes, they are forced to lie or are duped into lying about a product just to sell it.  And, of course, this discourse wouldn’t be complete without mentioning politicians who lie to get elected and then do as they please, or worse, as other bid them to do.  Many taking money, lots of money, in the process.

Let’s bring religion into the picture.  As we are seeing with the Clergy Project, there are many members of the clergy who have lost their beliefs and still stand in front of their congregation and preach the gospels.  Here are men and women who are deliberately lying to people because they don’t know of one or are unwilling to find a way out.  I realize they are trapped in a situation that seems like there is no way out and am willing to give them a pass with this caveat:  They must work to find a solution to the problem to regain their credibility.

Here’s the biggest rub:  I have seen average everyday people who claim to be religious on Sunday (or whatever day they call holy) who will then become the most aggressively dishonest people the other days of the week.  Everyone knows at least one person like this.  AND, as long as they’re forgiven before they die, they get into heaven.  HUH?  And yet, someone who lives a very moral, yet secular, life cannot get there unless they truly believe.  DOUBLE HUH?!

So, decency seems to be in short supply at times and learning to avoid those who lack common human morality is critical today.  It’s even more difficult in the digital age where all we know of them are words on a screen.

I submit that almost every religion encourages lying, cheating and stealing because their foundations are built on the biggest lie of all.

Walk the Path in Grace