More About Hypocrisy

As already indicated: Hypocrisy is the pretension to qualities which one does not possess, or, more cognately the putting forward of a false appearance of virtue or religion. Malice of Hypocrisy is identical with that of lying; in both cases there is discordance between what a man has in his mind and the simultaneous manifestation of himself.

However, mere concealment of one's own sin, unless one be interrogated by legitimate authority, should not be taken as Hypocrisy. We must carefully differentiate its two elements: the want of goodness, and the pretence of having it. If a person be so minded as definitely to intend both things, it is of course obvious that he is guilty of Hypocrisy.

Cognizance must be taken of the motive which prompts the involved person to adopt his hypocritical bearing. If the end he has in view be such as to be incompatible with the love of one's friend or neighbour, for example, if his purpose were thus to spread abroad false doctrine more unimpededly and more thoroughly, he must clearly be considered to have committed Hypocrisy.