Swearing

[StephanieSomer]

It's a sin.

By the letter, maybe. However, "the letter kills, the spirit gives life".

Truly, the Scripture declares it to be "inconvenient", but not sinful.

 

[StephanieSomer]

It's based on the culture.

THAT is dangerous ground you're stepping on. Essentially, you could be understood to be saying that God gives His stamp of approval to culture.

 

[BornAgainBrian]

It's based on the culture.

Culture decides what is sin and what isn't? Whose culture? Why do we further the cause of such legalism?

 

[BornAgainBrian]

So because culture doesn't like murder I can murder people?

Scripture explicitly forbids murder. Nowhere in Scripture is any particular word considered inherently wrong or sinful.

 

[BornAgainBrian]

Every culture forbids murder, even godless ones. So that prohibition is worldly.

It IS prohibited in Scripture, yes?

How about these words you call sinful? Is there any reason you take your cues as to what is and isn't sin from worldly culture?

 

[StephanieSomer]

It is extremely common for Christians to assume something is true and THEN attempt to prove it with a scattering of Scriptures. That is completely the reverse of TRUE apologetically derived doctrine.

There is NO indication in Scripture that the utterance of any particular word is sinful. Even the utterance of the Name of God, which the Israelites would not dare to do, is NOT forbidden in Scripture.

 

[BornAgainBrian]

Because murder was forbidden long before the mosaic law was produced. So "Don't kill each other" wasn't necessarily a new revelation.

I'm still trying to find a more substantial answer as to how one word could possibly be foul or sinful while its synonym is perfectly fine.

Is there any elaboration? In your view, does culture dictate all sin? Whose culture?

Could you please address this?

 

[StephanieSomer]

Because murder was forbidden long before the mosaic law was produced. So "Don't kill each other" wasn't necessarily a new revelation.

Actually, the command to not murder wasn't a cultural idea. It was a law which God gave to Noah.

 

[BornAgainBrian]

There were cultures that existed long before Noah that forbade killing its members.

You have record of the laws of pre-flood cultures?

 

[StephanieSomer]

There were cultures that existed long before Noah that forbade killing its members.

Yes, there were. And none of them survived. And, what the Bible DOES say about those cultures gives no indication that they forbade murder. In fact, a decent argument could be made that they allowed it.

 

[BornAgainBrian]

Ecclesia, would you please address my questions?

 

[Blue Wren]

My point is that we as a Christian society further the idea that certain words are always wrong to say in any context. I can say "I've got to go number 2". But if I say the exact same thing using other words, it somehow becomes wrong. There is no logic to it, as I see it. What exactly makes the second taboo way of saying that sooooooo horrible and sooooooo much worse than the first way?

Isn't this just Christians making a bunch of extra-biblical rules so we can yell at kids when they violate them? There seems no real purpose to make certain words taboo while other words which mean the exact same thing are totally fine.

It gets silly to make up all these things, to say what you really mean. This is especially frustrating, to people who are not native speakers of the language. I am Swedish, interning in the US, for a year. I have spoken English since I was small. Still there are expressions, I do not know. That is true, in every language. That every language has these idioms and euphemisms. I am learning Italian and Japanese now, they have these too. They are much more common, in the US. I am surprised, that grown-ups, they will say things like "I need to potty." To my ears, it is bizarre.

I do not think profanity, is very polite, of course. You must, think it through. A time and a place for everything, I think. The good thing about US profanity, it's universal. There are words that everybody knows because of movies, TV programmes, and such. I think you just don't say things in front of the old ladies, the children, at your work and church.

 

[StephanieSomer]

Sure do. The Chinese culture goes back 5000 or 6000 years before the flood is said to have happened in 2348 BC. They survived just fine. Study some archaeology.

So, you just denied the truth of the flood, AND the Scripture. The Scripture declares that everything that had breath died.

"And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.
And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark."
Gen 7:21-23

 

[StephanieSomer]

Yeah, historical records kind of disprove that theory, sorry.

The pyramids were built before that date and are standing just fine.

No need to pursue this any further then, since you have denied the truth of the Scripture.

 

[Soul2Soul]

What makes it so? That's what I keep trying to find out...

Why is one word inherently sinful, wrong, naughty while its synonym is perfectly fine?

I think I understand what are getting at. The intent is there whichever word is used ... is that right?

 

[Cearbhall]

But why do Christians further the u biblical notion that this word is always bad, but dung is ok?

I do wonder how it came to be incorporated into religion. Maybe because religion tends to promote adherence to cultural norms? Or perhaps it just got lumped together with "Thou shalt not take the Lord's name in vain."

 

[BornAgainBrian]

I think I understand what are getting at. The intent is there whichever word is used ... is that right?

I just wonder why any Christian continues to hold other people to a standard and not explain why they do it. I have never been given a straight answer as to why one individual believes that x word is sinful while y word isn't. I just want to hear a logical explanation with Scripture to back it up.

 

[BrokenWarrior]

I agree that replacing words makes no difference. But most of Christendom would prefer a more politically correct term for "number 2" and would accuse a man who used a certain 4-letter word of foul language.

Similarly, what a man does with his wife is allowed to be referred to by one word but not another.

What makes the one okay but the synonym always wrong?

Hmm... interesting question....

I would think what makes it wrong is the fact that your cursing AT something, like, "Darn all this rain, we need more sunshine!"

Your cursing something, in this case, the rain.

As to what makes its synonyms ok or not is because they're not used as swear/curse words (cursing something) and instead are being used as nouns and verbs.

The 5 letter "B" word that is used as a swear word today use to just harmlessly mean a female dog.

Now, I myself find most of the synonyms vulgar and don't use them either, even if it's just their harmless meaning.
As in, I don't go around and call a female dog I see a "B" simply because that the simple pronoun of a female dog has been so commonly used as a swear word that in society's eyes it's always considered vulgar, but as I said, it actually technically is not.

Very good question Brian

-The Lowest Servant

EDIT: Sorry if that didn't quite answer your question.

 

[BornAgainBrian]

Hmm... interesting question....

I would think what makes it wrong is the fact that your cursing AT something, like, "Darn all this rain, we need more sunshine!"

Your cursing something, in this case, the rain.

As to what makes its synonyms ok or not is because they're not used as swear/curse words (cursing something) and instead are being used as nouns and verbs.

The 5 letter "B" word that is used as a swear word today use to just harmlessly mean a female dog.

Now, I myself find most of the synonyms vulgar and don't use them either, even if it's just their harmless meaning.
As in, I don't go around and call a female dog I see a "B" simply because that the simple pronoun of a female dog has been so commonly used as a swear word that in society's eyes it's always considered vulgar, but as I said, it actually technically is not.

Very good question Brian

-The Lowest Servant

EDIT: Sorry if that didn't quite answer your question.

So in your opinion, does society determine what can and cannot be said? Does this determine what is sin?

Which part of society is most strict on words that somehow have been labeled as bad? Christians or non-Christians? If it's Christians, do you think it's right to, as a group, play the biggest role in creating and enforcing a rule which has no basis in Scripture?

 

[Soul2Soul]

I just wonder why any Christian continues to hold other people to a standard and not explain why they do it. I have never been given a straight answer as to why one individual believes that x word is sinful while y word isn't. I just want to hear a logical explanation with Scripture to back it up.

I'm afraid I can't answer for others but I do believe that hypocrisy in some way or another is something that (every)one needs to work on.

However I do accept that as a Christian - there are standards set for me ... in the Bible by which I will be held to account, e.g. Hebrews 4: 12-13

Although numerous people use those kinds of words in their everyday lives, the words are nevertheless considered to be offensive, vulgar etc by society in general .... and kids e.g. are (supposed to be) protected from such .... movie ratings, etc.

Although there are synonyms, I personally believe that expletives whether used intentionally or unintentionally have more of a destructive intent and effect - and in my case as a Christian I felt that in my endeavour to grow spiritually and to become more holy I had to correct this area of hypocrisy in my life. I considered using such words to be "obscene, foolish talk, coarse joking" Eph 5:4. it was "filthy language" Col 3:8 and it was not what God desired of me. I personally could not read those scriptures and then try and find any justification for using bad words anymore ... it exposed some of my motives especially in striving to become more spiritual and holy.

I think that each Christian would have to consider how they personally understand those kinds of scriptures e.g. as mentioned above and what they refer to because the Bible is referring to words and language that God does not want us to use.