  This research employs the Bayesian network modeling approach, and the Markov
chain Monte Carlo technique, to learn about the role of lies and violence in
teachings of major religions, using a unique dataset extracted from
long-standing Vietnamese folktales. The results indicate that, although lying
and violent acts augur negative consequences for those who commit them, their
associations with core religious values diverge in the final outcome for the
folktale characters. Lying that serves a religious mission of either
Confucianism or Taoism (but not Buddhism) brings a positive outcome to a
character (\b{eta}T_and_Lie_O= 2.23; \b{eta}C_and_Lie_O= 1.47;
\b{eta}T_and_Lie_O= 2.23). A violent act committed to serving Buddhist missions
results in a happy ending for the committer (\b{eta}B_and_Viol_O= 2.55). What
is highlighted here is a glaring double standard in the interpretation and
practice of the three teachings: the very virtuous outcomes being preached,
whether that be compassion and meditation in Buddhism, societal order in
Confucianism, or natural harmony in Taoism, appear to accommodate two universal
vices-violence in Buddhism and lying in the latter two. These findings
contribute to a host of studies aimed at making sense of contradictory human
behaviors, adding the role of religious teachings in addition to cognition in
belief maintenance and motivated reasoning in discounting counterargument.
