Is swearing a sin?

[mini_me640]

Outside of using the Lord’s name in vain or blaspheming, I can’t see that using swear words is a sin. Culturally or socially inappropriate, but not sinful. For example, why would saying the word s____ be any worse that the word poop? They mean exactly the same thing. The fact that one of them is a “bad” word and the other is okay is totally arbitrary in my opinion.

 

[LilyM]

Outside of using the Lord’s name in vain or blaspheming, I can’t see that using swear words is a sin. Culturally or socially inappropriate, but not sinful. For example, why would saying the word s____ be any worse that the word poop? They mean exactly the same thing. The fact that one of them is a “bad” word and the other is okay is totally arbitrary in my opinion.

Well, I don’t say either word, not unless it’s warranted, for example when discussing my actual bodily functions with a doctor.

Words are incredibly powerful. Remember God brought creation into being with His word. And Jesus is the Logos - His Word made flesh. Language, and our use of it, is itself His gift, to be used only to His glory.

How does it show a proper appreciation for the power and beauty of human language when well-used, or proper gratitude to God who gives us this gift, to use it in a crass and undignified manner?

 

[mini_me640]

Well, I don’t say either word, not unless it’s warranted, for example when discussing my actual bodily functions with a doctor.

Words are incredibly powerful. Remember God brought creation into being with His word. And Jesus is the Logos - His Word made flesh. Language, and our use of it, is itself His gift, to be used only to His glory.

How does it show a proper appreciation for the power and beauty of human language when well-used, or proper gratitude to God who gives us this gift, to use it in a crass and undignified manner?

My point is, who decided what constitutes an undignified manner of expression? If it isn’t blasphemous, it is totally arbitrary to me that, when you have two (or more) words that mean EXACTLY the same thing, that one is “bad” and sinful to say, and the other is fine. Who decides that one word is taboo and the other is okay? If I stub my toe and say “oh ****!” I’m in the clear, but if I stub my toe and say “oh s____!” I’m wrong, even sinful? That’s ridiculous to me. Now if I use swear words to insult someone, such as calling them a s____head, I would think that would be wrong, but only because of the intent to hurt someone, not because of the word choice itself. I’m not saying my opinions are the only way to look at thing, but that’s how I see it.

 

[LilyM]

My point is, who decided what constitutes an undignified manner of expression? If it isn’t blasphemous, it is totally arbitrary to me that, when you have two (or more) words that mean EXACTLY the same thing, that one is “bad” and sinful to say, and the other is fine. Who decides that one word is taboo and the other is okay? If I stub my toe and say “oh ****!” I’m in the clear, but if I stub my toe and say “oh s____!” I’m wrong, even sinful? That’s ridiculous to me. Now if I use swear words to insult someone, such as calling them a s____head, I would think that would be wrong, but only because of the intent to hurt someone, not because of the word choice itself. I’m not saying my opinions are the only way to look at thing, but that’s how I see it.

I never SAID one word was fine and the other OK - where did you get the idea that I or anyone thought it was?

I said I’d never use the word st, so what makes you think I’d use any synonym for it? I wouldn’t, and in fact I said I wouldn’t, for the reason that I don’t think either the word or any synonym for it is OK or ‘dignified’. And most people I know who would consider the word st to be bad language would equally consider synonyms such as c**p equally bad language.

So no, I wouldn’t say cp, just like I wouldn’t say st, apart from such situations as discussing the actual bodily function. Except that if memory serves cp or cps is the name of a game of chance, so it’s OK to use as the name of the game.

 

[mini_me640]

I never SAID one word was fine and the other OK - where did you get the idea that I or anyone thought it was?

I said I’d never use the word st, so what makes you think I’d use any synonym for it? I wouldn’t, and in fact I said I wouldn’t, for the reason that I don’t think either the word or any synonym for it is OK or ‘dignified’. And most people I know who would consider the word st to be bad language would equally consider synonyms such as c**p equally bad language.

So no, I wouldn’t say cp, just like I wouldn’t say st, apart from such situations as discussing the actual bodily function. Except that if memory serves cp or cps is the name of a game of chance, so it’s OK to use as the name of the game.

So if you are addressing the actual bodily function, would you agree that all words that refer to it are equal; that one word is not “bad” while the others are okay?

Actually, though, my post didn’t revolve around you and your choice of language specifically. In general though, the words **** and poop are considered to be socially acceptable, but s____ is a swear word. That seem silly to me. I know lots of people who think the word **** is fine but are offended by s_____. ( BTW, what do you say when you stub your toe? I’ll use another example: darn it or dang it vs. d__n it. Meanings are exactly the same, one word is a “bad” word the others are fine. “What the heck?” vs. “What the h__l?” And so on. My point is that the vast majority of people who will say using swear words is “bad” and even sinful have no problem substituting words that mean exactly the same thing. That’s what I think is ridiculous.

 

[LilyM]

So if you are addressing the actual bodily function, would you agree that all words that refer to it are equal; that one word is not “bad” while the others are okay?

Actually, though, my post didn’t revolve around you and your choice of language specifically. In general though, the words **** and poop are considered to be socially acceptable, but s____ is a swear word. That seem silly to me. I know lots of people who think the word **** is fine but are offended by s_____.

Uh, the c-word was bleeped out by the censors on this forum - so obviously people don’t think it is fine.

( BTW, what do you say when you stub your toe?

I say ‘oww’. You think anything else is required?

I’ll use another example: darn it or dang it vs. d__n it. Meanings are exactly the same, one word is a “bad” word the others are fine. “What the heck?” vs. “What the h__l?” And so on. My point is that the vast majority of people who will say using swear words is “bad” and even sinful have no problem substituting words that mean exactly the same thing. That’s what I think is ridiculous.

‘Darn’ actually has a different sense - the word means to mend a piece of clothing. So it’s not necessarily meant to substitute for d**n. I don’t say things like ‘heck’, because I know they are synonyms. No-one I know who cares about swearing does either, presuming that they are aware that they are synonyms.

Many people actually aren’t aware, so are using them out of ignorance of the fact that they have the same meaning.

 

[mini_me640]

Uh, the c-word was bleeped out by the censors on this forum - so obviously people don’t think it is fine.

I say ‘oww’. You think anything else is required?

’Darn’ actually has a different sense - the word means to mend a piece of clothing. So it’s not necessarily meant to substitute for d**n. I don’t say things like ‘heck’, because I know they are synonyms. No-one I know who cares about swearing does either, presuming that they are aware that they are synonyms.

Many people actually aren’t aware, so are using them out of ignorance of the fact that they have the same meaning.

I’m sorry, but nobody who gets bad news and says “darn it” is referring to mending socks. They are using it to substitue for d__mn. EVERYONE I know who doesn’t swear says what the heck for example. You are a rare person, and at least you are consistent

We’ll have to agree to disagree on this one. People know that they are using synonyms for the swear word.

You didn’t answer me as to when you are referring to the actual bodily function we discussed before (yuck) , if you think all words referring to it are equal?