Saturday, April 19, 2008

two categories of hypocrisy

The common definition of hypocrisy is someone not doing what they say.

One well-publicized category of it is that of Christians, or any other person who doesn't keep quiet about morality, not living their lives as perfectly as they say they should.

But there's also a second category. In this category, people don't claim at all to live in accordance with their religious "beliefs" or even to "take them seriously" (literal Hell, anyone?). Yet they attend services, sing songs, feign prayers, and always expect the other guy to volunteer. They silently dismiss any mutterings they hear about taking up crosses.

In the first category, well-meaning people make mistakes like everyone else as they struggle to put their difficult beliefs into practice. In the second category, people openly do as they like while telling bald lies to themselves and others about their feelings, commitments, and loyalties. Which is worse?

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