Is saying "Oh my Gosh/Goodness" blasphemy?

[Mintaka]

Now, just so we know what we’re talking about, here’s St. Alphonsus Liguori’s definition of blasphemy:

“What is blasphemy, and how many kinds are there?”

“Blasphemy is the direct opposite of praising God. It is words of cursing God, or abusing Him, or of contempt against Him. Or it is words which may attribute to creatures what they owe to God. Or also, it is words saying true things, but in a way that tends toward dishonor or disparagement of God; or in a way that is resentful and scornful against God.”

(This is at the very beginning of the chapter on Blasphemy.)

 

[Pup7]

The citation doesn’t cover everything, like references to Jesus or ‘oh my gosh’. It also doesn’t actually approve of any of the minced oaths. It uses this to describe such language, ‘not exactly nice words to say‘ and ‘inelegant, unbecoming, vulgar expressions’.

Air Force regulations don’t cover every single scenario known to man and general either. But we’re intelligent enough to know what’s allowed and what isn’t. Some of it’s up to interpretation. Some of it gets left to supervision.

Not everyone shares your interpretation. God is my ultimate supervisor. I’ll take my chances, darn it. Somehow I think the list I’ll be greeted with has far more problem items on it then every time I uttered something I likely shouldn’t have.

 

[Pup7]

“Blasphemy is the direct opposite of praising God. It is words of cursing God, or abusing Him, or of contempt against Him. Or it is words which may attribute to creatures what they owe to God. Or also, it is words saying true things, but in a way that tends toward dishonor or disparagement of God; or in a way that is resentful and scornful against God.”

Which doesn’t cover “poppycock”, “crap”, or “sucks”. Or even the more colorful scatological terms.

 

[Mintaka]

Actually, the previous book talks exactly about those points. I provided a link as well, so the poster can look for himself/herself.

 

[Pup7]

Interesting. I’ll go check that out.

 

[Pup7]

But that IS the actual profanity (not the same thing as a nonsensical word that doesn’t have the same cultural meaning) and even when people say it thoughtlessly, they usually know they shouldn’t have said it because it is actually God’s name not some nonsensical word. I’ve seen many people say it, realize what the said and utter an apology to God in that moment. Some people don’t but that’s between them and God.

I will own that I have done this myself. And it’s funny, but since I converted, I’m actually more aware of when I’m about to slip (no, I never walked around swearing to that level as a general rule, but it has happened) and I’ll catch myself. I think that says something.

 

[exnihilo]

That said, there have been numerous studies showing that you can offset pain, even very strong pain, by giving your brain emotional release through yelling something. Yelling something nasty is more effective. The more shocking and uncharacteristic, the more effective.

Obviously there is a line between justified helpfulness and unjustified, ungrateful evil.

I believe that. I know I want to yell something when I’m mad or hurt. And I usually do. Of course I could pray in that moment. They should study the few people (by my reckoning) who do that.

Because most people aren’t consciously choosing with intent to “walk right up to the line.’ Most people’s intent is to avoid saying anything crude or harsh. For most people gosh or darn it is the equivalent of saying “wow” or " oh man.”

I don’t know about that. I grew up with someone who would never say certain words at work. But he’d say those words in anger at home. There can be intent regarding these words, even the seemingly harmless variety. For instance many people would never say ‘f you’. But they might say ‘sc*** you’. However, they probably wouldn’t say even that to certain people or in certain situations.

“Dios mio” is “oh my God”. I seriously doubt every Hispanic/Spanish-speaking person on this earth is condemned for that.

Whether they are condemned isn’t the question. The question is if it is right or wrong to do.

Air Force regulations don’t cover every single scenario known to man and general either. But we’re intelligent enough to know what’s allowed and what isn’t. Some of it’s up to interpretation. Some of it gets left to supervision.

I agree. There is the spirit of the law. That is exactly what the issue here is.

 

[Pup7]

The dictionary:

darn
[dahrn]Informal.
adjective, adverb
darned.
verb (used with object)
to curse; da**:
Darn that pesky fly!

It says “to curse”. Not “if you say this you are placing a curse on someone’s head”. That’s the dictionary, not a book on Wiccan Spells or Tarot Cards.

Curse: an offensive word or phrase used to express anger or annoyance.
Verb form: to utter offensive words in anger or annoyance.

 

[Pup7]

Whether they are condemned isn’t the question. The question is if it is right or wrong to do.

There’s no question. Like I said, God is my ultimate supervisor. I’ll have my pen out for my paperwork, as we say in the military, when I get to the check in point and pick up my in processing checklist.

Somehow I doubt my darns and goshes would be what sends me straight.

 

[Pup7]

I don’t know about that. I grew up with someone who would never say certain words at work. But he’d say those words in anger at home. There can be intent regarding these words, even the seemingly harmless variety. For instance many people would never say ‘f you’. But they might say ‘sc*** you’. However, they probably wouldn’t say even that to certain people or in certain situations.

Hell must be full of generals, colonels, chiefs, senior NCOs…

 

[Joe_5859]

Thank you for the clarification on what a minced oath is.

So here is a question. Do you have any citation from any Church document, saint, theologian, etc. that makes the same claim you do that minced oaths are intrinsically sinful?

 

[Peebo]

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 

[Mintaka]

Here’s St. Alphonsus de Liguori on bad words that don’t constitute blasphemy, as well as minced oaths. Translation by me. If you go to the source, there are inline notes on Liguori’s sources.

"And neither is it blasphemy when a word is changed into another word, or pronounced incompletely.

"For example,
“I deny G!” [“Nego Di!” instead of “Nego Dio!”]
“Holy Go!” [“Santo Di!”]
“Diana!” [instead of “Dio!”]

…

“Neither is it blasphemy to say, against human beings, “God’s Blood!” “God’s Body!” – unless the angry outburst be directed against God.”

…

"Nor is it blasphemy to say, “God’s life!” or “Life of the saints!”

…

"Nor is it blasphemy to say… {a bunch of discussion about “God strike you down!” expressions, some pretty extreme.}

…

"Nor is it blasphemy to say “This is as true as God.”

…

"Nor is it blasphemy to say, “This was destined by fate.”

…

“Nor is it blasphemy to quote Scripture in a facetious saying, as long as it is not used in a shameful way and it is not done so often as to breed contempt.”

 

[exnihilo]

It says “to curse”. Not “if you say this you are placing a curse on someone’s head”. That’s the dictionary, not a book on Wiccan Spells or Tarot Cards.

Curse: an offensive word or phrase used to express anger or annoyance.
Verb form: to utter offensive words in anger or annoyance.

Cursing is wrong and does not mean just mean spells:

Cursing

Cursing. —In its popular acceptation cursing is often confounded, especially in the phrase “cursing and swearing”, with the use of profane and insul...

www.catholic.com

Hell must be full of generals, colonels, chiefs, senior NCOs…

I don’t know that people are sent to Hell for certain words. But our goal isn’t just not going to Hell.

I learned to say ‘g d it’ and ‘Jesus Christ’ in anger from growing up. My family line come from an atheist who rejected his Christian upbringing and railed against God. It took a lot of work to stop using that language. I generally replaced it with the ‘gosh’ and ‘darn’.

The point is my thoughts on this issue aren’t from a position of perceived moral superiority. I myself used these words as approximate replacements. I then wonder why did I choose those specific words as replacements. Why didn’t I chose other words, nothing at all, or even a plea like ‘God help me’?

 

[exnihilo]

So here is a question. Do you have any citation from any Church document, saint, theologian, etc. that makes the same claim you do that minced oaths are intrinsically sinful?

No, I don’t have any sources to cite.

Here’s St. Alphonsus de Liguori on bad words that don’t constitute blasphemy, as well as minced oaths.

I still don’t think that satisfies the question. Blasphemy may have a more specific meaning here. His opinion is that a minced oath isn’t blasphemy, but that doesn’t answer the question of whether or not it is wrong.

 

[Pup7]

I still don’t think that satisfies the question. Blasphemy may have a more specific meaning here. His opinion is that a minced oath isn’t blasphemy, but that doesn’t answer the question of whether or not it is wrong.

SMH.

If it’s not blasphemous…

 

[Pup7]

I don’t know that people are sent to Hell for certain words. But our goal isn’t just not going to Hell.

I do realize this. That was a joke.

 

[Pup7]

Cursing is wrong and does not mean just mean spells:

It is not a curse, ex. It is NOT a curse by definition.

I’ve heard “s@#t” called a “curse word” (usually by kids - “Ooooo, he said a curse word!”). Clearly, it’s not.

 

[Joe_5859]

No, I don’t have any sources to cite.

Does that not give you pause to consider whether or not you are putting forth something that is authentic Catholic moral teaching?

I mean, I completely understand that you, personally, want to avoid minced oaths. That’s not a bad thing, particularly if you grew up using and hearing the real things so frequently. That you want to avoid even the possibility or hint of offending God through blasphemy is admirable.

However, it becomes a bridge too far when you start to argue that minced oaths always and everywhere constitute blasphemy for every individual—whether they know the origin of a phrase or not. Now, you have qualified that such individuals might not be culpable (which is good), but do you see why many have a problem with what you are arguing? You don’t even have any Church teaching or citations to back up your opinion.

We all agree that blasphemy is wrong. But saying that minced oaths fall under blasphemy is a specific claim and one I simply don’t see any evidence for. Why should anyone accept that a minced oath is blasphemy?

 

[Mintaka]

In other words, there is no source that will satisfy you, no matter how holy or authoritative.

Sigh. Nobody is saying that you have to use such expressions, or that you have to like them. What we are saying is that the Church teaches that they are not sinful. There is such a thing as a morally neutral act, and this is one.

Telling people that something is sinful, when it is not, is a cruel thing to do. Many of us say such things when we are young and stupid, or feeling more Catholic than the Pope. We don’t mean any harm by it, and God will not count it against us if we said what we thought right.

But it does real damage to people’s souls.

Jesus Christ is the Truth. We worship Him.

We do not worship My Opinion, or That Guy Over There’s Feelings and Tastes.