Saying "OH MY GOD!"

[journey00]

Is this bad or not? Does the CCC mention anything about it?

 

[Zzyzx_Road]

Perhaps this Commandment is not applicable?

You shall not take the name of the Lord God in vain.

I substitute “Oh my goodness!”. Or if looking for a little humor, it might be “Holy cow, Batman!”

 

[journey00]

Please tell me how it is takin The Lord’s name in vain? I’m not being argumentative, I really want to understand. Is it because I’m not honoring Him? Thanks.

 

[dshix]

Is this bad or not? Does the CCC mention anything about it?

It is entirely depending on the intention. “Oh my God” is a prayer, an invocation of God’s name.

I myself have said it when appropriate, such as when hearing of the sudden death of a good person I know well, or when some public calamity occurs. In these cases, it is a prayer, a call on God in supplication.

When the phrase is used frivolously, however, it offends God, because His name is being used without due cause. If a person hears something funny, or receives a minor cut or bruise, or gets angry with someone, the use of the phrase “Oh my God” is unnecessary and offensive, because it is calling on God, the Almighty Creator of the Universe, for no reason at all.

The second commandment speaks against this kind of misuse of God’s name.

 

[dshix]

Please tell me how it is takin The Lord’s name in vain? I’m not being argumentative, I really want to understand. Is it because I’m not honoring Him? Thanks.

Let’s take the phrase literally. What does it mean to “Take the Lord’s name in vain”?

Well, “Take the Lord’s name” means to call upon it or use it in declaration. So, if I were to say, “I pledge, upon my honor, that I am telling the truth,” then I would be taking my name to give all possible credibility I have to my statement. If a politician were to pledge upon the name of the nation for a particular statement, that would be a very big deal.

So, when a person calls upon God’s name, that is a BIG deal. That’s calling upon the Creator of the Universe to validate whatever you are saying.

So, when the commandment says “Thou shalt not take the Lord’s name in vain,” it is saying that we should not call upon His name for frivolous reasons, as I stated in my post above. It is a sin to call upon God’s name for pointless reasons or no reason at all.

 

[skigirl1689]

I try my best to avoid using the phrase outside of worship and prayer as it is becomes a fine line in other situations when it becomes taking the Lord’s name in vain.

 

[journey00]

Thanks everyone!!

 

[Kamaduck]

Is this bad or not? Does the CCC mention anything about it?

Yeah, it’s taking the Lord’s name in vain unless you’re using it as a prayer.

Basically, words that refer to God aren’t just words. We shouldn’t just throw them out when “wow”, “incredible”, etc. would be more appropriate.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Is this bad or not? Does the CCC mention anything about it?

I couldn’t tell you what the catechism says, but I can tell you that growing up in a Protestant home I was always told that it was taking the lord’s name in vain. To be honest, I am still not exactly sure what that means, but regardless, it tends to be offensive to religious people and if you are Catholic or spending a lot of time in religious circles, it’s probably something you want to stay away from.

My brother and I can be pretty foul-mouthed, as can our spouses. So family gathering tend to be a bit…salty. To this day though my mom can sit through all of it, laugh, and join in the conversation, but if one of us accidentally lets “the g-word” slip, my mom shoots us a look that still strikes fear into our hearts. Or, if she’s within arm’s reach, just smacks us on the head. (Playfully. She is not nor has she ever been abusive.)

 

[dshix]

I couldn’t tell you what the catechism says, but I can tell you that growing up in a Protestant home I was always told that it was taking the lord’s name in vain. To be honest, I am still not exactly sure what that means…

I explained what it means in post #5.

 

[SybilMolly]

Because the name of the LORD is powerful and cannot be used lightly.