Posted by deirdrehbrt on March 5, 2006, at 12:27:27
In reply to Re: Integrity and Hypocrisy - another twist » deirdrehbrt, posted by Dinah on March 4, 2006, at 20:53:11
Dinah,
I think you might be missing my point.
I'm not judging anyone. I'm not saying we should judge anyone. I'm not saying we should suspect anyone's notives. I'm not saying that following the law is bad. I'm not accusing that pastor that I heard talking of hypocrisy. I'm not saying that following the law is bad.
My point was to try to define the difference between integrity and hypocrisy, and to have a discussion on that.
My question is basically, "why do you do what you do?"
I think, and this is only MY definition, that integrity is doing the right thing for the right reason. That's the nutshell definition, for me.
I wasn't starting a discussion about who's a hypocrite, and who's a saint. I was just looking at definitions.
I CERTAINLY don't believe that obeying the laws, commandments or beliefs of one's religion is wrong. I am saying that if you are doing so just for bragging rights, then maybe you aren't looking deeply enough at the spirit of the law.
So, a practical example might be if I see Joe brown helping a neighbor every day, but then hear him bragging about it at the club every night, and talking about how she gives him a ten-spot whenever he does, I might be tempted to wonder about his motives.
Again, not judging anybody, not saying that following the law is bad. I'm just trying to say that my definition of integrity depends upon motive. Nor was I judging that pastor's motives or integrity, I was merely disagreeing with his definition.
You sounded like you were getting a little upset; that's not the point of this discussion. We're not accusing anybody of anything, nor pointing fingers at anybody's beliefs. Just trying to examine the definitions of integrity and hypocrisy.
poster:deirdrehbrt
thread:614466
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20051105/msgs/616185.html