"If you're a Christian, what do you think of telling little white lies, particularly when they seem to make people feel better (No, I really do like your new haircut)?" - From Musicisoxygen

I don’t know if I’m still Christian.  I'd like to start by saying that I don't think being a Christian should have anything to do with this question.  True, it implies a certain moral code (i.e. lying is a sin), but I would expect people that answer this question that hold to that moral code to explain that in their entries.

Having said that, I don't know if telling white lies is right or wrong. I think that there are thousands of situations where a person might tell a white lie, and that each situation should be analyzed separately. I guess this question goes back to my discussion of ethical perspectives in an earlier post.

But she didn't really ask if it's right or wrong, did she? The question asks what I think of telling white lies.  So here's my answer.  Telling white lies is cowardly. When you tell somebody that you like their new haircut better, when in fact you think it needs to be trimmed up again, you are choosing to avoid the negative consequences of being honest. You are hiding from what could happen if you told the truth.  Maybe you're avoiding hurting your friend's feelings.  Maybe you're avoiding starting a fight. Regardless of the situation, telling that lie is simply a way for you to manipulate the situation to your advantage.