A young mother or a young father might tell a story to their children about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy. Mothers and Fathers tell and read these stories to their children all of the time just like their mothers and fathers and their mothers and fathers. These are stories, told each year giving a child hopes and dreams. Is it a lie? I do not think so, because when a child comes to an age and figures out there is only a story of a Santa Claus, a Saint Nick, the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy, it is time for them to understand these are stories carried by traditions year after year. Explain to the child, yes from traditions long ago, there was a Santa Claus, an Easter Bunny and a tooth fairy. Does a child feel hurt, and think his parents lied to him? No, as it is very important to explain the responsibilities of Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny and how these traditions have been honored and celebrated for many years. The morality of lying can depend on several things; one of these is an act of self-interest or an act of selfishness. The use of words takes on different meanings. To forgive one from lying, you need to determine the morality of a person “lying” or the use of words in an act of deception, the purpose of the lying and the consequences or harm this can bring about, in order to understand why the person acted in deception is then when you can forgive one from lying. To forgive you need to ask yourself were the motives of the person lying egoistic or altruistic. Did this create harmony or disharmony? Did this satisfy the liar and the interest of others? Will the person lying or causing a deceptive act ever know the harm this has caused.
I think all human beings have a moral duty or obligation to be honest and not lie. To be honest and not lie allows for trust, and does not bring harmful