http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/08/26/hillma.australia.pastor.lies.ninenetwork

Ends vs. means, and all that. Who knows.

We (”we” meaning Christians, as I am one) are quick to latch onto stuff like this (inspiriational songs, stories of “conversion” by famous people, etc) without understanding and verifying the facts. Sad, really.

Great blog… I’m enjoying the conversation… I have no agenda here as a Christian other than to learn more about the perspectives of others.

TG

But let me raise an ethical question: If his song helped many people going through real struggles, does that make his lie any less damaging?

No.

As others have said, there are lots of honest ways to help people. The fact that his story might have temporarily inspired some people does not excuse his actions in any way. In fact, “But I’m helping people feel better” is a the same excuse used by just about every con artist in the world (psychics, faith healers, quack doctors, gurus, cult leaders, etc). We shouldn’t accept that excuse, because the overall harm done by exploiting people’s gullibility greatly outweighs the benefit of temporarily making people feel warm and fuzzy.

Isn’t it a method of psychological torture employed that involves telling a captive he’s free and then returning him to his cell? The anticipated effect of this method is that it breaks the will.

This stunt added to the overall cynicism of the population so that, in the future, the inspiring power of other honest, shining examples of hope/courage/tenacity will be blunted.

But let me raise an ethical question: If his song helped many people going through real struggles, does that make his lie any less damaging?

No. When people found out, the disappointment probably canceled out whatever hope/help it gave in the first place.

The real lesson, of course, is that a religious view that is inconsistent with the observed realities of life will reliably disappoint, over and over, in many more ways than this pastor has disappointed those who looked up to him.

Btw, that oxygen tube part is worse than just wrong.

I abhor using the end to justify the means…

“Then ends justify the means” is a saying I detest; the ends should justify the means. The problem is when the ends don’t justify the means.

As for Guglie’… typical lying Christian.

“If his song helped many people going through real struggles, does that make his lie any less damaging?”

As somebody who was taken to church as a child at least 3 times a week, I say it makes it worse. You have things like this happen all the time at it makes everybody in the faith seem less genuine to you, no matter how powerful their song/message. People want to see genuine people.