Is anyone struck by the fact that the term "humbug" was a very offensive term equivalent to BS?
My point in bringing it up is that some terms have a period when they are acceptable and other times when it would appear to be less than appropriate.
It's always most annoying to hear people get all nit-picky about words like crap and friggin'/fricken; it then occurred to me that regardless of what I say, if my heart is pouring out profanities whatever comes out that isn't glorifying God might as well be a cuss word.
_________________ Sic semper tyrannis
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donkeymule Brother of the Briar
Joined: Sep 13, 2008
Posts: 847
Location: Panama City
Posted:
Sun Jul 18, 2010 6:17 pm
Veritas_De_Facto wrote:
Is anyone struck by the fact that the term "humbug" was a very offensive term equivalent to BS?
My point in bringing it up is that some terms have a period when they are acceptable and other times when it would appear to be less than appropriate.
It's always most annoying to hear people get all nit-picky about words like crap and friggin'/fricken; it then occurred to me that regardless of what I say, if my heart is pouring out profanities whatever comes out that isn't glorifying God might as well be a cuss word.
Good insight!
fisherofpipes Brother of the Briar
Joined: Jan 25, 2010
Posts: 2473
Location: Kilmarnock, VA
Posted:
Sun Jul 18, 2010 6:30 pm
donkeymule wrote:
Veritas_De_Facto wrote:
Is anyone struck by the fact that the term "humbug" was a very offensive term equivalent to BS?
My point in bringing it up is that some terms have a period when they are acceptable and other times when it would appear to be less than appropriate.
It's always most annoying to hear people get all nit-picky about words like crap and friggin'/fricken; it then occurred to me that regardless of what I say, if my heart is pouring out profanities whatever comes out that isn't glorifying God might as well be a cuss word.
Good insight!
22 years ago or so, when I was a summer camp counselor, we had a lot of British counselors, such as the Riding (Esquestrian) staff. There were others, such as the ex-British Special Forces bloke who taught me to shoot. Anyway, we had this morning assembly thing where we sang songs. When the Brits were around, we would substitute that word "bloody" in the songs wherever we could. One day, I saw this one limey getting really uncomfortable about it! "Don't worry", said the American counselors, "it's not a bad word over here!" Now, "bloody" is appearing in Harry Potter movies.
_________________ Odi profanum vulgus et arceo:
Favete linguis. Carmina non prius
Audita Musarum sacerdos
Virginibus puerisque canto.
Is anyone struck by the fact that the term "humbug" was a very offensive term equivalent to BS?
My point in bringing it up is that some terms have a period when they are acceptable and other times when it would appear to be less than appropriate.
It's always most annoying to hear people get all nit-picky about words like crap and friggin'/fricken; it then occurred to me that regardless of what I say, if my heart is pouring out profanities whatever comes out that isn't glorifying God might as well be a cuss word.
Good insight!
22 years ago or so, when I was a summer camp counselor, we had a lot of British counselors, such as the Riding (Esquestrian) staff. There were others, such as the ex-British Special Forces bloke who taught me to shoot. Anyway, we had this morning assembly thing where we sang songs. When the Brits were around, we would substitute that word "bloody" in the songs wherever we could. One day, I saw this one limey getting really uncomfortable about it! "Don't worry", said the American counselors, "it's not a bad word over here!" Now, "bloody" is appearing in Harry Potter movies.
Yeah, I was quite surprised to hear the word, "Bugger" in Pirates of Caribbean 3: At the Worlds End and "Wanker" in Lost. It's kind of appalling how we justify it, but I guess that's just the depravity of sinful nature.
_________________ Sic semper tyrannis
Muslim: "Are you Jewish?"
Me: "No, I'm adopted." †
rmedved84 Brother of the Briar
Joined: Jul 28, 2010
Posts: 165
Location: Seattle
Posted:
Thu Jul 29, 2010 12:06 pm
It completely depends on the heart. A word can not be inherently sinful... or righteous. A word is only a cuss word because we view it as such. But for that reason I tend not to use them. However, because of the connotation they bring, sometimes they can be the most accurate way to describe something. For example "my family has been through a lot of sh*t lately", would be a statement that is not meant to be vulgar or offensive, merely accurately describing a situation. I feel that if a word is used in anger, or with the purpose to degrade than it is sinful. I can use the words "I love you" with my wife and be sinning.
joekm ButtButtBaldyBumbleheadf00f
Joined: Feb 02, 2004
Posts: 1020
Location: Bel Air, MD
Posted:
Thu Jul 29, 2010 12:20 pm
I guess I'm in with the "It's not the words you use but what you say" crowd as far as sin or not. By that reasoning, a "cuss" word can be a sin if used specifically to offend. However, I can lie, slander, enrage, etc. all without using a traditional "cuss" word. So, in the end I think focusing on "cuss" words is a distraction. The focus should be (I think) on communicating well.
That being said, I love the irony of the fact that not only are so-called "cuss" words typically used in a matter completely devoid of their normal meaning, but some "substitute words" that are generally acceptable are pretty crude in actual meaning (look up "dork" and "schmuck").
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Bigwill Near! Far!
Joined: Aug 30, 2009
Posts: 2686
Location: Woodstock, IL
Posted:
Thu Jul 29, 2010 12:27 pm
As others have said, it's not the 'word', it's the 'intent'.
If I write a paper on the use of the N*word (and use the word itself in the paper), that's not sinful, even though I am "using a cuss word". Likewise, if every time someone cuts me off in traffic, I say "go puck yourself" for the sake of avoiding a cuss word, I'm not doing myself any favors. The intent is there, and it's just as bad.
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huddsbaggie Full of pith and (malt) vinegar
Joined: Aug 08, 2009
Posts: 1176
Posted:
Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:52 pm
fisherofpipes wrote:
donkeymule wrote:
Veritas_De_Facto wrote:
Is anyone struck by the fact that the term "humbug" was a very offensive term equivalent to BS?
My point in bringing it up is that some terms have a period when they are acceptable and other times when it would appear to be less than appropriate.
It's always most annoying to hear people get all nit-picky about words like crap and friggin'/fricken; it then occurred to me that regardless of what I say, if my heart is pouring out profanities whatever comes out that isn't glorifying God might as well be a cuss word.
Good insight!
22 years ago or so, when I was a summer camp counselor, we had a lot of British counselors, such as the Riding (Esquestrian) staff. There were others, such as the ex-British Special Forces bloke who taught me to shoot. Anyway, we had this morning assembly thing where we sang songs. When the Brits were around, we would substitute that word "bloody" in the songs wherever we could. One day, I saw this one limey getting really uncomfortable about it! "Don't worry", said the American counselors, "it's not a bad word over here!" Now, "bloody" is appearing in Harry Potter movies.
"Bloody" is a relatively mild swear word. My budgie used to say it when I was a kid. But he was a git.
You buggers say "tidbits" instead of "titbits". Coy Tossers.
_________________ "All I know most surely about morality and obligations, I owe to football"
Albert Camus (1913-1960)
DNK Elder
Joined: Feb 16, 2010
Posts: 73
Location: Statesboro, GA
Posted:
Sat Aug 07, 2010 12:04 pm
Eleknar wrote:
So the Bible saying "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths" should actually say "....unless you're cussing"? The Bible does not speak about smoking but "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths" seems pretty clear.
St. Paul's "unwholesome" does not refer to the Anglo-Saxon terms that, since the Norman conquest (and other Latinate developments in English) have come to be regarded as "impolite" in the Anglo-sphere. Any talk that does not "edify" or contribute to "peace" (literally, "wholeness") falls under "unwholesome." Therefore, we must closely consider contexts and motivations as we practice prudent discernment. We cannot say that a certain term defies the highest Christian virtue--i.e., charity--always and everywhere. Moreover, wise and well-meaning persons will likely disagree from time to time about the effectiveness and propriety of certain words or figures of speech as they might appear in sundry contexts. I happen to think godly people can make edifying use of "vulgar," Anglo-Saxon terms in many contexts (including comedic or humorous ones--since humor is an health, edifying facet of our nature). This belief does not mean--I should point out quickly--that we can let loose our tongues. Reason must always hold the reigns over our fiery tongues; for they incline, like our hearts, to all sorts of wicked, harmful things.
I also regard generally proscribing children from the use of vulgar language quite useful for reasons of education, literacy, and "genteelness."
ATexanLostinVirginia i will pee on you
Joined: May 22, 2008
Posts: 3667
Location: Lynchburg, VA
Posted:
Sat Aug 07, 2010 2:37 pm
Good Conversation.
My opinion closely reflects that of Lt. GibGib and DNK.
I think those who choose to completely abstain from "cussing" (as I usually do) is somewhat similar to those who choose to completely abstain from alcohol and/or tobacco. However I admire the resolve and commitment of those who do abstain - much like there are a few I admire for their artful and tasteful use of the occasional "cuss" word. Sometimes they are just much more accurate and descriptive - they carry a connotation that other words do not.
Most "cussing" is uneducated, distasteful, and generally revolting.
As far as the "unwholesome" passage - Some have already addressed that "unwholesome" refers to a wide variety of speech - not necessarily cussing alone - but more particularly: gossip, slander, lewdness, etc...
_________________ +1836+
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I smoke my pipe and worship God."
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Joined: Feb 21, 2010
Posts: 714
Location: Lost in a smoke cloud
Posted:
Sat Aug 07, 2010 3:34 pm
Bigwill wrote:
As others have said, it's not the 'word', it's the 'intent'.
If I write a paper on the use of the N*word (and use the word itself in the paper), that's not sinful, even though I am "using a cuss word". Likewise, if every time someone cuts me off in traffic, I say "go puck yourself" for the sake of avoiding a cuss word, I'm not doing myself any favors. The intent is there, and it's just as bad.
Very well stated
_________________ I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 " We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."--Winston Churchill
Dusty Bibles lead to Dirty Lives...
Irish-Dane The Proper Title
Joined: Jan 18, 2007
Posts: 3608
Location: Eastern Ohio, near the banks of the O-hi-O
Posted:
Sat Aug 07, 2010 4:26 pm
joekm wrote:
I guess I'm in with the "It's not the words you use but what you say" crowd as far as sin or not. By that reasoning, a "cuss" word can be a sin if used specifically to offend. However, I can lie, slander, enrage, etc. all without using a traditional "cuss" word. So, in the end I think focusing on "cuss" words is a distraction. The focus should be (I think) on communicating well.
Well said.
I, on purpose, stopped "cussing" about 6 years ago because I was taking on a leadership role and I wanted to be a good role model as well as live on the same moral plain in all areas of my life. That was a powerful thing for me to do and I'd recommend it to anyone who uses swears as a crutch as Morley explained it. While that was good for me then, I ended that about 6 months ago because I see the power, as well as humor, in some common "cuss" words. And I believe that is where Joekm was headed, or if not, where he took me in my thoughts.
matttaft Minister of Broccoli
Joined: Dec 01, 2007
Posts: 730
Location: Kannapolis, NC
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Smoking is undoubtedly very bad for your health.
This argument drives me freaking insane, I could clobber somebody... anybody. It's the catch-all verse for anything belonging to the health is next to godliness kick - totally out of context. What that website, and EVERYONE using this verse in this way, forgets to mention, is the preceding verse (1:
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
So health has NOTHING to do with how one honors God with his body, according to his passage. The ONLY way one can sin against his own body is through sexual immorality, and THEREFORE honor God with your body. It drives me insane how these "biblical" sources can continue to quote 19-20 and leave 18 out, lest anyone might truly grasp the real meaning here! Arrgggg!
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Smoking is undoubtedly very bad for your health.
This argument drives me freaking insane, I could clobber somebody... anybody. It's the catch-all verse for anything belonging to the health is next to godliness kick - totally out of context. What that website, and EVERYONE using this verse in this way, forgets to mention, is the preceding verse (18):
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
So health has NOTHING to do with how one honors God with his body, according to his passage. The ONLY way one can sin against his own body is through sexual immorality, and THEREFORE honor God with your body. It drives me insane how these "biblical" sources can continue to quote 19-20 and leave 18 out, lest anyone might truly grasp the real meaning here! Arrgggg!
Quite so, mattaft! I too find the shallow "proof texting" vexing and entirely irresponsible.
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