Americans and Cursing

[OrdinaryMelkite]

Guilty.

I’ve tried very hard to refrain from this since my decision to convert and honestly anymore, when it does happen it’s out of pure habit so it’s just a matter of catching myself before it slips out.

Now (when appropriate) I use more acceptable cuss words consisting of four letters that I will get in trouble for if I use them here

I Also Plead Guilty To Using “Jesus Christ” In Vain.

My Defense:

I Try As Much As I Can To Curb And Control. Sometimes I Fail. At Least I Try And Live Up To My Newfound Christian Identity. And I Confess This Regularly.

 

[fishergal]

People in the States use his name in vain…and it is done often as a “curse”. Be glad it isnt said as much in your own country.

 

[mdrummer5]

I Also Plead Guilty To Using “Jesus Christ” In Vain.

My Defense:

I Try As Much As I Can To Curb And Control. Sometimes I Fail. At Least I Try And Live Up To My Newfound Christian Identity. And I Confess This Regularly.

I’ve gotten a lot better about it and actually found that without even realizing it I stopped saying GD entirely (which I used to be reallllly bad about)… it has been replaced with “ahhh dammit”… which can have the same inflection lol.

While still not technically Catholic I’ve considered giving up cursing for my first lent… I just know I’d never make it 40 days, not because of temptation… but because of habit.

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

I’ve gotten a lot better about it and actually found that without even realizing it I stopped saying GD entirely (which I used to be reallllly bad about)… it has been replaced with “ahhh dammit”… which can have the same inflection lol.

While still not technically Catholic I’ve considered giving up cursing for my first lent… I just know I’d never make it 40 days, not because of temptation… but because of habit.

Hey, You’re Not Alone. I Don’t Think I Could Do It Either For 40 Days Either. I Console Myself With The Fact That I DO Make A Genuine Effort And I Confess It As Much As I Can.

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

As someone who works in the media, I can say that movies and TV programs do not mirror American society. The trend toward more skin, more cursing and more dysfunctional behavior was gradually added, starting in the 1970s.

Studio heads, producers and writers sit down and plan it all out. TV shows like Mary Hartman which featured the first gay character on TV were no accident. The same with All in the Family.

Today, self-proclaimed comedians tell their audiences, “There’s no such thing as bad language.” Wow. Who put them in charge?

We gradually transitioned from trusting the media to tolerating a little bit of bad, a little more and a little more. We got used to coming home and turning on the TV and going out to the movies. Too bad that we get movies about couples living together and having sex, and it’s all presented as average or normal. It’s not.

We need to spend our time with culture that does not cause us to lose touch with what’s right and what’s wrong. One reason movies in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s were lacking in all those bad things was because we had a Catholic Legion of Decency.

There were laws on the books about cursing in public and using bad language. In 1961, comedian Lenny Bruce was arrested for obscenity. In 2003, he was pardoned by the Governor of New York.

Peace,
Ed

I Mostly agree With you, Ed . i Really Do. OTOH, I Have Found That Cursin WITHIN A CERTAIN CONTEXT Is Both realistic And Can Be Used As A “Teaching Tool.”

For Instance-----In Movies-------

I Can’t Really Imagine GOODFELLAS without The Excessive Cursing. It Is A Natural thing To Mafia People (Like It Or Not), And It Also Reinforces The Evil Moral Depravity Of These People.

So, In That And Other Contexts, Cursing Can Serve A Purpose.

I DO Agree That Profanity IS Wildly Overused In Our Societies, Movies, And Music, Though. I’m Guilty Of It Somewhat As Well. I TRY My Hardest To Control it, Though. And i Confess it Regularly.

 

[Loml]

Maybe whenever we hear anyone say it we can say ‘Bless His holy name’ very loudly.

 

[odile53]

I’m trying to do something else when I feel like cussing. Came up with this one the other day–just say “aaaarrrrgh!”–like a pirate.

 

[Midwest88]

As someone who works in the media, I can say that movies and TV programs do not mirror American society. The trend toward more skin, more cursing and more dysfunctional behavior was gradually added, starting in the 1970s.

Studio heads, producers and writers sit down and plan it all out. TV shows like Mary Hartman which featured the first gay character on TV were no accident. The same with All in the Family.

Today, self-proclaimed comedians tell their audiences, “There’s no such thing as bad language.” Wow. Who put them in charge?

We gradually transitioned from trusting the media to tolerating a little bit of bad, a little more and a little more. We got used to coming home and turning on the TV and going out to the movies. Too bad that we get movies about couples living together and having sex, and it’s all presented as average or normal. It’s not.

We need to spend our time with culture that does not cause us to lose touch with what’s right and what’s wrong. One reason movies in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s were lacking in all those bad things was because we had a Catholic Legion of Decency.

There were laws on the books about cursing in public and using bad language. In 1961, comedian Lenny Bruce was arrested for obscenity. In 2003, he was pardoned by the Governor of New York.

Peace,
Ed

Ben Shapiro wrote a book called Primetime Propaganda on this very issue. It’s an interesting read.

Note: I am in no way affiliated with Mr. Shapiro.

amazon.com/Primetime-Propaganda-True-Hollywood-Story/dp/0061934771

 

[edwest2]

Sadly, it is indeed a widespread part of the culture. I hear it frequently, unfortunately. I even hear it from otherwise devout Christians, and I really believe that there is a very big disconnect there. I think it has become so ingrained in some areas that people don’t really think about what it is they are saying.

I agree. We need to be more careful about our tongues. Thanks for bringing this up.

Peace,
Ed

 

[mark_a]

Watching quite a few American movies it seems that the use of ‘Jesus Christ’ as a cuss word is quite common. As a non American, i find that very strange.

Is that usage of ‘Jesus Christ’ actually part of the American culture, or is it mainly a media idea?

I have noticed that taking the Lord’s name in vain seems much more prevalent than swearing, profanity, vulgarity, and cursing.

Back in the day insults were mostly directed at one’s mother: astard, Son-of-a-, etc, etc.

And I do not think society has more respect for women these days.

 

[Seeker1961]

I would also add the need to support media which does reflect the values desired. Due to the proliferation of cable, satellite and online video feeds, the market will respond if people vote with their money.

And the people have been voting since the 1970’s. The more skin, cursing and realism Hollywood produced, the more money rolled in.

Stop watching it, but don’t think that’s going to make it go away. There are still plenty of people who will make up for us.

The REAL question is, why aren’t we communicating the reasons why these things are objectionable so that our friends and family turn it off too and there is a change? What are we doing that isn’t working, and what can we try that might work better? Since this has been getting worse since the 1970’s, clearly the message is not getting through. Instead of bemoaning it, why don’t we use our energy to work the problem and find a solution?

 

[Gordon_Sims]

I have noticed that taking the Lord’s name in vain seems much more prevalent than swearing, profanity, vulgarity, and cursing.

Back in the day insults were mostly directed at one’s mother: astard, Son-of-a-, etc, etc.

And I do not think society has more respect for women these days.

I think general profanity is starting to make up lost ground. I’m constantly struggling to keep both out of my house. My son’s 21 and thinks that gives him the right to use whatever language he pleases in front of us. I won’t tolerate him using God or Jesus’ names in vain, and I won’t tolerate any swearing in front of his younger sisters. He thinks this is terribly unfair since some of his friends and their much younger siblings are allowed to cuss like sailors in front of their parents.

With our girls, many of their friends as well as my wife’s cousin’s kids are allowed to swear to various degrees. Some of it is as mild as “OMG,” and “****,” although a few are permitted to use everything except the f-bomb. One delightfully foul-mouthed little boy was fond of using vulgar euphemisms for various parts of the female anatomy as adjectives, adverbs and all-purpose exclamations, with the t-word being his absolute favorite. He somehow worked it into a wide array of situations, (“that movie was ****!”, “I’m feeling **** awful this morning,” “that’s ****, man!”). Regrettably, his parents pulled him out of the girls’ school at the end of last year. We’re stuck with having to explain to the girls why these words are bad, why they can’t say them when their friends can, and why we won’t let them have play-dates with the worst of the kids (the language is the least problem with several of them).

It’s hard to blame the kids since they obviously get this language (or at least the permission to use it) from their parents. We find ourselves wishing, since these folks have clearly already mastered the fouler parts of the English language, that they’d add the words “class” and “decorum” to their vocabulary as well.

 

[Crescentinus]

Maybe whenever we hear anyone say it we can say ‘Bless His holy name’ very loudly.

I can try and do that. If someone gets offended and attacks me, I’ll be defending myself.

 

[mark_a]

I think general profanity is starting to make up lost ground. I’m constantly struggling to keep both out of my house. My son’s 21 and thinks that gives him the right to use whatever language he pleases in front of us. I won’t tolerate him using God or Jesus’ names in vain, and I won’t tolerate any swearing in front of his younger sisters. He thinks this is terribly unfair since some of his friends and their much younger siblings are allowed to cuss like sailors in front of their parents.

With our girls, many of their friends as well as my wife’s cousin’s kids are allowed to swear to various degrees. Some of it is as mild as “OMG,” and “****,” although a few are permitted to use everything except the f-bomb. One delightfully foul-mouthed little boy was fond of using vulgar euphemisms for various parts of the female anatomy as adjectives, adverbs and all-purpose exclamations, with the t-word being his absolute favorite. He somehow worked it into a wide array of situations, (“that movie was ****!”, “I’m feeling **** awful this morning,” “that’s ****, man!”). Regrettably, his parents pulled him out of the girls’ school at the end of last year. We’re stuck with having to explain to the girls why these words are bad, why they can’t say them when their friends can, and why we won’t let them have play-dates with the worst of the kids (the language is the least problem with several of them).

It’s hard to blame the kids since they obviously get this language (or at least the permission to use it) from their parents. We find ourselves wishing, since these folks have clearly already mastered the fouler parts of the English language, that they’d add the words “class” and “decorum” to their vocabulary as well.

Hang in there. One day, when they have kids of their own, they will thank you.

 

[child_of_God85]

It is quite common. I cuss quite alot unfortunately, but any cuss word like JC and GD I have never said.
Can I ask where your from?

 

[Colmcille]

edwest2;7583255:

As someone who works in the media, I can say that movies and TV programs do not mirror American society. The trend toward more skin, more cursing and more dysfunctional behavior was gradually added, starting in the 1970s.

This truly marked the beginning of TV losing its more decent programming. HBO is where I saw women’s breasts while channel surfing around 1973. I was watching Johnny Carson with my mom and just wanted to see what else was on. I was still in high school. This was the beginning of non-Catholic material and what people wanted to see. HBO is the largest with 29 million US subscribers and also offered in 150 other countries. Now add in all of the other cable channels that offer non-Catholic shows to watch.

Studio heads, producers and writers sit down and plan it all out. TV shows like Mary Hartman which featured the first gay character on TV were no accident. The same with All in the Family.

They plan based upon what they think people will watch don’t they???These were highly rated shows from what I remember. For us middle class families, most of our Dad’s could have been Archie Bunker. While these people went to Church (mine didn’t) they still hated ethnic groups and us kids grew up in that environment. The Church was teaching “no salvation outside the Catholic Church” and I don’t recall seing these ethnic groups at Mass where I lived. So I grew up with those same feelings. It took many years to get my thinking straight and in line with what the Church was really teaching. Catholic teaching was also poor from what I remember.

Today, self-proclaimed comedians tell their audiences, “There’s no such thing as bad language.” Wow. Who put them in charge?

I don’t know who was in charge but Andrew Dice Clay made a ton of money in the 90’s before he angered Johnny Carson. Carson had him “listed as bad news” and then nobody wanted him. Others took his place at the top. And before Dice Clay there was Richard Pryor who was mild when considering what Dice Clay was saying.

We gradually transitioned from trusting the media to tolerating a little bit of bad, a little more and a little more. We got used to coming home and turning on the TV and going out to the movies. Too bad that we get movies about couples living together and having sex, and it’s all presented as average or normal. It’s not.

We need to spend our time with culture that does not cause us to lose touch with what’s right and what’s wrong. One reason movies in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s were lacking in all those bad things was because we had a Catholic Legion of Decency.

There were laws on the books about cursing in public and using bad language. In 1961, comedian Lenny Bruce was arrested for obscenity. In 2003, he was pardoned by the Governor of New York.

**Pardoned means to me that what he did was OK. I was speaking about my experience and the Catholics/Christians surrounding me that all enjoyed this new, perverted programming. I wasn’t going to Mass at the time but many friends were and still watched this junk on TV. Everybody I worked with and hung around with acted in that manner. I didn’t know “decent” Catholics/Christians at the time and probably wouldn’t have listened anyway. The interesting thing was back then I wasn’t aware of any atheists either (probably just not vocal). Everybody claimed to be Christian but yet enjoyed watching this programming.

When I decided to live my life first as a Christian – my journey back included spending a couple of years interacting with the Baptist faith (no baptism) – I realized that to be true to the faith would mean not tollerating current friends actions including swearing and watching junk.

Long story short, since coming back to the Catholic Church I couldn’t accept the behavior of many so called friends and be faithful to the Church teaching. This is my perception, growing up in a middle class background, on what is going on around us. Using God’s name in vain is just touching the surface of the problems presented by society today.

We, faithful Catholics/Christians are literally inundated with severely wrong messages and actions daily. Our job is to try and change that with the best means available. Just with TV alone, I can’t watch 75% of the stuff I used to watch regularly. I basically watch EWTN and Science and History channels along with what I know will be decent. It must have been my world that was so messed up. I hope the rest of you aren’t seeing it as I did**.

God Bless and no disrespect intended in any way.

 

[SGTTOM]

I’ve always wondered why people who aren’t religious say ‘God’ and ‘Christ’.

I remember one time I was eating with some friends and a “friend”. Someone said ‘Christ’ and the “friend” said, “Jesus doesn’t exist”. This offended me but I didn’t say anything.

Why isn’t it seen as disrespectful to offend Christians?

So many people don’t find it disrespectful including Christians. That is why. If Christians at large were adamant about these uses of God’s name offending them we would hear it much much less. Unfortunately a large percentage of people who call themselves Christian ignore many of Gods laws.

As far as why non-religious people use God’s name as an exclamation, its part of pop culture. Its a habit.

Just some other thoughts on this thread including – how do we fight this???

I have no doubt that the quality of TV and internet access to questionable material is one way to begin the destruction of a society.

This is almost as bad as the Romans and the “games” offered in the Coliseum. Think about it for a minute – we just sit at home watching the games now. Almost any perversion you want can now be found on TV (pay per view) or over the internet for free most of the time. Keep giving people what they want to see and you have a huge, loyal fan base. Porn makes up a significant %% of the entire internet. Just look at how many free “R” rated movies are on TV not even considering what you can purchase. I’m not saying all R rated are bad but let’s face it many have some steamy stuff which can lead to other inappropriate behavior.

Anyone wanting to remain faithful to Christ must channel surf with one eye closed and a fast finger on the next channel. It is rediculous but this is what most people want to see or it wouldn’t be there. I have no doubt that satan has his hooks into all of this and is using it to destroy souls.

If anyone has some resources they can share with me on how to help fight this please do so. I have spent the past few years learning my faith and fighting some personal health issues. I volunteer at my parish but we have little focus on the big issues except maybe signing up for the bus ride to DC to march against abortion. I can’t march right now.

If anyone has some resources they can share with me on how to help fight this please do so. I have a good mind but mobility has been a factor right now (2 back operations in the past 5 months and recovering).

Thanks and God Bless.

I would guess the simplest way fight it is not to watch it. Encourage friends and family not to watch it. Bring it up in conversations with people, and at social gatherings. Many Catholic people fall prey to cursing. There are also many who don’t allow cursing in there house but are willing to watch it on TV, as they will say it is just pretend. I myself have often let myself fall deeper and deeper down the road of leniency in what I watch for entertainment. It is truly difficult when most of what is popular contains such things.

 

[TurboLover336]

I think its more relative to the cloth from which your cut than nationality or anything else for that matter.
I’ve gotten through quite a few engine overhauls and vehicle restorations and repairs without uttering a single profanity, vulgarity or missuse of the name Jesus Christ … assuming, of course, praying to the Almighty that the new transmissions splines will marry up to the clutch properly is fair game and likewise for the driveshaft length where modifications are in play.

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

I’ll admit, I’m dense. OK? I admitted it. But I do not understand why this is a big deal.

 

[Dale_M]

I’ll admit, I’m dense. OK? I admitted it. But I do not understand why this is a big deal.

I am not bothered by the use of salty language when it seems natural to a movie or television program. However, I sometimes wonder if certain comedians don’t overuse cuss words in order to seem edgy.

Ira Glass, the host of a witty and insightful US public radio show doesn’t curse. He has created a great program (This American Life) which I recommend to others without hesitation. On the show, he occasionally recommends a podcast by a certain comedian who interviews other comedians. The podcast is great! However, the name of the podcast is not family-friendly and its host begins each episode by repeating the swear word multiple times, in different variations. It doesn’t seem funny, ground-breaking, or interesting… its just annoying and offensive. So as much as I want to recommend the podcast, I can not do so in a forum such as this.