Profanity

[Miracle Storm]

What makes a cuss word a cuss word?

 

[The Lady Kate]

What makes a cuss word a cuss word?

Society.

 

[izarya]

The notion that it would be improper to use it (the word) inside of a church or temple. The word Profanity comes from the Latin word Profanus or profane, which literally means outside of the temple.

 

[The Lady Kate]

The notion that it would be improper to use it (the word) inside of a church or temple. The word Profanity comes from the Latin word Profanus or profane, which literally means outside of the temple.

Interesting... I dod not know that.

 

[dies-l]

My take on this is that, as Christians, we should avoid conduct that is aimed at offending another person and that in general we should never unnecessarily offend others. So, the reason that we should avoid cussing is simply because we know that such language will offend people for no good reason (as opposed to things like sharing our faith or rebuking a brother or sister, which may cause offense, but is done for good reason). This goes to how I define what is a "cuss word": If I know that a particular word or phrase will unnecessarily offend another person, then in that context, the word should be off-limits.

Generally, I think it is wise to avoid the biggies at all times, because they seem to be so universally frowned upon that you never know who you might offend. But, I also know people who believe who take issue with other words, like a certain synonym for urine that starts with a p (even though it appears in the KJV Bible. E.g., 2 Kings 18:27). Words like these, I will use in everyday speech unless I know I am in the presence of someone who finds them to be offensive.

Ultimately, I don't believe that there is anything immoral about using vulgar language, but for the fact that it is unloving to offend another person without good reason. Some people will point to Eph. 4:29 to claim that this refers to so-called cuss words. I disagree with this assessment as I believe that what Paul refers to as "unwholesome talk" is anything, regardless of the words that one uses, that serves to tear down and hurt others. In support of the notion that Paul was not against vulgar language per se, I would point to Phil. 3:8, which contains a word that is generally translated as "rubbish," but which is considered to be a vulgar Greek word roughly equivalent to "the s-word" in English. Nonetheless, we should respect each other enough to refrain from offensive language.

 

[martymonster]

Stupidity has a lot to do with it, not the one using the profanity but the one who is offended by it.

Once I told someone that I felt like an ass. now an ass and She got very offended by it, but and ass is just a donkey.

What an absolutely rediculous little person she was!

Swear Words are just a result, because when you hurt yourself, get cut of in traffic, of someone angers you, you just open you're mouth and say the worst thing you can think of to vent you're rage!

If there was no such thing as cus words, We would probably just open our mouths to the thing or person and say "I HATE YOU, I HOPE YOU DIE HORRIBLY!" or something like that.

Swear words have no inherrent power of themselves, it's only the power of sin that gives them that power, which either comes from the one who is using them out of anger and hatered or from the one who is being offened by it because of their self righteous delicate dignity.

 

[dies-l]

Stupidity has a lot to do with it, not the one using the profanity but the one who is offended by it.

Once I told someone that I felt like an ass. now an ass and She got very offended by it, but and ass is just a donkey.

What an absolutely rediculous little person she was!

Swear Words are just a result, because when you hurt yourself, get cut of in traffic, of someone angers you, you just open you're mouth and say the worst thing you can think of to vent you're rage!

If there was no such thing as cus words, We would probably just open our mouths to the thing or person and say "I HATE YOU, I HOPE YOU DIE HORRIBLY!" or something like that.

Swear words have no inherrent power of themselves, it's only the power of sin that gives them that power, which either comes from the one who is using them out of anger and hatered or from the one who is being offened by it because of their self righteous delicate dignity.

It seems a tad bit extreme, perhaps even malicious, to say that stupidity is the reason that a person would be offended by certain language. I think we all have things that, although there is nothing inherently wrong with them, we find that they just rub us the wrong way. It strikes me that it has a lot to do with what you grow up with. And, a lot of people have grown up to be acculturated to the fact that certain words are bad. As Christians, we ought to be able to respect and honor that, rather than belittling people for these feelings.

When I started dating my wife, I had to learn to change my vocabulary in some major ways, because she had grown up in a home where vulgarity was frowned upon. Because I care about her, I do my best not to use vulgar words in her presence, and I find the best way to do this is to abstain from using them in general. This was all fine and good until I found myself working with criminal defendants, for whom abstaining from such language would likely come across as somewhat conceited and arrogant. So, strange as it sounds, to really respect people, I have had to learn to swear in come situations and not swear in others. But, it would be be incredibly arrogant of me to claim that either group of people are stupid or defective in some way, because of the sensitivities that have been ingrained into them by their culture. After all, none of us are perfect, and we all have our own weird little sensitivities. Who am I to say that someone else's warrant less respect than my own?

 

[martymonster]

It seems a tad bit extreme, perhaps even malicious, to say that stupidity is the reason that a person would be offended by certain language. I think we all have things that, although there is nothing inherently wrong with them, we find that they just rub us the wrong way. It strikes me that it has a lot to do with what you grow up with. And, a lot of people have grown up to be acculturated to the fact that certain words are bad. As Christians, we ought to be able to respect and honor that, rather than belittling people for these feelings.

When I started dating my wife, I had to learn to change my vocabulary in some major ways, because she had grown up in a home where vulgarity was frowned upon. Because I care about her, I do my best not to use vulgar words in her presence, and I find the best way to do this is to abstain from using them in general. This was all fine and good until I found myself working with criminal defendants, for whom abstaining from such language would likely come across as somewhat conceited and arrogant. So, strange as it sounds, to really respect people, I have had to learn to swear in come situations and not swear in others. But, it would be be incredibly arrogant of me to claim that either group of people are stupid or defective in some way, because of the sensitivities that have been ingrained into them by their culture. After all, none of us are perfect, and we all have our own weird little sensitivities. Who am I to say that someone else's warrant less respect than my own?

So you're saying it's wisdom to be offended by a word that has no power of it's own but what We give to it?

And yes it is stupid to be offended by something just because you grew up being told that it offensive, is it wisdom to not think things through for one's self and to only believe what We've been told?

Would Jesus be offended by a swear word?

If you're answer is Yes, then you are yet to understand who He is.

 

[snoochface]

Society decides what is profanity and what is not.

50 years ago, you'd never hear damn or hell on television, and if someone tried they'd be banned from the airwaves. Today it doesn't even warrant a blink from most viewers, much less an FCC review. The words didn't change, nor did their meaning - society is the only thing that changed.

Nothing makes "shoot" an inherently vile and profane word when I switch vowels from o's to an i. Especially if the intent behind my usage of the words are the same. Am I really being any less profane if I hit my thumb with a hammer and scream, "Flipping pancakes, that hurt!" than I am if I scream something else?

 

[dies-l]

So you're saying it's wisdom to be offended by a word that has no power of it's own but what We give to it?

By the same token one could ask whether it is wisdom to refuse (or to be unable) to exercise control over your tongue so as to avoid unnecessarily offending someone. Likewise, I could ask whether it is wisdom to go around calling people stupid because their values differ from your own. My belief is that wisdom is not easily offended and that wisdom will lead us to avoid unnecessarily offending others.

And yes it is stupid to be offended by something just because you grew up being told that it offensive, is it wisdom to not think things through for one's self and to only believe what We've been told?

So, would you say that it is stupid for a child to refrain from walking into traffic solely because his parents told him it is dangerous? Shouldn't he think for himself and decide for himself whether walking into traffic really is dangerous, perhaps even experiment to see for himself to see whether his parents really know what they are talking about? If that is stupidity, then my prayer is that we all are blessed with stupid children.

The fact is that much of what we know and believe is strongly influenced by what we were taught before the age of four. Sometimes we learn some really crappy stuff in that time period. But, sometimes what we learn as a young children and never have reason to reconsider ends up leading us into great wisdom. Why would a wise person ever question those lessons that have never served him ill?

The reality is that, while there is probably nothing harmful about vulgar language, there is absolutely nothing beneficial about it either. So, I fail to see why there is good reason for a person to embrace it despite their upbringing.

Would Jesus be offended by a swear word?

If you're answer is Yes, then you are yet to understand who He is.

Would Jesus unnecessarily use language that He knew to be offensive to His audience?

If you're answer is Yes, then [ditto your response above.]

Seriously, any intelligent person can communicate effectively without vulgarity when it is likely to offend. Any wise person will do so without looking down on those who would be offended.

 

[£amb]

And yes it is stupid to be offended by something just because you grew up being told that it offensive, is it wisdom to not think things through for one's self and to only believe what We've been told?

I am one of those people who grew up in a household where there was no cussing. I'm a grown woman, and yes, I don't like to hear cussing all the time. To say someone is stupid because they find something offensive is rather stupid in itself because everybody is offended by something. So I guess everybody is stupid...

It's not so much the word in itself that I find offensive, but the lack of using our verbal skills. It's amazing how everyone resorts to certain words to describe something when there are much more words to use. Yea, I'm an english freak and love to study words and definitions.

Anyway, my good friend cusses constantly and she knows (and I've kindly asked her) to please refrain from cussing all the time. It gets quite old hearing the same words over and over again.

 

[HuntingMan]

I am one of those people who grew up in a household where there was no cussing. I'm a grown woman, and yes, I don't like to hear cussing all the time. To say someone is stupid because they find something offensive is rather stupid in itself because everybody is offended by something. So I guess everybody is stupid...

It's not so much the word in itself that I find offensive, but the lack of using our verbal skills. It's amazing how everyone resorts to certain words to describe something when there are much more words to use. Yea, I'm an english freak and love to study words and definitions.

Anyway, my good friend cusses constantly and she knows (and I've kindly asked her) to please refrain from cussing all the time. It gets quite old hearing the same words over and over again.

And isnt that exactly how it works?

The way society USES a word defines what that words intent is.
The KJV bible uses some words that are considered by some to be profanity when they are used in certain ways, and thus many would not consider it very polite to use those words.

Its sort of ridiculous to tell society in general that its stupid to be offended when a word is presented whose common usage IS profane.

My own use of the word 'whoredom' has been chastised by some who abhor me using it and its because of the commonly accepted usage of the word and its 'profane' meaning.
Oddly enough, in some conversations where persons have been offended by my use of THAT word, Ive actually seen these same believers use the 'G.D.' thing that I personally find offensive above any other words spoken in the english language.

Since scripture doesnt (and couldnt anyway) give us a decisive list of words...or even a suggested wordlist...that we must avoid, we have to look at what society at large deems as 'profanity' and at least use that as a guideline to start with.

As followers of Christ, tho, OUR list should be a bit longer than the worlds.
"D a r n it" seems tame enough, but when a parent understand its intent from their child as having some profane intent behind it, then that intent should be dealt with as well as the words themselves.

Profanity isnt always about the words themselves, but, in my opinion, is more about the intent they are used with.
If I say I dont want someone to go to hell, that is hardly profane.
If I tell them to go there....entirely different intent.

 

[Armistead]

A well placed cuss word has great effect. They can also help with stress relief. Somehow saying darn doesn't help that much if I drop something on my toe.

I think it's the intent of how the word is used, not the word itself.

I still think this is a case that less is more and I prefer someone that can
get his point across without a bunch of ...cussing.

 

[Miracle Storm]

A well placed cuss word has great effect. They can also help with stress relief. Somehow saying darn doesn't help that much if I drop something on my toe.

I think it's the intent of how the word is used, not the word itself.

I still think this is a case that less is more and I prefer someone that can
get his point across without a bunch of ...cussing.

I feel the same.

I think for the most part cuss words become cuss words when directed at another person in a mean way.

I mean if I stub my toe and scream a whopper I don't believe I have cursed per se, but more like vented...I guess it is either that or drop to my knees and cry..

Many people suggest that cussing is sin and I just don't see it that way. I have yet to read a Scripture that I believe says there are "bad" words. Words are only bad if you use them in a hurtful way..Kind of like that saying "guns don't kill people, people kill people"

Some cuss alot because they lack vocabulary skills to express theirself, I don't believe that is "cussing" but surely can be annoying. Just like when youngsters use cussing because they think it makes them grown up or cool...Yes it may sound vulgar and be annoying, but I don't think it is sin or the cursing the Bible speaks of..(feel free to correct me)

The only good argument I have heard against using "bad words" is not to offend others. But then I have to ask myself why in a grown up world are people so thin skinned that a word can offend them? I guess that really can't be answered..

But is funny because when I took my dog to the vet and we were talking about breeding she kept referring to the female dog as the (wow the censor got it...LOL) OKAY WELL MOST PEOPLE KNOW THE CORRECT TERM FOR A FEMALE DOG.. I couldn't help but laugh to myself thinking how many people would walk out that vets office offended and now thinking many would not even go back...


I just think that is one more sign of how much of our childhood we take with us, a sort of programming..Maybe some people should step back and take inventory of our beliefs and why we think as we do ...and...whether it makes sense at all..Unless we want to walk around offended all the time.

 

[Joykins]

I see a difference between profanity, obscenity and scatology.

 

[martymonster]

By the same token one could ask whether it is wisdom to refuse (or to be unable) to exercise control over your tongue so as to avoid unnecessarily offending someone. Likewise, I could ask whether it is wisdom to go around calling people stupid because their values differ from your own. My belief is that wisdom is not easily offended and that wisdom will lead us to avoid unnecessarily offending others.



So, would you say that it is stupid for a child to refrain from walking into traffic solely because his parents told him it is dangerous? Shouldn't he think for himself and decide for himself whether walking into traffic really is dangerous, perhaps even experiment to see for himself to see whether his parents really know what they are talking about? If that is stupidity, then my prayer is that we all are blessed with stupid children.

The fact is that much of what we know and believe is strongly influenced by what we were taught before the age of four. Sometimes we learn some really crappy stuff in that time period. But, sometimes what we learn as a young children and never have reason to reconsider ends up leading us into great wisdom. Why would a wise person ever question those lessons that have never served him ill?

The reality is that, while there is probably nothing harmful about vulgar language, there is absolutely nothing beneficial about it either. So, I fail to see why there is good reason for a person to embrace it despite their upbringing.



Would Jesus unnecessarily use language that He knew to be offensive to His audience?

If you're answer is Yes, then [ditto your response above.]

Seriously, any intelligent person can communicate effectively without vulgarity when it is likely to offend. Any wise person will do so without looking down on those who would be offended.

Yes and did I not say that it was the stupidity of both parties involved and not just of the one being offended?

Yes I did!

Are you offended that I said it was stupidity to be offended unnecessarily?

I certainly would call someone foolish (same as stupid) who has a value system that they have put not thought into and do not even understand why they have it as a value system.

I would not say that it is stupidity for a child to refrain walking into traffic because His parents to Him to. I would however question the wisdom of that child if they grew up, to reason for Himself that it is wisdom not to walk out into traffic.
We are all blessed with stupid children as that is the only flavour they come in.

I never at any point said that it was good to embrace vulger language did I!

Would Jesus use language that He knew would be offensive?

Jesus didn't care if He offended anyone or not. Most people were offended at Him, it's how He got nailed to a cross!
Jesus also was not prone to loosing His temper and saying a few choice words, We on the other hand are, but I asked would Jesus be offfended by someone swearing, and the answer is No He would Not!

Ask yourself why someone's swearing offends you?
If it's because you're parents told you it's wrong then a good enough reason for you not to swear, but what has that got to do with being offended by someone else use of them?

The truth is, if you walk around being offended by something for some reason that you don't understand, and it's not hurting you in anyway, then you're spending a lot of you're time being offended for something that you don't understand!

Let Me leave you with a few of Jesus's words that I think are very much to do with being offended of someone using a profanity.

Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

 

[martymonster]

I feel the same.

I think for the most part cuss words become cuss words when directed at another person in a mean way.

I mean if I stub my toe and scream a whopper I don't believe I have cursed per se, but more like vented...I guess it is either that or drop to my knees and cry..

Many people suggest that cussing is sin and I just don't see it that way. I have yet to read a Scripture that I believe says there are "bad" words. Words are only bad if you use them in a hurtful way..Kind of like that saying "guns don't kill people, people kill people"

Some cuss alot because they lack vocabulary skills to express theirself, I don't believe that is "cussing" but surely can be annoying. Just like when youngsters use cussing because they think it makes them grown up or cool...Yes it may sound vulgar and be annoying, but I don't think it is sin or the cursing the Bible speaks of..(feel free to correct me)

The only good argument I have heard against using "bad words" is not to offend others. But then I have to ask myself why in a grown up world are people so thin skinned that a word can offend them? I guess that really can't be answered..

But is funny because when I took my dog to the vet and we were talking about breeding she kept referring to the female dog as the (wow the censor got it...LOL) OKAY WELL MOST PEOPLE KNOW THE CORRECT TERM FOR A FEMALE DOG.. I couldn't help but laugh to myself thinking how many people would walk out that vets office offended and now thinking many would not even go back...


I just think that is one more sign of how much of our childhood we take with us, a sort of programming..Maybe some people should step back and take inventory of our beliefs and why we think as we do ...and...whether it makes sense at all..Unless we want to walk around offended all the time.

Yep!

People are offended by them because of their own selfrighteousness which they wrongly confuse with righteous indignation!

 

[dies-l]

Yes and did I not say that it was the stupidity of both parties involved and not just of the one being offended?

Yes I did!

I will take you at your word that that is what you meant to say, but you may want to go back and edit your original post, because it says exactly the opposite:

Stupidity has a lot to do with it, not the one using the profanity but the one who is offended by it.

Nonetheless, I fail to see the wisdom or love in calling "stupidity" those value systems that differ from your own.

Are you offended that I said it was stupidity to be offended unnecessarily?

Please do not assume that every rebuke is a product of offense. It would take a lot more than that to offend me.

I certainly would call someone foolish (same as stupid) who has a value system that they have put not thought into and do not even understand why they have it as a value system.

I don't agree that stupid and foolish are equivalent in meaning and connotation. Nonetheless, by your standard, everybody is foolish, because there is not a person alive who does not accept at least some values without any sort of critical analysis.

Would Jesus use language that He knew would be offensive?

Notice that my question was whether Jesus would unnecessarily use language that is offensive. To be intellectually honest, you should address the question that I actually presented, not the one that you would have preferred. The one word you omitted makes a huge difference

Jesus didn't care if He offended anyone or not. Most people were offended at Him, it's how He got nailed to a cross!

On the contrary, Jesus calculated His words to cause some offense to those whose self-righteousness blinded them to the presence of God. Assuming that Jesus' motivation was to challenge the hearts of those who were far from God while claiming to to be close to Him, it would be absurd for Him to go around using language calculated to offend for no other purpose than to offend. To the audience that Jesus was speaking to, the Truth was offensive enough. But, there was good reason to preach the Truth: the Truth saves. To be offensive for the sole purpose of being offensive is contemptuous and would be inconsistent with "love your neighbor as yourself."

Please do not try to compare Jesus speaking the Truth with you dropping an occasional F-bomb. It is an absurd comparison, and you know that as well as I do.

Jesus also was not prone to loosing His temper and saying a few choice words, We on the other hand are, but I asked would Jesus be offfended by someone swearing, and the answer is No He would Not!

I don't know if we would, and I am inclined to agree with you that Jesus was probably not easily offended. Nonetheless, the fact that Jesus would not be offended does not mean that a person who would be is stupid.

Ask yourself why someone's swearing offends you?

It doesn't. I never said that it did.

Let Me leave you with a few of Jesus's words that I think are very much to do with being offended of someone using a profanity.

Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

This Scripture could be just as aptly (if not more so) used to correct someone who insists that other people's values are "stupid."

It shows great integrity to be able to conduct yourself in a way that is respectful to those around you, whoever they may be without looking down on them where their value systems differ from your own. Like I have said all along, I have no problem with using vulgar language; in the proper context, I use it all the time. But, when I am around people that I know will be offended by it, I try to abstain without regarding them as stupid for objecting to it.

 

[Christian Commando]

Hey, Hey, people, lets not get to calling people anything here.

Remember what the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to say- That we are to be accepting of those of other God's Children who think slightly different, that we are not to judge if one eats meat and another does not, if one has Sabbath on whatever day they choose, etc.

Thats because of ridiculous arguments breaking out over Jewish Old Test Traditions and Gentile taught beliefs. Rather, instead of being divided and arguing, we are to lovingly accept such differences of others, so long as they are not against God.

And remember, God declares we are not, (as Jesus reiterated too), to swear by anything in Heaven above, or on earth or by anything under the sea. Therefore, swearing is wrong, when words are used in context to express a negative conotation in a responce.

I deal with a small group that are set against words such as darn, shucks, plus others the secular dictionary classifies as "slang" words for swear words.

WRONG!! The secular dictionary is not our guide. God's Word is. Thus, If God declares we are not to swear by anything and also not to speak condemnation against others, then it will include ANY word that is used in context of expressing a negative conotation regardless of which word it is.

The Spirit of God demonstrates, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, temperance, meekness, gentleness, plus more. Quite a contrast to the world's way-

Anger, strife, envy, adultry, fornication, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, wrath, plus alot more. These all produce negative results because they are actions that are evil rooted, thus evil actions.

God would not classifiy such things as of the world and of Satan if God prodced them. Thats why its not what goes into the body that defiles it, but what comes out that does.

Out of the treasure of the heart, the mouth speaketh. Thus, its thoughts good or bad we allow to linger long enough to be expressed verbally or in physical action that is the "Fruit" of who is influencing us.

So, let us put aside these retorical remarks and demonstrate a true Christ-like manner in our exchanges.

God Bless!!

 

[martymonster]

Um, dude?

different kind of swearing!