A pious fiction is a narrative that is presented as true by the author, but is considered by others to be fictional albeit produced with an altruistic motivation. The term is sometimes used pejoratively to suggest that the author of the narrative was deliberately misleading readers for selfish or deceitful reasons. The term is often used in religious contexts, sometimes referring to passages in religious texts.

Examples

Religious context

• Historical-critical interpretations of the Hebrew Bible (i.e. the Tanakh or the Protestant Old Testament) often consider portions of the Tanakh/Jewish Bible to be a pious fiction, such as the conquests of Joshua^[1] and the histories of the Pentateuch.^[2][3][4] The Book of Daniel has also been described as a pious fiction, with the purpose of providing encouragement to Jews.^[5]
• Historical-critical approaches to the New Testament sometimes views stories such as the Virgin Birth, the Visit of the Magi to Jesus, and others, as pious fictions.^[6]
• The relationship between the modern celebration of Christmas and the historical birth of Jesus has also been described as such.^[7][8][9]

Other contexts

• Fredrick Pike describes some morale-boosting efforts during the Great Depression as pious fictions.^[10]