Why do Christians hate swearing in music?

as a super liberal atheistic kind of guy, i personaly hate swearing in music.
It bothers me to no end if its non stop
I dont allow in the house, I pay no attention to it when I am with people who swear. But It is a personal pet peeve.. but I dont let it bother me with people I am with except at home, the place I stay at most of the time, I tune it out so I dont notice, but my wife and I will get into arguments about it, when she begins to sound like the dudes she works with

Ben Borg Again said:

...It bothers me to no end if its non stop

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nonstop swearing gets on my nerves too.

philN said:

I think you are missing part of the point: words cannot be evil. They are words. They can mean bad things and they can be used in wrong ways, but these words in and of themselves are not evil. How can something that does not itself have the ability to sin be evil?

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I'd like to add to this if you don't mind. Consider the word "hell". You can use it to describe the place, hell, where the devil resides, you are damned to forever, the place of separation from God, whatever. You can also use the word like, "What the hell?" Now, some might consider the second usage a cuss word, but the first usage is definitely not a cuss word. What's the difference? Usage. The same can be said of the word "damn". You can say, "If you're a bad boy you'll be damned forever," or, "damn it!" when you stub your toe. Same word, different usage.

Ben Borg Again said:

It bothers me to no end if its non stop

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Nonstop anything annoys me.

Damn, a Guiness in Japan costs 900 yen! That's $9 US.

What about swearing in a language that you can't understand? Is it a sin to listen to it if you don't know what the swear means?

I don't mind if individuals listen to music that has cussing/obscenities as long as it doesn't infringe my space. I hate having to listen to the booming music with every other word a variant of a swear word when driving, walking, jogging, etc.

I had witnessed an incident at our local park where a young couple were picnicing with their 4~5 year old and a car drove by with a blaring stereo where there was a string of about 4 or 5 cursewords out of every 10 words. There should be some respect for others.

Now if you were jogging, walking, or hey, even working, and you were listening to them via a walkman, ipod, or something with headphones - then I have no problem with you.

Censorship should not happen. Just don't think that your right to listen to what you want should obligate me having to listen to it (or be prepared to be blasted with some music that only a concert band junkie would like...)

SlimShadyJB said:

Seriously, I still cannot figure this out. Everytime I talk to a Christian about music, most of the time they say they don't listen to a particular type of music because of all the swearing. What is so bad about swearing in music? I don't think there is anything wrong with it. It is a way of expressing certain emotions in a deep way, and its a way of releasing anger and frustration, so they don't get a heart attack or something.. Plus, saying "gee golly gosh shucks darn" doesn't really work anyway. Can't people respect other artists, even if they use crude language? I know some people that swear sometimes and they are very nice and kind people. I too swear and am still nice to people. Just cuz a music artist swears doesnt mean they are a bad or rude person, that is they're style, and the most comfortable way for them to express them self. Plus people tell me "the bible says that swearing is wrong."

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What does it matter to you if a Christian does not want to hear his Father's name used vainly or do not like to hear a potty mouth? You can't force a Christian to listen to trash nor can a Christian force you not to speak your mind.

SlimShadyJB said:

Who cares what the Bible says! They did not swear in Bible times like we do today, so it's irrelevant! I've never read a Bible verse that said "Thou shall not listen to music with cuss words" I think it is ok to listen to whatever music you want to, God is not going to cast us out of heaven because of a few songs we listened to while we are on earth. I am NOT bashing Christianity or its beliefs, I'm just challenging a highly popular Christian theory. Say whatever you want, I won't argue.

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He may not toss us out because of the type of music you listen to but you are in much danger of loosing out with these type of statements.

SlimShadyJB said:

Who cares what the Bible says! They did not swear in Bible times like we do today, so it's irrelevant!

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Oright... oright... Here's the deal:

I believe that everybody has the right to say, do, or think whatever they want. but it becomes wrong when they infringe on other people's right... Right? Right!

So it doesn't matter what anybody likes or dislikes, it should just be understood that nobody will live their lives the way somebody wants them too... (unless they're Schizo and have some persecutory delusions).

In a nut-shell, don't let anybody tell you what to do or listen to... but most importantly, you should not have a problem just because someobody doesn't listen to the type of music you listen to, watch the same type of movies you watch, or go to certain places that you feel comfortable with going to... Oright!!!!

I am not afraid of cursing, but they sound so harsh in my ear, that I dont want to hear them. And my mom has always been saying that it is against Jesus´s teachings.

Cussin' isn't against the Bible. Cursing people is, slandering people is, but cussin' isn't. If you stub your toe and let fly, as long as children and unacquainted ladies (that's about as chivalrous as I get) aren't around, I don't have a problem.

Reflections from the book of James:

Ja. 3:1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. Ja. 3:2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. Ja. 3:3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Ja. 3:4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Ja. 3:5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. Ja. 3:6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course
of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. Ja. 3:7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,
Ja. 3:8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
590 Ja. 3:9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Ja. 3:10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.

It depends what you use the swearing for. Someone else said on the first page that the Bible doesn't forbid swearing, and that's true, there are no specific commandments. However, as shown in James, there are principles on the usage of your God given tongue. It is up to your conscience to follow these principles.

Remember that Jesus also said that EVERYONE will have to give an account of EVERY WORD that he/she has spoken in their lifetime... that sheds some light onto our speech/usage of language.

A good example is The Ladykillers with Tom Hanks. It is crude and explicit in language, yet my friends and I find it absolutely hilarious. But do we then go out and quote the movie to no end? Of course not. And we also don't go out and buy the movie and watch it to no end - what would be the point?

I like swearing in music, but only if it fits the lyrics. There's a certain song by ICP which features a certain ultimate swear word well over 100 times (that word being the theme of the song). But it all fits well! Great angry "I'm so mad right now" song.

xMinionX said:

I like swearing in music, but only if it fits the lyrics. There's a certain song by ICP which features a certain ultimate swear word well over 100 times (that word being the theme of the song). But it all fits well! Great angry "I'm so mad right now" song.

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Actually he only says it 93 times

GreenDragon said:

Actually he only says it 93 times

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So he says, so he says. I suspect more, but I never counted. Maybe I'll do that.

I think christians hate swearing because we use music as way to worship god and we are basically saying well **** this and **** that to God and its not what we believe at all. Music is a beautiful thing ( coming from a singer) and to be discredited in such a way is just wrong. My 14 yr sister listens to secular music and in particular some ones with quite explicit lyrics and its offensive to hear anything like what they say, sure people swear I'm not doubting that but to swear in regards to music and people play it on the radio is just bad taste. Music is a beautiful thing and to be abused in such a way like eminem and other artists who have very colourful language is offensive

- Shaz

What does God think about cursing?

I think that is a better question.
Well let's see what God's word says:

Proverbs 4: 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Why?
Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Who wants to eat the fruits of their own curse words?
So why do it?!
Wisdom say's Don't Curse!

Suppose we all had the faith of Jesus Christ?
Remeber when he cursed the fig tree?

That would mean that everytime we cursed, something would die. (Think about it) God made us in his image. He gave everyman a measure of faith. He gave every human being spiritual authority.

Wisdom says, Don't abuse or miss use this aurthority!

God Bless,
Minister Richelle

Lithium Hobo said:

I don't really mind swearing, it's the constant, incoherant swearing that makes music bad and stupid. Rap is notorious with meaningless swearing.

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Agreed.

I dont care about swearing, it adds a little color to language. But when you do it every other sentence, THATS when it gets irritating.

I personally don't like the swearing in music as it degrades the art form. We shouldn't have to listen to people sear if we don't want to.
Howeverm, I have said before the swaer words today mostly don't relflect the rules back then. Taking God's name in vain is something some swear words do which is wrong according to the rules. I believe condeming someone to hell is wrong as well. And any oaths or swearing that you will do something in God's name and do not do it is wrong.
My theory is cuss words in music are just not doing music justice.

Living Soul Dance said:

What does God think about cursing?

I think that is a better question.
Well let's see what God's word says:

Proverbs 4: 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Why?
Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Who wants to eat the fruits of their own curse words?
So why do it?!
Wisdom say's Don't Curse!

Suppose we all had the faith of Jesus Christ?
Remeber when he cursed the fig tree?

That would mean that everytime we cursed, something would die. (Think about it) God made us in his image. He gave everyman a measure of faith. He gave every human being spiritual authority.

Wisdom says, Don't abuse or miss use this aurthority!

God Bless,
Minister Richelle

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Ah, you are falling into the pitfall of a common logical fallacy: equivocation.

You are shifting between two legitimate meanings of the word cursing. This ambiguous wording makes your conclusion valid, but closer examination would show that this fallacy makes your argument quite unsound.

Biblically, the word cursing is used in the context of damning someone or putting a curse on someone or something. This definition works, but in this context we are refering to cursing, as in using certain words that some sects of society have deemed inappropriate. Jesus cursed the fig tree and it died (this is the first definition of cursing); I see a piece of poop on the ground and I think, "that is ****" (that is the second definition). See the difference?

Yes, the tongue has great power to build up or destroy. No one is denying that. But just because certain words can be used in the wrong way does not make them altogether wrong. For example, (and I have said this earlier in the thread, but I will say it again) a chair is a chair. It is not good or evil. However, if in an angry stupor I hit a friend of mine with the chair, I have used the chair to sin. That does not make the chair evil, it means that it can be used wrong. If you carry your argument out to its logical extent then you would not be able to eat (gluttony comes from eating) or own a gun (guns are used for murder) or have money (greed comes from money). I think you should think through the logical implications of your view before you push that view on others.

Aimee30 said:

I personally don't like the swearing in music as it degrades the art form. We shouldn't have to listen to people sear if we don't want to.
Howeverm, I have said before the swaer words today mostly don't relflect the rules back then. Taking God's name in vain is something some swear words do which is wrong according to the rules. I believe condeming someone to hell is wrong as well. And any oaths or swearing that you will do something in God's name and do not do it is wrong.
My theory is cuss words in music are just not doing music justice.

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That is your opinion, and you have a right to your opinion. I do not agree, and I think that art can be improved when very deliberate language is used to acheive a certain end. If you don't agree then don't listen to it, but understand that your convictions are not universal moral standards and you should not expect everyone else to abide by them.

philN said:

That is your opinion, and you have a right to your opinion. I do not agree, and I think that art can be improved when very deliberate language is used to acheive a certain end. If you don't agree then don't listen to it, but understand that your convictions are not universal moral standards and you should not expect everyone else to abide by them.

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I think that's the important thing here. Leaving aside the public radio debate for now, we all have a right to simply not listen to certain songs if we are offended by them. And yet there is often a movement to "Ban this group" or "Ban this song", usually citing certain offensive, violent, or suggestive lyrics.

Apparently, for some people, simply 'not listening' is not an option.