How lenient should we be to lies?

[JohnH]

Some of that, I think, is up to us. How do we respond to requests for basic facts? How receptive are we to character assassination?

Also, I do think some things have changed on this forum since that time.

The forum simply isn't set up to be some kind of fact-finding situation where we can go and research people's individual claims. In particular, someone can join this forum and be entirely, completely dishonest about themselves. That sure hasn't changed.

[JohnL]

"Let the lie come into the world, let it triumph, but not through me."

-Alexander Solynitzin in Gulag Archipelago

I really don’t read his works. I’m not really a fan of Russian authors.

What authors do you recommend?

The Bible I always use and recommend. Any other books I let folks choose for themselves because we’re all adults with different personalities and backgrounds.

[ohio jones]

I really don’t read his works. I’m not really a fan of Russian authors.

What authors do you recommend?

The Bible I always use and recommend. Any other books I let folks choose for themselves because we’re all adults with different personalities and backgrounds.

Surely you didn't let your students choose their own reading, did you? What literature did you assign?

[JohnL]

What authors do you recommend?

The Bible I always use and recommend. Any other books I let folks choose for themselves because we’re all adults with different personalities and backgrounds.

Surely you didn't let your students choose their own reading, did you? What literature did you assign?

I’m talking about adults OhioJ. That’s why I said “because we’re all adults.”
To answer your question. When I was a teacher for a few years we had to use the curriculum materials assigned by the districts

[ohio jones]

The Bible I always use and recommend. Any other books I let folks choose for themselves because we’re all adults with different personalities and backgrounds.

Surely you didn't let your students choose their own reading, did you? What literature did you assign?

I’m talking about adults OhioJ. That’s why I said “because we’re all adults.”
To answer your question. When I was a teacher for a few years we had to use the curriculum materials assigned by the districts

So which of those authors do you recommend?

[JohnH]

To answer your question. When I was a teacher for a few years we had to use the curriculum materials assigned by the districts

The lore expands...

[Neto]

A side question from another thread that is no longer worth continuing.

So we disagree. I don't believe it is vindictive to tell the truth but rather the manner in telling the truth can be vindictive. And imo, the continued pursuit of pointing out perceived lies is vindictive. The 'dog with a bone' phrase comes to mind. So, I will not pursue this point any further.

Here's how I see it.

1. If lies are repeated often enough, they become "the truth", what everyone thinks they know.
2. People who lie often attack those who identify lies personally, saying that the only reason they would correct the lie is some personal flaw. We have all seen that at work in cults and some secular settings, including political ones. Words like "vindictive" should be defined so they actually mean something. Nobody feels as persecuted as a liar whose lie has been exposed, that's a vulnerable place to be. But nobody has a God-given right to lie without discovery.
3. We do need to prefer truth to falsehood. In general, lies should be corrected when they are repeated, and if the same lies are told over and over, they need to be corrected over and over. The same standards should be applied to both sides.
4. The language and the spirit of the posts matters, not just the content. For both sides, this should not be applied selectively to the person who is telling the truth.

I really don't know another way to embrace truth on a forum like this.

Are you suggesting that anyone who cares about truth has an obligation to respond and call out untruth whenever it is presented on this forum?
If not, how should one decide which lies to call out and which to let pass unchallenged?

I think it was on MennoDiscuss, but there was a time (possibly in the early time after I signed up) when a couple of members were advocating the idea that Jesus was/is 'just the son of God", not Deity. Not wanting to have 'lurkers' or new forum members think that this heresy was typical of Mennonite belief, I engaged with them, mostly just to put the counter position into the discussion. Then I started doing some research on the forum, and realized that they had presented the same garbage before, and other participants had already given the same 'presentations' that I was writing up myself. So at some point, it becomes really pointless to continue to correct the lies others tell. They just wait awhile and say the same things again.

[JoyE]

I think it was on MennoDiscuss, but there was a time (possibly in the early time after I signed up) when a couple of members were advocating the idea that Jesus was/is 'just the son of God", not Deity. Not wanting to have 'lurkers' or new forum members think that this heresy was typical of Mennonite belief, I engaged with them, mostly just to put the counter position into the discussion. Then I started doing some research on the forum, and realized that they had presented the same garbage before, and other participants had already given the same 'presentations' that I was writing up myself. So at some point, it becomes really pointless to continue to correct the lies others tell. They just wait awhile and say the same things again.

But Jesus' deity is non-negotiable fundamental of the faith. Mightn't that make it worth re-debating again and again?

[JohnH]

But Jesus' deity is non-negotiable fundamental of the faith. Mightn't that make it worth re-debating again and again?

When it's someone isn't even listening, no, although sometimes it's good for the other people who might be listening and reading.

At a certain point... you can identify someone whose only purpose is to cause division and to promote false teaching, and disinvite them from the assembly. They are quite different than a person who is a heathen, publican, and a tax-gatherer.

[R7ehr]

JohnL. Did you post on this forum in the past under the username MaxPC?