Is Profanity Sinful?

[LovePatience]

Re: Is profanity a mortal sin?
Again, please keep in mind the three requirements for mortal sin: grave matter, full knowledge, and full and free consent of the will. If any of those three requirements are missing, there is not a mortal sin. So the question is not “Is profanity a mortal sin?” but “Is profanity grave matter?” This holds true with just about every questionable action to trouble the human conscience: We can only determine whether the action is grave matter; only the individual, perhaps in concert with a spiritual director or confessor, can discern whether he has met the other two requirements for mortal sin.

Now, is profanity grave matter? It depends on what you’re considering to be profanity. As you say, blasphemy is an entirely different question. To simplify matters profanity, as opposed to blasphemy or irreverence, is usually considered to be vulgar word choices for certain bodily parts and functions (this is also sometimes referred to as obscenity or coarse language; to simplify matters, we’ll use profanity to encompass all non-blasphemous objectionable language). To the extent that such word choices are used abusively toward other persons or toward God, it may constitute grave matter; to the extent that such word choices are used unthinkingly, for lack of more refined and considerate expressions, it is rude but not necessarily sinful. Rude, in this case, is being used in the sense of either “lacking social graces” or “lacking education in civility.” If one is purposely rude (i.e., ill-mannered, impolite, even though one knows better), it may constitute sin depending on the gravity of the offense.

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“If anyone comes to me, I want to lead them to Him.” --St. Edith Stein

Is profanity used just to lighten the air in the room actually a good thing? Does that count under the definition of “purposely rude”? If so, why do “Christian” movies and songs contain so little profanity? And why are women judged more harshly for using profanity instead of men?

 

[PazzoGrande]

Is profanity used just to lighten the air in the room actually a good thing? Does that count under the definition of “purposely rude”? If so, why do “Christian” movies and songs contain so little profanity? And why are women judged more harshly for using profanity instead of men?

There is a story in the book by Nino Lo Bello titled “The Incredible Book of Vatican Facts and Papal Curiosities” about John XXIII.

A worker thought he was alone and was using a bunch of profane words. John joked “Can’t you just say sh-t like everyone else?”

Not saying the joke was right; I can’t imagine any other saint using that word. Just food for thought.

 

[King_Lazy]

Is profanity used just to lighten the air in the room actually a good thing? Does that count under the definition of “purposely rude”? If so, why do “Christian” movies and songs contain so little profanity? And why are women judged more harshly for using profanity instead of men?

It’s dependent on the language and audience. In some dialects of English, certain words might not be offensive in certain contexts, whereas in others, they would be, and some people are always offended by profanity, no matter what the context, and one is never justified in offending such people. In general, it is best to avoid using profanity, and if in doubt, leave it out.

As to women being judged more harshly, it is a question of context and the social rules that apply in your dialect.

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

There is a story in the book by Nino Lo Bello titled “The Incredible Book of Vatican Facts and Papal Curiosities” about John XXIII.

A worker thought he was alone and was using a bunch of profane words. John joked “Can’t you just say sh-t like everyone else?”

Not saying the joke was right; I can’t imagine any other saint using that word. Just food for thought.

My opinion.
It is to lighten the air.

 

[Georgia]

Much has to do with culture and context. As a practical matter, is there really any difference in using one word to describe something versus another word if the context is neutral? I doubt it.

There is the issue of giving scandal. I am the one convert among my blood relatives and former colleagues. When I am around them, I have to be a little more careful than would be otherwise required. A slip here or there would reflect badly on the path I have chosen.

 

[Jaypeeto4]

Profanity is never “good,”
but it is not mortal sin, unless you invoke God to kill or hurt someone, and even then it might be an emotional outburst and not meet the 3 criteria for mortal sin.
Emotional outbursts, out of frustration, do not meet that criteria, no matter
HOW vulgar the language.

Still, we should ask God every day for the strength to avoid vulgar language,
especially around those who KNOW that we are Christians, because it gives a
measure of scandal to them.

So dammit, knock it off !!!