Deceitful - to be or not to be! That is the question!

[Reforged]

I don't know what kind of sex positions some of my friend's like. That doesn't mean they are being fucking deceitful.

"Some"? Well that sounds like a Freudian slip.
Who have you bugged, where did you place the cameras, did you make any copies and how much is it going to cost to keep it out of the papers?

[Shell B]

Oh, not Freudian. I have some very open friends. One talked with Tibby about her nipple rings the first time they "met."

[Mystic]

Thanks a lot everyone.

[Napoléon]

The bottom line is, you don't have to tell people anything that is deeply personal. A relationship with a deity is, by definition, deeply personal. If you lack one, that is your problem, not anyone else's.

Hey! Lack of a personal relationship with an imaginary friend is not a problem.

I resent that.

[jonb]

There is a cultural question here which also will push you in the same direction as the others have said.
I know from my time in Saudi, that in most Arabic and Arabic influenced cultures it is rude to directly say no, consequently there are a lot of ways of negatively saying yes. Honesty is also culturally influenced, you shouldn't have to surrender your culture, to some western ideal of in your face truth.
When I was in Saudi I did not talk about my friends family openly who I had stayed with in London and I knew, it wasn't a question of truth that was rudeness.
Yes, I lied on the form about my religion! I After advice I also put down I was an Alcoholic which I am not, and got three free bottles of good whisky, which was nice.
'Perfidious Albion' as the French would say.

[Shell B]

Napo, clearly in Mystic's case, it is a problem and still very personal. It is only a problem because other people make it a problem. You know what I mean.

[Erinome]

Where I live it is one of the first things people ask when they meet someone. It's crazy, and I've always thought it was a really rude thing to do. They want a reason to judge someone just like jesus said they shouldn't. The people around you should be ashamed for making you feel like you can't be open and honest about yourself. The society we live in should hang their heads in shame that they purport their dedication to a message of love, peace, and understanding, only to hate, judge, and ridicule people with minds of their own.

If it makes your life easier to be "deceitful" about your beliefs, then it's understandable. My kids look at someone like they're a total fucking sideshow act when they hear they're worshipers of zombiechrist, so maybe one day the tables will turn, and people will be afraid to admit they don't subscribe to reality.

[Faith No More]

Also, this is not the best topic on which to be taking advice from GC. I have a feeling that if he were in control, all non-christians would have to walk around wearing a scarlett letter.

[jonb]

I have a feeling that if he were in control, all non-christians would have to walk around wearing a scarlett letter.

I used to have quite a few tee shirts with a nice big red A in a circle on them, but they have now all been taken from me, If I started supporting him do you think he would buy me some new ones?

[toro]

If you are, you're deceitful according to their belief, and their belief alone. But it's probably a ridiculously skewed one anyway.

These same people might very well say that people that hang out and don't say they have doubts of their claims are being deceitful. Meanwhile, if asked, they might say a minister going to Yemen for purposes of evangelism is not being deceitful when they don't point that out on their visa application despite the fact that the country tells people they don't want Christian evangelists (switch roles if necessary for analogy).

Do what you want, and if they don't like you for disagreeing with them, they aren't being particularly wonderful friends and family.