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In Orthodox Sunni Islam, lying is not allowed not even while you are joking. The only time you can lie is if somebody is goin to kill you because you are Muslim. Just to protect your life.
One of the scholars of Islam was told to say "Qur'an is not from God." He was later asked you could have said ion extreme situations. He told if i would have given such statement than people would have been mislead so i refused to say that.
I was on your shoes long time ago. After studying Islam and other major world religions, i came to understand that Islam is a very practical religion. Where there is no "Sati pratha", nor a priest can ask whatever he wants during puja. The people might be poor but he will ask you have to do "gai daan". In Islam you do not have to pay Zakat unless you are capable of. I accepted Islam when i was in college, i was never told by brothers in the masjid i have to pay Zakat. They used to offer free Biryani on Ramadan and during my college years it was helpful and i was never asked why i have not donated.
This is the beauty of Islam.
"It (Islam) replaced monkiness by manliness. It gives hope to the slave, brotherhood to mankind, and recognition of the fundamental facts of human nature." [Canon Taylor, Paper read before the Church Congress, Oct. 7 1887, quoted by Arnoud in The Preaching of Islam, pp. 71-72]
Taquiyya:
From wiki:
In Islam taqiyya is a form of religious dissimulation, or a legal dispensation whereby a believing individual can deny his faith or commit otherwise illegal or blasphemous acts while they are at risk of significant persecution. This practice was emphasized in Shi'a Islam whereby adherents may conceal their religion when they are under threat, persecution, or compulsion. Taqiyya was developed to protect Shi'ites who were usually in minority and under pressure. In the Shi'a view, taqiyya is lawful in situations where there is overwhelming danger of loss of life or property and where no danger to religion would occur thereby.The term taqiyya does not exist in Sunni jurisprudence. In the Sunni view, denying faith under duress is "only at most permitted and not under all circumstances obligatory". However, there are examples of practicing taqiyya among Sunnis where it was necessary.
I hope it answered your question.