It is OK to swear as long as you don't use "God's name"?

Question

I guess I'm a lapsed Catholic... because I realize that cursing is a fact of life. It doesn't get me angry or upset. But on more than one occasion, on Answers and in the Real World, I have come across individuals who take a rediculously high moral high road... where they condemn movies and entertainment because they say things like "Goddammit" and "For Christ's Sake".

So my question is this (and I hope some of you who are offended by these situations answer): Is it OK to swear in a movie if you say F***ing Damn it" instead of "God Damn It"?

So I decided to ask this question, not because i don't have my own thoughts on it but because i wanted to know what other people thought. This was an "In General" type of question.

Answer 1

some would say that swearing is power.

we want to control things when we swear, to be in a position of power of superiority, to lord over others.

whatever name we give it, most would agree that swearing is food for the ego rather than the soul; it is food that nurtures our sense of separateness.

Answer 2

I think the use of swear words as an alternative to words that the english language has in place is nothing more then an attempt to be cute or bold or somehow free. To me, and I am probably responsible for most of the accepted explicits that exist today, it is really a lack of intellegence, when you have to use swear words to get your point across. I have not cured myself but I am trying as my children had to take public speaking classes to learn how to talk in public without offending anyone. I am seeking a cure so my grandchildren will possibly learn to talk and think at the same time. The movie people are trying to reflect society with an art form. Is it necessary? I suppose as long as society displays that type of conversation then for the art to be reflective it must be. What I don't understand about the movies is why a man can fall out of an airplane, land on a haystack, jump up and run through the field with a bull chasing him, and nearly get hit by a car and then immediatly have sex with the farmers daughter who he just met at the side of the road, as he was setting there beat and bloody and breathing heavy? In every single movie.

Answer 3

I never "take the Lord's Name in vain". It's just not in me.

I do let loose with a swear-word now and again.

Profanity can have some power....if you use it sparingly. I mean, if you go around and every other word is "f*** this" and "f*** that" - then - the word loses it's power.

But...if you are known to NEVER use it...and then....out of nowhere you say something like: "You gotta get a f***ing life!" - it can be powerful.

I dislike when people say "Jesus Christ" as if it were a curse-word. In the movies and in life. But - I just make the sign of the cross and move on.

Answer 4

you're already in Hell. God is the purely way out. that's purely non everlasting. There will be no worse hell than what we call life. God couldn't provide a flying F*ok no matter if you "swore" to be with yet another perpetually right here. I swore at God, referred to as him a B*ch and he nevertheless got here to me to reveal me her Love. note how I switched the sexes, God isn't any sex. God purely IS.

Answer 5

I think the meaning behind it is more important than anything else. If you believe in God and you are actually trying to drag him into a curse then it's probably not ok. If it slips out because everyone else says it these days then I don't think it really matters. They're just words.

Answer 6

If you look up the definition, you'll see that swearing actually means "taking the lord's name in vane". Any other type of curse words are classed as profanities, not swear words.

Answer 7

swearing is never ok... It's offensive and its being a bad example ... and using God's name in that context is not swearing its taking the Lord's name in vain and both are sins... you should try to get back into learning what being Catholic really is my friend, then you would know the answer to this...

Answer 8

What is cursing ? Swearing ?
It's simply an extreme lack of vocabulary. How often have you heard an educated person swear ? Think about it.

Answer 9

The vast majority of catholics that i know take the lords name in vain all of the time without even blinking. What makes them think it's ok?

God said not to do it, perioud.

Answer 10

No, none of these are really acceptable. Why not learn some phrases to use to vent your frustration instead...language like that betrays a limited vocabulary.