16 “You must not tell lies about other people. Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) Exodus 20:16
Living Bible (TLB) 16 “You must not lie.
Exodus 20:16The Message (MSG)16 No lies about your neighbour
(Ex. 20:16) Bearing false witness against another was considered to be a very serious offense in the eyes of the great Judge, God. He was to receive the punishment he sought to have inflicted upon another.
gl, if you state something as a fact when you cannot prove it to be true even if you believe it to be true then you are either a liar or a fool. Since you claim the bible to be true in all respects even when it contradicts itself then you must be telling an untruth which means that you are contavening the laws of the bible. Something of a 'Catch 22' situation don't you think?
The bit LyndaB is referring to is included in the Ten Commandments and relates specifically to bearing false witness against your neighbour. Nothing there about any other sorts of lies.
Jomifl - you say "if you state something as a fact when you cannot prove it to be true even if you believe it to be true then you are either a liar or a fool"
What evidence do we have for much of history, other than it was recorded. Stories in the papers - can we prove them? No they are just recorded and taken as facts.
Your comment means we are all liars or fools!
Grass, that would depend if we believe everything we read, without question. I think people make their own judgements in each case- often depending on who or where the story has come from. Most of us would take a newspaper article, for example, with a pinch of salt. It is likely to be only one side of the story and slanted towards the beliefs of the writer- as with anything.
Yes Pixie is right, take Richard III for example. According to the Tudors ( no axe to grind there) he was a nephew murdering usurper with a tendency to drown his brother in a vat of Malmsey before murdering his ailing wife so he could marry his neice. According to the Richard III society he was just an honest bloke trying to do the right thing and who was a bit misunderstood.