is swearing sinful?

[evidence]

Is saying “oh my G-d” or “D-mn it”, or “Jumping Jehos…”,or “what the H-ll” sinful? What about just normal “non-religious swear words”. Some say it’s just cultural. Whether it is sinful, or not, is it a good example for others to see a Christian speaking that way?
here’s what scripture and the catechism say:

We all know the commandent:
Ex 20:7 you shall not take the lords name in vain.

But what is(are) God’s name(s)?
Ex 34:5 - Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood with him there and proclaimed his name, “LORD.”
Jer 44:26 - Therefore hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by my great name, says the LORD, that my name shall no more be invoked by the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, `As the Lord GOD lives.’

Obviously, “Jesus” or “Christ” are also God’s names…etc…

but the Catechism goes further (paragraphs 2142-2146). - #2143 - “introduce it not into your speech except to bless, praise, and glorify it.” and #2146 - “the lords name” also extents to use of the names of all the saints!

So, outside of praising them, it seems that it is sinful to use the words: God, Lord, Jesus, Christ, Mary, Jehosephat, etc…

What about cursing, swearing and words like Hell or “for Heaven’s sake”? While I don’t believe they are sinful to speak, there are 2 possible ways they could be sinful: 1. making light of a serious thing - If you knew that someone you know was in Hell, would you joke about it? 2. bad example to others of what a peaceful, prayerful Christian sounds like. Here are the verses that convinced me of this. Am I over the top?

Mt 12:36-37 - “I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter;37: for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Sirach 22:27 - “who will put a seal over my mouth…that my tongue may not destroy me?”
Sirach 23:7-14 - “…there are words that merit death…let not your mouth become used to coarse talk, for in it lies sinful matter…”
Eph 4:25 - 5:4 - “…Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear…Or obscenity, or foolish talking, or scurrility, which is to no purpose; but rather giving of thanks.”
Col 3:8 - “But now you must get rid of all such things anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth.”
2 Tm 2:16 - “Avoid profane chatter, for it will lead people into more and more impiety, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene”.
Ti 2:7-8 - “Show yourself in all respects a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.”
Jam 3:1-12 “…From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.”
Rm 12:2 - “be not conformed to this age…”.
Rm 12:12 - “be constant in prayer”

Any thoughts on this subject would be appreciated.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Some swearing is sinful.

Some is merely vulgar.

But the writers of the Bible were not above using a salty expression or two themselves.

 

[EmeraldWings]

it is not sinful to use swear words exactly, but we are encouraged by the church not to use them, because by using them we set a bad example of catholics,

it is, however, a mortal sin(when fully consented to) to use Gods named in vain, meaning, saying “Oh my God” for no reason, or of course, “God D##n it”, or just saying His name needlessly or disrespectfully or in jest,

when they talk about cursing in the bible, it’s not necessarily referring to bad words, but more literally cursing someone, and when the bible speaks of coarse talk, it’s referring to more vulgar or crude speech, like for example, talking about someone else in a very nasty or impure way, or just being completely gross or evil in your conversations,
and things like this - “every careless word they utter” “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth” “and abusive language from your mouth”
things like that are more directed at your language and conversation with others, how you treat your neighbor, like if your using angry or hurtful words or being aggressive to them,

now although the bible is more so referring to vulgar and impure conversation, that’s not to say that it’s not also referring to some bad words, i know there are many bad words that are crude and impure, which i’m sure i don’t have to name off, those are most likely sinful words to use,
but less crude words (such as sh*t and the like) are not sinful…

does that help? if not i’ll be glad to explain it further.

 

[celticsfan1983]

A guy studying ancient greek took a look at Phillipians 3:8.

jeffwofford.com/2006/11/wading-in-skubala.html

Paul uses the word skubala, a vulgar word for feces. Literal translation from greek? “But indeed I also consider everything to be loss on account of the surpassing knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I forfeited all things; and I consider them **** so that I may gain Christ…”

If you use the vulgar words effectively and in context, I don’t see anything wrong with it

 

[Matrix_Refugee]

A guy studying ancient greek took a look at Phillipians 3:8.

jeffwofford.com/2006/11/wading-in-skubala.html

Paul uses the word skubala, a vulgar word for feces. Literal translation from greek? “But indeed I also consider everything to be loss on account of the surpassing knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I forfeited all things; and I consider them **** so that I may gain Christ…”

If you use the vulgar words effectively and in context, I don’t see anything wrong with it

:: laughs:: I’m minded of one of Walker Percy’s novels (I think it was “Lancelot”), where the narrator lists this whole slew of things that are eroding morals in society, and said list ended with “school courses teaching eleven-year olds how to f***”. Deliberately shocking, but in a very effective way, since there’s really no other term for a condition where what should be marital love has been completely divorced (pun intended) from its meaning…