What do different religions and philosophies say about lying?

I find that I am only able to respond to the question from the Judeo-Christian point of view; lying, bearing false witness, is in violation of one of the Ten Commandments.  Therefore it is wrong to lie to others.

Lying is one of the few points that all world religions agree on: Lying is wrong.

For Christians and Jews, lying is prohibited by the Ten Commandments - "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor."

To Muslims, lying is "very hateful" to God.

Buddhists teach one should "utter the truth."

Zoroastrians learn that lying "destroys the holy order."

Allow me to correct the misgivings of Talico:

The Q'Ran specifically orders all Muslims to lie to non-Muslims, because that is "The way to preserve the faith."  Their bitter lies about Americans trying to subdue the use of wanton violence in the name of Islam proves how bitterly lying is an intimate part of all that Muslims truly believe.

Satanism is another religion where the fanatics believe in lying.  They are rebels, militant, fanatical, and very treacherous. 

The militant Hindu cult, Thuggee, makes a specific point to conceal material fact so that they may murder with anonymity.  It makes them more powerful if they can keep others in dire peril of torture.  If Daddy won't murder people for the matriarch of that hated cult, the kids will pay for it as only Thuggee knows the malice.

So much for the supposed "integrity of Brahma."

The only two faiths that condemn lying are Judiasm and Christianity.

It ends there.

There are some lies that we approve: fiction writing is one "lie that brings out the truth."  I made my first few publications in fiction. 

There are half-truths. They use statements that are technically true but deliberately misconstrued so as to create a malicious deception that causes others truly unjust and irreparable harm.  The difference is that between small talk and defamation of character.  That is the sort of distortion for which Osama bin Laden was notorious.  Many have died as the result of his half-truths.

Distortion is to so severely "spin" a story that while it is accurate, its implication is wholly inaccurate and severely damaging to others. 

Outright lies are pure falsehoods that damage others purposefully but can be easily enough discredited, restoring the damaged person's reputation when the liar is personally discredited with whatever they have said.  That is why so many Obamites have, "Fallen away from the true faith of Obama."  The outright lies spread by Obamites against Republicans have come increasingly into public condemnation -- by persons and publications that once supported Obama.

In the last case, the damage is done.  Obama's reckless deficit overspending has put us within range of what economists call, "The fiscal event horizon."  That is a reference to black holes, from which not even light can escape.  If we do not unite as Americans, and remove Obamite control of our nation, then we will cross that "event horizon."  There will be no way back once that occurs.

From creative writing to outright defamatory lies, the idea is to bring out the truth and leave lies out of the equation.

Unfortunately, when you ask what they say about lying, you have to determine if they are telling the truth about what they believe about lying.  Most religions seem to approve of lying when it contributes to the faith, because they do it but do not admit they do it.  So one of the lies they approve of is the lie that they do not approve of lying.  Watch what they do, not what they say.  And if what they do contradicts what they say, call them on it.  

Their hypocritical condemnations of hypocrisy have driven many believers out of organized religion. 

One formalized (yet highly evasive) religion is the atheist religion.  It borrows poorly from the greek cynic Diogenes of Sinope, denouncing all other religions that are based on faith, and supplants faith with poorly-constructed unscientific falsehoods.  It is an arrogant and bitter religion, based on rebellion and anger.

What atheists fail to realize is that their religion has been in discredit from the beginning.  Rebellious deceivers would have flocked to something else had it been presented them, and people with prudent insight would still have found enlivening faith, with others who share that same enlivening faith.

Cults of denial have always been with us, playing the same tired old games as did their boring and oppressive old forebears, so nothing ever really changes, does it?

All we really need to know is that atheists are irritating and deceptive, and while neophyte Christians might on occasion fall for the arrogant confabulations of a conspiracy of atheist fanatics, once the Christian has the peace and quiet to think rationally again, he will seek out the positive and happy company of Christians like himself.

Just as surely, if an atheist tries to infiltrate and destroy a Christian service organization, he finds the happy and energetic people there a disquieting reproof of curmudgeonly atheism, then out of sheer frustration, he either leaves or converts. 

It is the logical course of action: who wants to be with a grumbling bunch of miserable atheists, when there are happier and more pleasant people to be with?  Eventually, an atheist must choose between happiness and getting his way.  The choice, once made, is never in question.

So, do you want to be happy, or do you want to be an atheist?

The decision seems a complete no-brainer, on a logical basis.

All world religions condemn lying.