Lögn, sanning och heder

När man läser bibeltexter kan det vara till hjälp att ha kännedom om de kulturer där dess olika böcker skrivits. Bloggaren The Busybody skriver om lögn och sanning i skam/hederskulturer:

In Western individualist cultures, the publicly defined self is generally expected to coincide with the privately defined self, while the in-group defined self recedes into the background. In other words, “to speak one way while thinking another” is hypocrisy. But in Mediterranean collectivist cultures, the publicly defined self is generally expected to coincide with the in-group defined self, while the privately defined self recedes into the background. In other words, “to speak one way if it’s not what people expect or want to hear” is dishonorable.

The Busybody: Lying and Deception in Honor-Shame Societies

The Busybody ger sedan ett antal exempel på bibelberättelser där en västerländs förståelse av lögn och sanning inte (säkert) överensstämmer med uppfattningen i hederskulturer. Så är det till exempel i Jesu liknelse om de två sönerna (Matt 21:28-31):

Pilch notes that a group of surveyed Lebanese villagers unanimously agreed that the second son -- who told his father he was going to work in the field, though he did not actually do so -- was the good son. He gave his father a respectful answer and told him what he wanted to hear. The first son -- who refused to work in the field but later went anyway -- was outrageously insulting. Again, appearances are more important than reality. The first son dishonored his father, regardless of his later attempt to rectify the disgrace. The second son lied in order to conceal his failure, thereby honoring his father and giving him face. [...]

The Busybody: Lying and Deception in Honor-Shame Societies

Fler intressanta exempel ges i blogginlägget.