#%@! Cursing

[visionary]

Your mind is like gumbo on rubber boots, with the distinct flavor of recently being salted by the feed lot.

 

[Skaloop]

My mom use to say, anyone who needs to swear is not creative enough to be original.

My mom used to say, anyone who needs to say what their mom used to say is not creative enough to be original.

Besides, Carlin's "Seven words you can't say on television" skit is more creative and original than any so-called "clean" comic could dream of.

 

[cantata]

Besides, Carlin's "Seven words you can't say on television" skit is more creative and original than any so-called "clean" comic could dream of.

I think that’s going a bit far. I mean, there are plenty of clean comics (who don’t tout their cleanliness), like Bill Bailey, for example, who are hilarious without being lavatorial or otherwise sweary.

That said—I don’t think there’s anything wrong with swearing. In fact I think creative swearing can be hilarious and extremely useful.

 

[Verv]

now we all know that the bible is open to interpretation and if you don't just have a look around and ask people from other churches what they are taught,

now my question is whether swearing/cursing is actually morally wrong according to christianity?

i know that the official stance is that it is but every passage that I have seen and remember from the bible seems to be talking more about the intent behind the words and not the words them selves

I curse in 2 languages when conversing with my friends, workmates and students and they are never offended and I am never offended when they talk with me the same way, but if some one is coming at me with malice intent behind their words no matter if they are using curse words or not I am offended and this seems to be along the lines with what the bible is saying, I am also sure not to use specific language i.e curse words, certain jokes or body language when talking to people who may take offence as common courtesy .

so has there been a mistake made when translating the text or has someone brought their personal ideals into the religious platform...again? or am I just plain wrong and if so show me how

The only ban on cursing that I am aware of comes from the book of Ephesians which says that we ought not to use vulgar language.

But what is vulgar, and what is just emotional?

I am a very hardline conservative in most issues but I did serve in the US Army for six years and have been involved in punk for longer.

I swear, a lot, in both Korean and in English, and it is hard to avoid it.

I also have never bothered to curb it because I feel that the only harm that it brings is potentially harm to the person being called that... But generally speaking I do not call people such names.

I find this is another issue that is more cultural than it is breligious because we really have to think about what vulgar language is and what things are truly vulgar.

For instance, the Japanese language does not have even curses in the conventional sense, just obscene names for some of the body parts. Telling someone "die!" is almost as extreme as it gets from my understanding.

 

[visionary]

Take a hammer and hit your thumb. What is in the heart comes out. Is your temple full of vile and foul thoughts? Is the temple of the Lord going to spout off cursings when the hammer hits its thumb?

 

[b&wpac4]

Um... you realize how impossible that is, I hope. Anything can be destroyed or erased.

Anywhere it can be erased or destroyed easily. A book would be viewed as a pretty permanent location. BTW: Please stop attacking other beliefs than yours. It's unkind.

 

[b&wpac4]

Like say... any surface which could potentially be hit by a nuclear blast and wiped from existence...?

No, the people that follow that idea go from the idea that it shouldn't be written on any surface where there is a reasonable expectation that it could be removed or erased easily.

 

[salida]

How do these words glorify God? Would you cuss if Jesus was standing next to you?
1 Th 5:22 and Php 4:8.

 

[salida]

In Matthew 5:22

Jesus meant not calling someone a fool - as don't call someone this in unrighteous anger. Have a real reason to call someone this morally.

 

[lisah]

People are only ever offended by swearing on other people’s behalf, never on their own. From this we can conclude that swearing actually offends no one.

I think swearing is part of a rich and colourful language and can be used to great effect. There is no good reason not to swear.

Well, I allow vulgarities to fly even more as I've grown older. Not as a conscious act, however...but due to health problems and tiredness, I find that I don't have the restraint I once had. I don't much like that either, but what's a person to do?

I think not swearing out of courtesy is a good reason not to swear, and one that reflects concern and consideration for others.

 

[SmileAndAHandshake]

now my question is whether swearing/cursing is actually morally wrong according to christianity?

It's an individual thing, as you said based often on different interpretations of Scripture. For me though, it really has very little to do with scripture, I think it's more of a personal thing more than anything.

Me? I curse boatloads, lol. Very rarely directed at anyone in anger mind you, though I do have my moments. I think that kind of cursing is the most detrimental, but I still do it. My main form of cursing comes in the form of emphasis and I could literally curse up every other word in an English sentence ... and I probably do sometimes It's just.. how I roll some days, hah.

I don't think much of it. *shrugs* When I'm angry and I insult someone with curse words, it's not just a cursing problem, it's an anger problem and I have to deal with a lot deeper of an issue than just cursing.

So I find cursing to be not about the words (because words can be interpreted with different meaning based on who hears them -- words only have the power we assign to them), but about the intentions. If you curse hatred at people on a regular basis, you've got issues man (not the OP, just people in general), sorry to say it. It's not the cursing I'd raise an eyebrow to -- it'd be the sheer amounts of anger.

 

[Skilletdude]

How do these words glorify God? Would you cuss if Jesus was standing next to you?
1 Th 5:22 and Php 4:8.

I wouldn't take a dump with Jesus standing next to me. I wouldn't change my clothes or have sex either. Nothing wrong with any of them but I still wouldn't do it.

And honestly, if I'm having a tough time, I tell God how I feel. I don't mind swearing in prayer or whatever. God knows what you mean anyway. So why say mask it instead? Really it's just how some people talk and yes there's lack of creativity but if you've never learned that way, and everyone else expresses their self with these words, trying to find ways to dance around them make it a bit frustrating when trying to express yourself. And I really don't think God cares... it's the context and what's in the heart. If you're being crude ok that's wrong. But no one can seriously tell me how saying "what the $@!&" is any worse than saying "What the heck" other than the first has a taboo word in it that some people way back when decided it was not ok.

 

[Zaac]

Hmmm? Thought I had already responded to this thread. Anywhooo. The Bible says:3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. Ephesians 5:3-4

 

[catzrfluffy]

Also, "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." (Colossians 3:8)
And "Abstain from all appearance of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

considering i came to the same conclusion about swearing as most of the christians here i would then like to ask you why did we come to the same conclusion?

Because the conclusion was arrived at by worldly opinionating.

 

[Zebra1552]

Anywhere it can be erased or destroyed easily. A book would be viewed as a pretty permanent location. BTW: Please stop attacking other beliefs than yours. It's unkind.

You said that according to your beliefs, God's name shouldn't be placed in a location where it can be gotten rid of: I simply pointed out that this reasoning has a flaw in it. That's not attacking your beliefs, that's attacking a flaw in your reasoning.

 

[Zaac]

now my question to you zaac and catzrfluffy is:

considering words like humbug at one point were seen as obscene, who decides what is filthy in gods eyes, because language by it's very nature constantly evolving, who knows how many so called "filthy" words are no longer "filthy" and now used as common speech.

and who knows how long it may be before the basic 4 letter swear words of today become nothing more then general speech, with new words taking their place as "filthy"

People are well aware of what is considered filthy or obscene. And us becoming desensitized to filth because so many don't think it's an issue, does not change it from filth.

God has set a standard. There is no sliding scale that allows man to decide that something is no loger filthy just because everybody agrees it is not.

It's just like the tv networks letting more and more cuss words slide because folks are "used" to it. The "f" word is next because we are in a moral downslide as were the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

 

[Skaloop]

People are well aware of what is considered filthy or obscene. And us becoming desensitized to filth because so many don't think it's an issue, does not change it from filth.

God has set a standard. There is no sliding scale that allows man to decide that something is no loger filthy just because everybody agrees it is not.

It's just like the tv networks letting more and more cuss words slide because folks are "used" to it. The "f" word is next because we are in a moral downslide as were the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

The bible has the word 'ass' in it.

 

[Skilletdude]

Can the people who feels the Bible is against current cuss words please explain WHY it is wrong? Sure we say it's filthy and wrong but explain how a word on it's own is in anyway what the Bible talks about? It says, crude, obscene, etc etc but what of those words is that wrong on it's own?

I've tried to say ok God please help me to swear any more but its like, I don't even know why I should care in the first place since in the context I use them there is absolutely nothing wrong and I don't think God is shaped by current social standards.

So explain for example, why the "S" word is any more wrong than crap, poop, junk etc. It's original meaning comes from the middle ages and basically meant feces/human waste/etc. So why is that one wrong? The F bomb I understand a little bit more but even saying sex generally is not wrong unless you're being crude while using or describing sex. So why is "What the $(@!" worse than saying "what the heck?"

I'm not being smart, I honestly wanna know cause as I see it, it's just a bunch of baby games. I couldn't say shut up or stupid in first grade. I don't think anyone thinks those are swear words... not nice maybe but just saying "that is so stupid" is not wrong. Yet we think something like "that's so #(@!ed up" is? What is filthy with words themselves?

 

[b&wpac4]

You said that according to your beliefs, God's name shouldn't be placed in a location where it can be gotten rid of: I simply pointed out that this reasoning has a flaw in it. That's not attacking your beliefs, that's attacking a flaw in your reasoning.

I said that according to those who follow that tradition, they don't want to write God's name in a location that can be erased. Yes, I neglected to write "easily" at the end, and that was a mistake, but you spent an entire other thread mocking my beliefs, so I'm making sure you are not allowed to do so.

 

[Zebra1552]

I said that according to those who follow that tradition, they don't want to write God's name in a location that can be erased. Yes, I neglected to write "easily" at the end, and that was a mistake, but you spent an entire other thread mocking my beliefs, so I'm making sure you are not allowed to do so.

What on earth are you on about? I'm no anti-Semite, and I didn't spend a thread mocking your beliefs. If your insulted by my Christian assertions that the Law is outdated by Christ's death, that's not my problem- take it up with the NT.