Send
Close Add comments:
(status displays here)
Got it! This site "creationpie.com" uses cookies. You consent to this by clicking on "Got it!" or by continuing to use this website. Note: This appears on each machine/browser from which this site is accessed.
Plausible deniability and narcissism
1. Plausible deniability and narcissism
Plausible deniability is the simultaneous presenting of multiple ideas using one statement whereby one idea is intended but the other similar idea provides a level of deniablity if questioned.
Although first applied to government officials, pastors can use the same deceptive techniques.
Some have connected narcissism or "
love of self" with the use of "
plausible deniability".
Note that plausible deniability often uses other logical fallacies and/or deceptions.
2. TrueCrypt
TrueCrypt is/was free open-source software for on-the-fly encryption.
The web site is (still in 2024) at
http://www.truecrypt.org/ (as of 2006-09-11) (original reference). TrueCrypt can still be used (at risk of not being secure). On May 28, 1014, for same reason, support was dropped. A follow-on system is called VeraCrypt at
https://www.veracrypt.fr/en (as of 2024-03-05). Some of the design ideas of TrueCrypt, however, are still useful.
The plausible deniability feature worked (or was supposed to work) as follows.
One can obviously determine that there is encrypted data on a drive.
One can hide a encrypted volume in an encrypted volume.
If forced to provide the key to the encrypted volume, the other person looking would see the (innocent) decrypted files but not know that there is an encrypted volume within the encrypted volume.
This provides a level of plausible deniability.
3. Gaslighting
The word "
gaslight" comes from the 1944 film
Gaslight.
An idea similar to "
plausible deniability" is that of "
gaslighting" which can be defined as "
manipulating someone into questioning their perception of reality".
A common definition used by most people today is that "
gaslighting" is a form of "
lying".
Jesus, Paul, Peter, etc., in the
GNT (Greek New Testament), talk a lot about
deception by many different means. Many of these warnings have been changed through the Latin and English such that they are no longer apparent.
4. Philippians 2:14
Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: [kjv]
παντα ποιειτε χωρις γογγυσμων και διαλογισμων [gnt]
… murmurationibus … haesitationibus [v]
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul has some interesting advice. First the verse before. Many words, such as
"murmurings" are onomatopoetic in that the sound like what they describe. The word appears to mean
"side conversations" involving "
personal opinion" in general and
not complaining or "
grumbling"
The "
disputings" is that of "
logical arguments" or, literally, "
through reasoning".
Now the next verse that has the "
harmless".
5. Appearance of light
Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; [kjv]
ινα γενησθε αμεμπτοι και ακεραιοι τεκνα θεου αμωμα μεσον γενεας σκολιας και διεστραμμενης εν οις φαινεσθε ως φωστηρες εν κοσμω [gnt]
… querella … simplices … lucetis … luminaria … mundo [v]
The Greek for "blameless" is "without spots" as in "not using personal opinion". The Latin is "without complaint".
The Greek for "harmless" is "without horns" or "without tittles" as in "not using extra rules". The Latin is "simple" or "harmless".
The Greek for "shine" here is "appear". The Latin is "shine".
In Philippians, Paul is pointing out that the church leadership is using "
personal opinion" and/or "
extra rules" for their own "
glory" or "
opinion" (same word) and not for the "
glory" or "
opinion" of Christ.
6. True light of reality
Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. [kjv]
There is only
one "
reality". There are many
perceptions of "
reality".
The "light" is the "true light" or "truth" or "reality".
The "false light" is "darkness" or "false reality" which does not exist.
The "
reality" or "
true reality" (Jesus) will
not "pass by". Any "
false reality" is a
perception and can take two forms of
deception that will
"pass by".
Added rules/requirements: "invalid logic" as in "antennas" or "horns" or "tittles".
Added opinion/glory: "empty opinion" as in "spots" or "iotas" or "jots".
7. Plausible deniability definition
Saying: No evidence, no crime = plausible deniability.
The important thing is that we maintain plausible deniability. Richard Nixon.
Wikipedia:
Although plausible deniability has existed throughout history, the term was coined by the CIA in the early 1960s to describe the withholding of information from senior officials to protect them from repercussions if illegal or unpopular activities became public knowledge. (as of 2024-03-04)
8. Lies
There are a terrible lot of lies going about the world, and the worst of it is that half of them are true. Winston Churchill (British statesman)
How might one determine what is true and what is not true?
9. Ignorance of the law
Ignorance of the law is no excuse in any country. If it were, the laws would lose their effect, because it can always be pretended. Thomas Jefferson (American statesman, diplomat, scientist and 3rd President of the United States from 1801-1809) .
Such ignorance is sometimes called "
plausible deniability".
10. University presidents
Having worked in a number of universities, including some where my position required me to interact with administration more than regular faculty, I observed the following.
The better presidents (job wise, not character wise) were those who could talk smoothly and present multiple viewpoints of the same ideas at the same time so that people listening would hear what they wanted to hear. If questioned later, the president would have plausible deniability.
11. False teachers
Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. [kjv]
το επιεικες υμων γνωσθητω πασιν ανθρωποις ο κυριος εγγυς [gnt]
modestia … [v]
Although first applied to government officials, pastors can use the same deceptive techniques.
Jesus does appear to describe an accountability for such deception where "
idle words" that do not "
work for Christ" may need to be "
accounted for" and, if not done satisfactory, constitutes an "
unpardonable sin".
12. Philippians 4:5
KJV: Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Greek: το επιεικες υμων γνωσθητω πασιν ανθρωποις ο κυριος εγγυς
Latin: modestia vestra nota sit omnibus hominibus Dominus prope
Wycliffe: Be youre pacyence knowun to alle men; the Lord is niy.
Luther: Eure Lindigkeit lasset kund sein allen Menschen. Der Herr ist nahe.
Spanish: Vuestra modestia sea conocida de todos los hombres. El Señor está cerca.
13. Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. [kjv]
μακαριοι οι καθαροι τη καρδια οτι αυτοι τον θεον οψονται [gnt]
beati mundo corde … videbunt [v]
Ivory Soap is
99.44% pure and it
floats! That specific number appears to have resulted due to a rounding error in calculations that was then adopted as part of a marketing slogan. [chaos theory]
In the Beatitudes, Jesus talks about the
"pure" or
"clean" in
"heart" and
"seeing" God.
What does it mean to be "pure" or "clean" in "heart"?
What does it mean to "see" God?
It appears that
"pure" in
"heart" refers to not having any ulterior motives used to do "
evil" as in "
oppress" others.
The important words are
"blessed",
"pure",
"heart" and
"see"
This should be answered in the sense of the Beatitudes and not in a general or otherwise sense.
14. Romans 16:18 Simple
Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. [kjv]
οι γαρ τοιουτοι τω κυριω ημων χριστω ου δουλευουσιν αλλα τη εαυτων κοιλια και δια της χρηστολογιας και ευλογιας εξαπατωσιν τας καρδιας των ακακων [gnt]
Paul makes a play on words of the Greek "
Christ" and "
good" as in "
useful" words. The Greek for "
fair speeches" as in "
good words" or "
eulogies" is, in the Latin, "
sweet sermons".
The
KJV (King James Version) uses "
simple" or, in Greek, "
not bad", to describe those who want to do the right thing but that can be easily led astray by false teachers. The Latin is that of "
innocent". Those who are "
innocent" tend to give others, including
deceivers, the benefit of the doubt.
15. Plausible deniability
Plausible deniability allows the excuse that "
it was not meant to be that way". If not, why not make that clear from the start rather than only if questioned when something might be ambiguous. Ambiguous phrases:
Become more like God every day.
Become more like Jesus every day.
Discuss: How can each of the above phrases be taken in more than one way? Do we need to reach the level of God? We should "
imitate" and not "
impersonate".
In computer science, if a computation on each iteration makes positive progress (integer progress, not a real number fraction) towards a goal, that computation will eventually (given enough time) reach that goal. A secondary goal is to make that progress time efficient.
16. Romans 3:23 All have sinned
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [kjv]
παντες γαρ ημαρτον και υστερουνται της δοξης του θεου [gnt]
If sinners were not allowed in church, there would be no one allowed in church.
The Greek here for
"all" is
plural which means there may be
exceptions. Who might be an exception?
The ancient Greek word
"ἁμαρτία" ≈ "error, mistake, fault, sin" as in, literally,
"not a witness". The Greek for
"glory" is that of
"opinion". Anything that is
"not a witness" for God
"falls short" or
"lags behind" of God's
"opinion" or
"expectation".
In logical reasoning, one should not universally quantify something without specifying the domain to which it applies and how it applies. The "
for all" would appear to refer to "
men" who are not "
God" (as in "
Jesus").
Paraphrase: For all have not been a (good) witness (of God) and not approached the opinion of God
17. Romans 3:23 Glory of God
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [kjv]
παντες γαρ ημαρτον και υστερουνται της δοξης του θεου [gnt]
Do we need to come up to the
"glory" of God? Perhaps a pastor could help us with that seemingly unattainable quest.
"υστερούντα" ≈ "lag behind, be late".
"δόξα" ≈ "opinion, expectation".
Paraphrase: All (with possible exceptions) have not been a (good) witness (for God) and have lagged behind the opinion/expectation of God.
It appears we do not have to reach the level of God. God has an
expectation/opinion of where we should be and we are
lagging behind that
expectation/opinion. This appears to be in line with Eastern Orthodox thought.
18. Misleading statement
Some pastors will preach the following.
We broke it. God fixed it.
This is
deceptive. The fix that God did was to provide a way for people to fix it. If people do not take advantage of this offer , it is not fixed.
Think of God issuing a "
recall notice". If you commit to the recall and request the fix, it will happen.
This deceptive statement is similar in spirit to the claim that "
nothing can separate you from the love of Christ". Both Jesus and Paul appear to indicate that "
nothing but you can separate you from the love of Christ".
19. Examples
Some more examples (to be integrated here) are the following.
20. End of page
