Does anyone still actually believe that "honesty is the best policy," not just in business and politics, but in sports and social intercourse as well?

We consider most of this "bull" harmless and even think some of it is funny. Almost every humorous situation in a situation comedy is set up by some kind of lie or deception. The humorous part comes with trying to avoid getting caught. It's funny because we can relate to it.

Lies and deceptions that badly damage people are not funny. We call that drama or tragedy. But the half-truths and lies of omission in current situation comedies is indicative of our present sense of integrity as a society.

The half-truths and lies of omission in real life, however, never seem quite as funny. We have much more at stake. Personal fear replaces voyeuristic enjoyment. But there is a much larger implication than most of us consider. Most of the reasons for the fears we carry in this life are due to our separation from God and from fellow men. All lies, no matter how small, increase that separation.

With each passing year of my life in the Untied States, I have witnessed a steady decline of honesty and integrity in every aspect of our culture, from our judicial courts to our basketball courts, from our politicians to our pals, and from our religions to our ruminations. It seemed to proliferate with the "me generation."

This greatest empire of the modern age draws its strength and leadership from the ideal of "united we stand, divided we fall." If we ever do fall, it will be because we have divided ourselves through the unchecked proliferation of lies and deception.

Am I exaggerating all this? I certainly hope so. But anyone can plainly see there is truth in what I say. I point it out not just for patriotic concern, but to make each of us aware of the degree of dishonesty that we take for granted. Without that realization, there can be no change, or even check in the proliferation. And on a personal level, spiritual enlightenment is impossible.

Is this general decline in integrity a world-wide affair? I don't know. I've only lived in the United States, but it does seem to be a global infection, which I believe is the catalyst of global unrest.

Lying becomes a mindless habit. I know, because I once engaged fully in this mode of operation. I didn't realize the extent or impact of my deceptions, and, once I did, I found the habit hard to break.

But once I broke the bonds of acceptable deception, I was surprised how much easier the truth made life in general.

As Aristotle once said: "The least deviation from the truth is multiplied later a thousandfold." Lies are mentally and emotionally exhausting. Every lie we tell seems to lead to another. The cover-up of an initial lie is an ongoing affair, and, after a while, remembering them all becomes a real strain on mental resources that could be put to much better uses. There is infinitely more peace, security, and positive creativity in the truth.

Some of us are so ignorant of the true effect of lying that they actually think they get away with it whenever they aren't challenged. Sometimes they do appear to get away with it, but every lie eventually circles like a buzzard to nip at its creator's head.

Gentlemen of real quality lie very little, and they seldom see any benefit in challenging liars, because ironically the more a person lies, the more they deny that they lie, and the more likely they are to "swear to God" about it. So it is the liar that accepts a liar. Birds of a feather flock together, and birds of a fine feather wing gently away.

(An excerpt from A Higher Good.)

Learn more about this author, Ron Kruger.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about The consequences of lying?
We want to hear your view. Write now!