When a Lie Is Not a Sin: The Hebrew Bible's Framework for Deciding
The difference between truth and falsehood is often clear and simple. But when life gets complicated, the Hebrew Bible can help.
The Hebrew Bible is true and wants us to tell the truth, even as biblical characters behave in less than truthful ways. What's more, where some of the lies people tell in the Hebrew Bible stories are punished, others are ignored and still others are rewarded. The Hebrew Bible’s mixed-message of "Do as I say, not as they do" shows that lies—little and big, whether told to protect or advance oneself or when intended to preserve the peace—often occur under involved circumstances and demand careful consideration. By viewing an array of situations in light of the Hebrew Bible—from the routine but delicate to the once-in-a-lifetime dilemma—this book will make a difference in how you think and live.
This candid look at religion and truthfulness is ideal for anyone interested in exploring the religious basis for personal decision making, conscience and morality, including Jews of all denominations personally or in Torah study groups, Christians and social justice activists.
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Book details
- Author
- Dennis Ross
- Imprint
- Jewish Lights, an imprint of Turner Publishing Company
- Published
- Formats
- Paperback, Hardcover
- Subjects
- Religion › Judaism
Religion › Ethics - Topics
- Jewish ethics · truth and deception · moral decision-making · Torah · religious morality · biblical storytelling
- ISBN-13
- 9781580238588 (Paperback)9781683364894 (Hardcover)
About the author
RABBI DENNIS S. ROSS is a reproductive rights advocate and the author of All Politics Is Religious: Speaking Faith to the Media, Policy Makers and Community and God in Our Relationships: Spirituality between People from the Teachings of Martin Buber.
Ross serves as director of Concerned Clergy for Choice at the Education Fund of Family Planning Advocates of New York State, a multifaith network of religious leaders from Baptist, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Unitarian Universalist, United Church of Christ, Jewish, Buddhist and Islamic traditions. He also consults to Planned Parenthood on clergy organizing, religion in the media and religious lobbying.
When he’s not writing, Ross speaks regularly on religion and the media at professional conferences, college campuses, houses of worship and health centers. His books draw on that work at the intersection of faith, politics and reproductive rights.