How to respond to those taking the Lord's name in vain?

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Hoosier_Daddy said:
Just ask them not to blaspheme in front of you.🤷
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Hard for me to do that, Hoosier Daddy, but I wish I had the nerve in certain situations. I’m just not assertive enough and don’t have the courage. Thanks for the suggestion, though. Hope it works for some others. God bless.
 
truetofaith said:
Is it worse to use God’s name or the Lord’s name as an adjective or use the “F” word?

Since the 2nd Commandment is about not taking the Lord’s name in vain, I would think it is a mortal sin & the “F” word a venial sin…although it’s more disgusting & embarrassing especially in mixed company.
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I don’t know, truetofaith. A Priest supposedly once told a member of our family that “cursing isn’t a sin, only taking God’s name in vain is,” but I don’t know in what context the Priest said that, and I don’t even know whether to believe it fully because the family member who related it is a “cafeteria Catholic” who chooses which portions of Church teachings they wish to follow that are convenient for them.
The “f word” definitely makes me cringe when I hear it, but in a different way than the hurt I feel when the Lord’s name is used in vain.
 
bmaj said:
I don’t know, truetofaith. A Priest supposedly once told a member of our family that “cursing isn’t a sin, only taking God’s name in vain is,” but I don’t know in what context the Priest said that, and I don’t even know whether to believe it fully because the family member who related it is a “cafeteria Catholic” who chooses which portions of Church teachings they wish to follow that are convenient for them.
The “f word” definitely makes me cringe when I hear it, but in a different way than the hurt I feel when the Lord’s name is used in vain.
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My feeling is using God’s name in vain is a mortal sin…“F” & other words are probably venial, if they are used carelessly…unless they are used as a direct insult to a person. I think then they are mortal.

I confess them all…anyway!
 
Fall to your knees and say a decade of the Divine Mercy while sobbing.

“For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world!”

I bet they will never use the Lords name in vain around you again.
 
Giggly_Giraffe said:
Fall to your knees and say a decade of the Divine Mercy while sobbing.

“For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world!”

I bet they will never use the Lords name in vain around you again.
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Send a couple Jehovah’s Witnesses to their house. 😃
 
Abundant said:
I’m curious…in my house, I’ve always taught my kids that we don’t say God’s name unless we are talking to Him or about Him. It’s kind of awkward now that they are getting older because if they have a friend over who says “oh my g–,” I automatically reply with my rule that we don’t say that in this house. Am I being overly scrupulous? Do you say it? Honestly, I’m more likely to say a word that starts with S, B or F than OMG. 🤷
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Interesting question, Abundant. We ourselves don’t use the phrase OMG in our house, but there are many family members who don’t live with us who have always used it, young and old alike. I usually never know if I should say anything or not. I actually heard a Priest say OMG during a homily once and was shocked, but we’re all human, and even Priests must go to Confession for various sins. I don’t know if that was one he had to confess or not…
 
bmaj said:
I don’t know, truetofaith. A Priest supposedly once told a member of our family that “cursing isn’t a sin, only taking God’s name in vain is,” but I don’t know in what context the Priest said that, and I don’t even know whether to believe it fully because the family member who related it is a “cafeteria Catholic” who chooses which portions of Church teachings they wish to follow that are convenient for them.
The “f word” definitely makes me cringe when I hear it, but in a different way than the hurt I feel when the Lord’s name is used in vain.
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I’m always surprised when people think using foul language is a sin, or somehow related to taking the name of the Lord in vain. One of my children’s catechists once sent home an examination of conscience she had prepared, and included using the words, F*** and sh**.
I had to explain to my child that using those words was crude, but not in itself sinful.

The sin would arise if I told them they could not use those words in our house, and they failed to honor their parents by doing so. (I’m talking minor children, not adults).
 
SpeakKindly said:
Usually I ignore it, but sometimes I try to bring it to attention without being so obvious.

For example, if someone comes into the room and exclaims “Jesus!” I’ll say "Nope, it’s just me. ", or “Where!?”. All in fun, of course.

I find that people don’t like to have their language checked by others, they’ll tend to do it themselves if they’re around me because I try not to use that language around them and it’s noticeable that I don’t in public.

In private I sometimes use profanity, but not often and it’s not good.
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Those are two excellent responses, SpeakKindly! Thanks very much for sharing. Will keep them on hand for future use when appropriate. I also find some people apologize to me after taking the Lord’s name in vain or using foul language, but unfortunately they usually just do it again another time… Am hoping some of these suggestions will be useful in helping to prevent some future occurrences. God’s blessings to you.
 
AnnArbor said:
I’m always surprised when people think using foul language is a sin, or somehow related to taking the name of the Lord in vain. One of my children’s catechists once sent home an examination of conscience she had prepared, and included using the words, F*** and sh**.
I had to explain to my child that using those words was crude, but not in itself sinful.

The sin would arise if I told them they could not use those words in our house, and they failed to honor their parents by doing so. (I’m talking minor children, not adults).
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I very much agree. Those words are used in my house a lot between my wife and I. Not at each other but in the course of conversation.

Is it low class? Perhaps. But it can also be an effective communication of something. And sometimes quite accurate. (Like when my wife asks how my day was and I literally just got done cleaning up feces on a wall and a crib I may respond that my day was s…y.)
 
hoosier daddy said:
i very much agree. Those words are used in my house a lot between my wife and i. Not at each other but in the course of conversation.

Is it low class? Perhaps. But it can also be an effective communication of something. And sometimes quite accurate. (like when my wife asks how my day was and i literally just got done cleaning up feces on a wall and a crib i may respond that my day was s…y.)
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:rotfl::rotfl:
 
AnnArbor said:
I’m always surprised when people think using foul language is a sin, or somehow related to taking the name of the Lord in vain. One of my children’s catechists once sent home an examination of conscience she had prepared, and included using the words, F*** and sh**.
I had to explain to my child that using those words was crude, but not in itself sinful.

The sin would arise if I told them they could not use those words in our house, and they failed to honor their parents by doing so. (I’m talking minor children, not adults).
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Interesting how there are so many differing viewpoints, AnnArbor. I wonder if there are any Priests reading this thread who could shed some light with their thoughts.
I would think that the foul language would also likely become sinful if a child (or an adult for that matter) were using the improper term to describe a person they were angry at or something to that effect.
 
bmaj said:
Interesting how there are so many differing viewpoints, AnnArbor. I wonder if there are any Priests reading this thread who could shed some light with their thoughts.
I would think that the foul language would also likely become sinful if a child (or an adult for that matter) were using the improper term to describe a person they were angry at or something to that effect.
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I would expect a priest who disagreed to provide some specific reference to the contrary. I’ve never seen anything to suggest that common vulgarities are sinful–and I can’t imagine on what grounds they would be.

If someone, adult or child, called another person a name, that would be a sin against charity. It wouldn’t really matter if the name were vulgar or not.
 
I know it sounds like a silly question, but I’d like to know …

Is “God”, the Lord’s name? Or is it the name of Jesus that is being referred to when we’re told not to take the name in vain? And what does taking it in vain mean? Just using it as an exclamation or attaching other words (like d*mn) to it? :confused:

Honestly, if this was ever taught to me besides the need not to use curse words, I’ve totally forgotten it.

I tend to think OMG as in Oh my gosh! But obviously that’s a substitute so I’ve heard that isn’t permissible. As apparently is “By Jove” (thought for a sec of adopting that one). If not, any suggestions for what we can say as an exclamation to express our emotion of the moment? (Can’t think of any that aren’t a substitution of some kind).

I know internet posts can be misinterpreted, so let me assure you, I’m asking with complete sincerity. I really don’t know and would like to better understand.

Thanks!
 
CradleJourney said:
I know it sounds like a silly question, but I’d like to know …

Is “God”, the Lord’s name? Or is it the name of Jesus that is being referred to when we’re told not to take the name in vain? And what does taking it in vain mean? Just using it as an exclamation or attaching other words (like d*mn) to it? :confused:

Honestly, if this was ever taught to me besides the need not to use curse words, I’ve totally forgotten it.

I tend to think OMG as in Oh my gosh! But obviously that’s a substitute so I’ve heard that isn’t permissible. As apparently is “By Jove” (thought for a sec of adopting that one). If not, any suggestions for what we can say as an exclamation to express our emotion of the moment? (Can’t think of any that aren’t a substitution of some kind).

I know internet posts can be misinterpreted, so let me assure you, I’m asking with complete sincerity. I really don’t know and would like to better understand.

Thanks!
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Using the word, God in any manner but a religious or respectful way is a sin…perhaps venial. Would you use your mother’s name or title in a careless manner? 😦 Give the same respect to God.

When someone says something shocking, I say …"Oh WOW! My friends would always tease me & repeat it. 🙂
 
truetofaith said:
Using the word, God in any manner but a religious or respectful way is a sin…perhaps venial. Would you use your mother’s name or title in a careless manner? 😦 Give the same respect to God…

)
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Good way of putting it, truetofaith! I think many Catholics/Christians probably don’t even realize this or think about it, possibly because they grew up hearing it at home as well, and their parents may not have even thought about it either.
 
Hoosier_Daddy said:
I very much agree. Those words are used in my house a lot between my wife and I. Not at each other but in the course of conversation.

Is it low class? Perhaps. But it can also be an effective communication of something. And sometimes quite accurate. (Like when my wife asks how my day was and I literally just got done cleaning up feces on a wall and a crib I may respond that my day was s…y.)
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I’ve noticed in the work force that those who use offensive language (taking the Lord’s name in vain/ foul language/or both) do not seem to advance up the career ladder as quickly as those who don’t, if at all. It may be that this is one factor taken into account in the interview process for many promotional opportunities. When I have been part of various teams interviewing candidates in the past, I know it has weighed heavily in my considerations. Since children always learn to follow our example in the home, we’ve tried to keep our language in check as often as possible so that they too would be vigilant of theirs, both when they’re young and as they in turn enter the workforce. Even if they’re not in the same room, they often hear conversations between us as parents when we don’t think they do (and wish they hadn’t), so it can be a real challenge! With the world’s economy today and likely the future, it might be something to keep in mind to give our children that little something extra over someone else in the very large pool of candidates in either getting hired in the first place or advancing in their careers.
Thanks so mujch to everyone for taking the time to respond, and God bless!
 
bmaj said:
I’ve noticed in the work force that those who use offensive language (taking the Lord’s name in vain/ foul language/or both) do not seem to advance up the career ladder as quickly as those who don’t, if at all. It may be that this is one factor taken into account in the interview process for many promotional opportunities. When I have been part of various teams interviewing candidates in the past, I know it has weighed heavily in my considerations. Since children always learn to follow our example in the home, we’ve tried to keep our language in check as often as possible so that they too would be vigilant of theirs, both when they’re young and as they in turn enter the workforce. Even if they’re not in the same room, they often hear conversations between us as parents when we don’t think they do (and wish they hadn’t), so it can be a real challenge! With the world’s economy today and likely the future, it might be something to keep in mind to give our children that little something extra over someone else in the very large pool of candidates in either getting hired in the first place or advancing in their careers.
Thanks so mujch to everyone for taking the time to respond, and God bless!
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It has been my experience in the past that those that need to punctuate their statements/comments with profanity really have little to constructively contribute. Those that take that step farther and take the Lords name in vain somehow always end up somewhere outside my listening area, I immediately tune them out and will move on directing my conversation with those others that may be present. Should I be in a one on one with that person I will quickly end the conversation without dressing that person down for their choice of words, although sometimes I really would like to tell them what I think.

Unfortunately todays culture seems to be adopting an attitude that a certain amount of profanity is acceptable. Certain words are commonly used as is evident while watching almost anything on television and all you hear is the censor beeping.
 
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