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                               %REQUIRED DISHONESTY 870602

     Conventional  wisdom  says  that it  is  evil  to  be
dishonest for evil reasons, but that it is permitted to be
dishonest for good reasons.

     If dishonesty is truly an acceptable means to achieve
a good cause there must be occasions when a good cause can
not  be  achieved  without  use  of  the  means  of  being
dishonest.

     If  a good cause can not be achieved without the  use
of the means of dishonesty, it is clear that dishonesty is
then required; it would then be evil to be honest.

     When  righteousness  is conceived  as  conformity  to
respectable  codes  of conduct  it  becomes  difficult  to
maintain  that conception as having integrity;  especially
in  the  light of abundant evidence  that  the  conception
usually    leads    to   both   personal   and    communal
disintegration.

     People who put their ultimate faith in the conception
of  righteousness-via-conformity must maintain their faith
by  all  legitimate means;  including the means  of  being
dishonest when it serves a good cause.

     It  is obviously good to maintain the  respectability
of one's chosen god.

     If  dishonesty is an acceptable means,  it is good to
be dishonest in the service of keeping god respectable.

     If  god is not powerful enough to defend himself,  it
is  our  duty  to be dishonest in defending him  from  the
attacks of evil men.

     Each step seems reasonable as it is taken on the path
to  disintegration,  but when the whole path is seen as  a
whole, it is clear that the reasons lack integrity because
dishonesty  as  a  means lacks integrity and leads to  the
loss of integrity.

     Dishonesty  can  not be used as a  means  to  promote
personal or personal integrity.

     Dishonesty  is an essence of evil.   Evil behavior is
behavior   which   leads  to  personal   and/or   communal
disintegration:   alienation, estrangement, misunderstand-
ing, resentment,  anger, manipulation, control, deception,
etc.

     Taboos,  collusions,  traditions, institutions,  etc.
which  call  upon people to be dishonest in their  service
are calling upon people to engage in evil behavior.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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