How serious of a sin is it to take God's name in vain?

[iLoveJesus225]

I was just wondering how serious of a sin it is to take God’s name in vain. I accidentally slipped and said it when I was very mad.

 

[JMJ_coder]

You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain. For the LORD will not leave unpunished him who takes his name in vain. (Ex 20:7)

I think that using the Name of God as a curse word is a serious sin. My reading of the Catechism would place such an utterance under the category of blasphemy:

2148 Blasphemy is directly opposed to the second commandment. It consists in uttering against God - inwardly or outwardly - words of hatred, reproach, or defiance; in speaking ill of God; in failing in respect toward him in one’s speech; in misusing God’s name. St. James condemns those “who blaspheme that honorable name [of Jesus] by which you are called.” The prohibition of blasphemy extends to language against Christ’s Church, the saints, and sacred things. It is also blasphemous to make use of God’s name to cover up criminal practices, to reduce peoples to servitude, to torture persons or put them to death. the misuse of God’s name to commit a crime can provoke others to repudiate religion.

Blasphemy is contrary to the respect due God and his holy name. It is in itself a grave sin.

As for your own culpability, you and your confessor will be the best judges of that.

 

[CatholicOf94]

Well think about it, in the times of the Old testament, NO ONE was supposed to say God’s name ‘Yahweh’, except for the high priest. Only once a year could his name be said and this was on the feast of the liberation from Egypt.

And from what I know, in that time, to abuse the name of God would be a capital crime, punishable by stoning.

Blasphemy has many forms:

1. Words spoken, inwardly or outwardly, of hatred, abuse, or defiance of God
2. Failing to respect God in speech
3. Misusing God’s name
4. Language against Christ’s Church, saints, or sacred things
5. Using God’s name to cover up criminal practices
6. Seriously harming people in God’s name

 

[JRKH]

I was just wondering how serious of a sin it is to take God’s name in vain. I accidentally slipped and said it when I was very mad.

In the circumstances above it is a small sin. You said it when you were emotionally out of control and I assume that, like me when I slip, were immediately sorry for it.

In the circumstances above the greater sin may well have been the anger that led you to using God’s name in vain.

So why do you worry about the “name calling” done by accident but do not ask about the “anger” that led to it?

It is important, as we examine our conscience, to look at such events carefully so that we may better understand them and figure out hwere we need the most help and effort in our spiritual life.

Peace
James

 

[iLoveJesus225]

In the circumstances above it is a small sin. You said it when you were emotionally out of control and I assume that, like me when I slip, were immediately sorry for it.

In the circumstances above the greater sin may well have been the anger that led you to using God’s name in vain.

So why do you worry about the “name calling” done by accident but do not ask about the “anger” that led to it?

It is important, as we examine our conscience, to look at such events carefully so that we may better understand them and figure out hwere we need the most help and effort in our spiritual life.

Peace
James

So this is something I should bring to Confession? And I should try to chill out with the causes that led me to it?

 

[JRKH]

So this is something I should bring to Confession? And I should try to chill out with the causes that led me to it?

Absolutely.
It is always important to look for the underlying weakness for our sins.

Your concern about “taking God’s name in vain” is a laudable one but it is only the “tip of the iceberg” in determining the “root cause” of the problem.
You said you were angry - At whom and for what?
Are we as Christians called to Anger or to forgiveness?

If I may recommend, Read Matthew Chapters 5 and 6. Read the whole chapters through. What you will find is Christ teaching that it is not just actions, but attitudes and thoughts that are sinful.
We are called to form ourselves to Christ, and to God our Father.
*You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect *(Mt 5:48)

So yes. Take to confession, not only your taking God’s name in vain, but take the anger that caused it. Speak with your confessor about this anger and seek ways to curb it. Remember that Anger is one of the “[Seven Deadly Sins (http://www.deadlysins.com/sins/index.htm)”:

• Pride is excessive belief in one’s own abilities, that interferes with the individual’s recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity.
• Envy is the desire for others’ traits, status, abilities, or situation.
• Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires.
• Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body.
• Anger is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath.
• Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness.
• Sloth is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work.

As you look through these sins and how your anger led to taking God’s name in vain, you’ll find (as I often do) that there is more than one of these at work. For instance, I might become angry because of Pride, or Lust, or Envy.

This then is what I mean by looking for the root cause of sin. What is it inside of you (and me) that caused you to move away from Good and toward Evil.

Peace
James

 

[chichizola]

So this is something I should bring to Confession? And I should try to chill out with the causes that led me to it?

Always go to Confession!

Confession is a great opportunity to receive that extra Grace from God, that all of us need.

May God Bless you.

Live Jesus!

 

[puzzleannie]

I was just wondering how serious of a sin it is to take God’s name in vain. I accidentally slipped and said it when I was very mad.

it is not a sin at all unless it is done intentionally, but it is a serious sin then because it breaks 2nd commandment and they are ranked in order of importance. It can be a venial sin when it becomes a habit to use God’s name as a casual conversation expletive as in g-d-it, or omg, and at the least indicates a carelessness about one’s attitude toward God and toward others with whom one is speaking. It is a mortal sin when the intent is to demean God, to cheat or defraud, swear falsely or to something sinful, to curse as in calling on God–or demons–to inflict evil on another person. Read the CCC on the commandments for answers to these questions

 

[JRKH]

it is not a sin at all unless it is done intentionally, but it is a serious sin then because it breaks 2nd commandment and they are ranked in order of importance. It can be a venial sin when it becomes a habit to use God’s name as a casual conversation expletive as in g-d-it, or omg, and at the least indicates a carelessness about one’s attitude toward God and toward others with whom one is speaking. It is a mortal sin when the intent is to demean God, to cheat or defraud, swear falsely or to something sinful, to curse as in calling on God–or demons–to inflict evil on another person. Read the CCC on the commandments for answers to these questions

I will take issue with only one part of your statemnet here. I do not find the use of “God d-it” to be particularly “venial” in any case. You are right that, by using it casually and without thinking it shows a carelessness, but in this case it is even more. It is a prayer. A calling down of God’s wrath upon someone or something. OMG can be a good thing or a bad thing. God d-it is only bad - evil in fact.
It saddens me no end that this seems to be the most popular and widespread prayer today -even among so called Chrisitans.

Peace
James