I knew a nun who was always using the word "blessed" the way you would a swear-word, was it wrong?

Question

If some of us were fighting over something in class like say a marble, a book or some sweets she would say, "Give me the blessed thing" it was in the tone of "Give me the FCUK'ing thing" you know!...and yet she would lecture us about saying things like "gosh" or "golly" or "gee" because she reckoned it was taking the name of the Lord in vain...what do you make of it?

Answer 1

Well, in my opinion, if she said it in a hateful tone, yeah, it's just as bad as saying fcuk in that same tone. But if someone (this goes for everyone) drops the f-bomb in a casual tone, I really don't see the harm in it. I think it's the tone and not the word that makes it a bad thing. This always reminds me of the movie Misery in which the Cathy Bates character refuses to swear but will hatefully scream the words "Ca-ca Doody!" with an evil tone, and for some reason she thinks that she's much better than someone who would casually say "sh1t."

Answer 2

The meaning of the word is usually in the tone of voice. I had the same argument with someone over the word freakin'. Similar to taking the name of the Lord in vain, when you over use the word "blessed" it loses it's significance. It becomes just another everyday word. Then when you attach it to the nun's usage, it can become offensive to some.

Bloody is profane in England and Australia.

Answer 3

We all know who is the most blessed. There is no difference in using his name or blessed. This is using the Lords name in vain and is cursing or cussing. I guess all cursing even something like fudge has a negative connotation to it. I guess the best thing would be for us to just to try expressing truthfully what is upsetting to us like, ie. I am getting frustrating that this key won't turn. This requires mastery, self control which most humans are lacking, myself included. Patience, pray for it.

Answer 4

Just her way of substituting a bad thing with a good thing and setting an example to learn by in the process.
Kind of like us down here saying "Bless your heart", when what we really want to say is "%#$@ off".

Answer 5

It is the same as "friggin'" or "freaking" or "gosh darn". It is a representative for the true intention, which is to curse or damn something.

To Catholics it is given that you can bless but not damn. If you damn, you are practicing idolatry, because you are worshipping another (if you want a curse, that would be Satan, eh?). Poor confused Catholics... (I am a recovering Catholic)

Answer 6

I don't think so. I think that in a way she was trying to show you that there was a way to vent your anger that wasn't nearly so explosive or vulgar. I know when I get upset I tend to use words out of context, too.
'For heaven's sake, will you quit that!'
'Aunty Jean was never very tactful, bless her soul.'
'Holy livin' lick, did he really say that?'
"Holy mackerel!!'
No, I think it was just a way of expressing frustration without using expletives.

Answer 7

Ha, that sounds familiar. I used to have nuns who would tell us 'Ain't ain't a word'. They might have been right about that, but ain't nuns a bunch of hypocrites?

Answer 8

i think any word can be a "swear-word" its all in the context and way that is used. i think the way she was using the word was a misuse and could be considered a swear-word.

Answer 9

if he got the point across, then so be it.

listeners can lighten up. they don't have to take offense at certain words. the ball is in their court.

Answer 10

No. It is not wrong. It is just like the English saying "Bloody". It is just another term.