Lies of omission: silence as dishonesty & deception
Posted: 23 Jun 2012
A lie of omission is a method of deception and duplicity that uses the technique of simply remaining silent when "speaking the truth would significantly alter the other person's capacity to make an informed decision".
I often ask, can an "Age of Truth" ... the Brahma Kumaris' "Sat Yuga" (meaning the age of purity and truth) ... be built on lies? Does a "pure" god ... can a "pure" god or an "Ocean of Truth" as they call theirs ... lie and deceive to achieve its aims? Or support lying and deceiving amongst its adherents to achieve its aims?
I remember the family of one of the leading Western BK pioneers once accused the BKs of doing only one thing ... teaching their son to lie. Here is how the "art of silence", and controlling what adherents say or don't say, can be misused.
Let's define "lies of omission".
A lie is simply defined:
Less obvious than the others, a "lie of omission" is to remain silent when personal morals, ethics, professional or even legal responsibilities call for one to speak up.
A lie of omission is a method of deception and duplicity that uses the technique of simply remaining silent when speaking the truth would significantly alter the other person's capacity to make an informed decision.
There is also the common misconception that 'intentional deception by silence' has no consequences. To that get out clause the BKs believe, "remembering Baba whilst one does it" also removes any bad karma.
Lying is a learned or taught habit. We can learn it through example of those we look up to. To the Brahma Kumaris leadership, it appears acceptable to lie when it is convenient, or for their perceived benefit. Said often enough, their lies, their omissions, and their deviances from the truth become "truth" and are repeated by their followers.
To the BKs, a lie is not a lie ... it is just a misunderstanding. They want you to misunderstand them and what they are really about.
I often ask, can an "Age of Truth" ... the Brahma Kumaris' "Sat Yuga" (meaning the age of purity and truth) ... be built on lies? Does a "pure" god ... can a "pure" god or an "Ocean of Truth" as they call theirs ... lie and deceive to achieve its aims? Or support lying and deceiving amongst its adherents to achieve its aims?
I remember the family of one of the leading Western BK pioneers once accused the BKs of doing only one thing ... teaching their son to lie. Here is how the "art of silence", and controlling what adherents say or don't say, can be misused.
Let's define "lies of omission".
A lie is simply defined:
- 1) To make a statement that one knows to be false, especially with the intend to
deceive.
2) To give a false impression.
3) Anything that gives or is meant to give a false impression.
- 1) Derail: To change the subject of discussion in order to avoid the truth (for example, one might pretend to be offended in order to stop a conversation about one's questionable actions).
2) Confuse: quibble or confuse the issue, or deliberately use ambiguity in order to deceive or mislead.
3) Misinform: To invent or perpetrate a false story with the intent to deceive or mislead.
Less obvious than the others, a "lie of omission" is to remain silent when personal morals, ethics, professional or even legal responsibilities call for one to speak up.
A lie of omission is a method of deception and duplicity that uses the technique of simply remaining silent when speaking the truth would significantly alter the other person's capacity to make an informed decision.
The biggest lie about lies: a lie of omission Is not a lie!
A lie of omission is the most insidious, most pervasive, and most common lie on the entire planet. Commonly, those who use this type of lie, have conned themselves into believing that to intentionally remain silent when ethical behavior calls for one to speak up is not a lie at all. In spite of overwhelming evidence that their silence deceives, misleads, and often causes untold grief and misery, they refuse to speak the truth.
There is also the common misconception that 'intentional deception by silence' has no consequences. To that get out clause the BKs believe, "remembering Baba whilst one does it" also removes any bad karma.
- Lies of commission (telling a lie), and
Lies of omission (withholding the truth)
are both acts of intention deception.
Lying is a learned or taught habit. We can learn it through example of those we look up to. To the Brahma Kumaris leadership, it appears acceptable to lie when it is convenient, or for their perceived benefit. Said often enough, their lies, their omissions, and their deviances from the truth become "truth" and are repeated by their followers.
To the BKs, a lie is not a lie ... it is just a misunderstanding. They want you to misunderstand them and what they are really about.