Cussing

[qfnol31]

I am now about to make some rational arguments why cussing, et cetera should not exist in our society today.

God - God is a noun, a very proper noun. To say "God!" is to make it an exclamation. First off, you don't sound very smart to be using words out of context, forgetting the simple difference between a noun and other forms of speech. Further, if you use this word as a noun, it must have a predicate, that is a verb. "God loves!" Or "Thank you God!" (meaning it of course) sounds much more proper. Otherwise, you've demoted yourself below the kindergarten years, and that's not something you should be doing. Not to mention you've now used God's holy name in a possibly blasphemous way.

Hell - This is a place, incorporeal, but still a noun. It's not a place you want to be, nor is it a place that you should ever want people to be. If you want people there, then you really need to rethink your Christianity and charity. Is your heart in the right place.

Animals and objects, along with actions, do not go to Hell. To say so is to show poor philosophy and theology. This alone is why Hell shouldn't come up in daily speech. If so, maybe you should consider reading texts on Hell.

Also, a side-note, the whole phrase is "Speak of the devil and he shall appear," the same could be said for Hell, not something you want to follow you everywhere.

Damnation - This is scary in itself. It's not something you want, and it only happens to rational beings. Well, that means only men can be damned. To want the damnation of something else also shows poor theology. To want a person to be damned shows a lack of charity.

A** (Filtered) - This is a donkey. I don't call you a zebra.

F-Word - This is degrading sex, and shows a lack of respect for God's "Sacred Space" (to steal a phrase from my Moral Theology professor), which is not something you want. It's denouncing marriage and the conjugal act.

My whole point is cussing degrades you and your intellect. It's an improper use of language, and can easily show a lack of charity, or even a lack of joy. Without charity, all else is dead.

If some of this is too strong, mods you can edit.

[Benedict]

A number of years ago, as I was learning about the role of Mary in Catholicism, I decided to try and totally give up cussing, swearing, profanity, etc.

Our common phrases of cussing are rude and abhorrent when used in reference to another person. They are positively blasphemous if ever applied to our Lord and Lady. I feel that Satan is relieving some of his bitterness through our loose lips.

[*lil girl 4 jesus*]

i once herd that people who swear, just don't have a large enough vocab to be able to subsitute other words.

[Paladin D]

Only time I swear is if I get angry or upset (to let out steam), doesn't make it right still. Though I will not take the Lord's name in vain.

[*lil girl 4 jesus*]

same here. although sometimes the Lords name slips out. (oops!)

[Soldier4Him]

some insight from James:

"If anyone does not fall short in speech he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide their whole bodies. It is the same with ships: even though they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot's inclination wishes. In the same way the tounge is a small member and yet has great pretenstions. CONSIDER HOW SMALL A FIRE CAN SET A HUGE FOREST ABLAZE. THE TOUNGE IS ALSO A FIRE." 3:2-6

"With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. THIS NEED NOT BE SO, MY BROTHERS." 3:9 & 10

edit: i can't spell

Edited December 31, 2004 by Soldier4Him

[traichuoi]

[quote]I am now about to make some rational arguments why cussing, et cetera should not exist in our society today.[/quote]

[quote]Hell - This is a place, incorporeal, but still a noun. It's not a place you want to be, nor is it a place that you should ever want people to be. If you want people there, then you really need to rethink your Christianity and charity. Is your heart in the right place.[/quote]

The word "Hell" is definitely a harsh word in which one should never wish upon another. However, the use of the word "Hell" in and of itself does not entail that you are wishing it upon anybody else, but that you are warning them of the consequences of their sins. It is a form of expression that may effectively be used for accountability. For instance, my brother, in whom I'm very close to has done many bad things in his life. My response to those things is "what the hell?" This is merely suggesting that he must reply with a measure of his actions and at the same time explain to me why his actions would not put his life in danger of eternal life without God. More importantly, the use of the word "Hell" in this instance is putting a judgment not on the person himself but rather the action of the person. It is wrong to judge the person, but at times it is a duty to judge (be or make aware of) the action.

[quote]Animals and objects, along with actions, do not go to Hell.  To say so is to show poor philosophy and theology. [/quote]
There is no concrete proof for animals and objects not going to Hell. Some of God's creation have ended up in hell. An example of this is Lucipher and his buddies. A premise like this shows a lack of careful reasoning (poor philosophy).

[quote]Damnation - This is scary in itself. It's not something you want, and it only happens to rational beings. Well, that means only men can be damned. To want the damnation of something else also shows poor theology. To want a person to be damned shows a lack of charity.[/quote]

Again, the use of the word does not entail that you want for a person to be damned. Rather, it may be used as a form of expression to explicitly inform another person of the consequences to their actions.

[quote]A** (Filtered) - This is a donkey. I don't call you a zebra.[/quote]
If someone "acts like an A**" then that person rightfully deserves to be called an "a**" simply because their actions measure up to that of a donkey. That is a form of symbolism, metaphor, personification, simile etc... It is a form of expression that shows a person the reality of their actions. It would be a contradiction to claim that a person is in all actuality an A**, however, I don't think people are trying to say you are in actuality an a**. Rather, they are attaching one's actions to that of a donkey.

[quote]F-Word - This is degrading sex, and shows a lack of respect for God's "Sacred Space" (to steal a phrase from my Moral Theology professor), which is not something you want. It's denouncing marriage and the conjugal act.[/quote]

The F-Word may be used out of anger and does not necessarily refer to the conjugal act. For example, take the phrase "Your a f***in idiot," it wouldn't make sense if it was referring to the conjugal act. This is merely a side note but the f-word doesn't refer to just the conjugal act. It again is a form of expression that may project a variety of meanings. One of which is the conjugal act and I agree that it should not be used for that. However, it may be used to describe other things.

[quote]My whole point is cussing degrades you and your intellect. It's an improper use of language, and can easily show a lack of charity, or even a lack of joy. Without charity, all else is dead.[/quote]

Cussing in many ways may describe an event, action, situation etc... in its REALITY. Some of the most intellectual people use(d) cussing as a means to describing 'the grotesque' in their works of philosophy (C.S. Lewis), theology (Irish Priests), literature (poets, novelists, etc...). Who knows, maybe Jesus in His righteous anger cussed during His cleansing of the temple. Without cuss words, language would not be proper because it would not be able to quote, describe, and express. As described in the former part of my reply, cussing may actually show charity in that you are holding another accountable by showing the realness of their actions.

[Benedict]

[quote name='*lil girl 4 jesus*' date='Dec 31 2004, 12:31 AM'] i once herd that people who swear, just don't have a large enough vocab to be able to subsitute other words. [/quote]
That is what my mom told me, too. "Swearing is indicative of an intellect insufficient to express itself."

My mom uses big words sometimes.

[qfnol31]

[quote name='traichuoi' date='Dec 31 2004, 01:26 AM'] The word "Hell" is definitely a harsh word in which one should never wish upon another. However, the use of the word "Hell" in and of itself does not entail that you are wishing it upon anybody else, but that you are warning them of the consequences of their sins. It is a form of expression that may effectively be used for accountability. For instance, my brother, in whom I'm very close to has done many bad things in his life. My response to those things is "what the hell?" This is merely suggesting that he must reply with a measure of his actions and at the same time explain to me why his actions would not put his life in danger of eternal life without God. More importantly, the use of the word "Hell" in this instance is putting a judgment not on the person himself but rather the action of the person. It is wrong to judge the person, but at times it is a duty to judge (be or make aware of) the action. [/quote]
I agree, but I do believe sometimes there can be a better way to bring to light, plus we don't ever say "What the Heaven!"

[quote]There is no concrete proof for animals and objects not going to Hell.  Some of God's creation have ended up in hell.  An example of this is Lucipher and his buddies.  A premise like this shows a lack of careful reasoning (poor philosophy).[/quote]

Actually, animals do not have immortal souls. Their souls die with the body. Lucifer was a rational creature. -- Aquinas, Aristotle, Augustine...

[quote]Again, the use of the word does not entail that you want for a person to be damned.  Rather, it may be used as a form of expression to explicitly inform another person of the consequences to their actions. [/quote]

Surely this is not most often the case, but rather that a person is angry with another.

[quote]If someone "acts like an A**" then that person rightfully deserves to be called an "a**" simply because their actions measure up to that of a donkey.  That is a form of symbolism, metaphor, personification, simile etc...  It is a form of expression that shows a person the reality of their actions.  It would be a contradiction to claim that a person is in all actuality an A**, however, I don't think people are trying to say you are in actuality an a**.  Rather, they are attaching one's actions to that of a donkey. [/quote]

I again think that this shows lack of charity.

[quote]The F-Word may be used out of anger and does not necessarily refer to the conjugal act.  For example, take the phrase "Your a f***in idiot," it wouldn't make sense if it was referring to the conjugal act.  This is merely a side note but the f-word doesn't refer to just the conjugal act.  It again is a form of expression that may project a variety of meanings.  One of which is the conjugal act and I agree that it should not be used for that.  However, it may be used to describe other things.  [/quote]

The F-word is supposed to mean the conjugal act, and to use it out of context is to pervert it, beyond it's current perversion.

[quote]Cussing in many ways may describe an event, action, situation etc... in its REALITY.  Some of the most intellectual people use(d) cussing as a means to describing 'the grotesque' in their works of philosophy (C.S. Lewis), theology (Irish Priests), literature (poets, novelists, etc...).  Who knows, maybe Jesus in His righteous anger cussed during His cleansing of the temple.  Without cuss words, language would not be proper because it would not be able to quote, describe, and express.  As described in the former part of my reply, cussing may actually show charity in that you are holding another accountable by showing the realness of their actions.[/quote]

Actually, I got the idea from the Giant in [i]The Great Divorce[/i]. I also bet it's much nicer and more charitable to say that a person has sinned without letting your anger get involved. It's the principle behind parenting, you don't let your anger get in the way.

[Socrates]

Just for clarifaction's sake . . .

The word "ass" is not a vulgar word or "cuss-word" when referring to a donkey, or comparing one to a donkey (as in "asinine" behavior) (though it may be sometimes uncharitable.) The word ass has long been used to refer to this animal, and is no worse than saying "donkey," "horse," or "zebra"!

The word a** is only vulgar when used to refer to an anus. As in calling someone an "a**hole." This is a variation of "arse," and only coincidentally happens to be the same word as for a donkey. Etemologically, the two words are actually unrelated (though many do not realize this)!

[Q the Ninja]

"...where ox and ass are feeding..."



I love that song.

Edited December 31, 2004 by Q the Ninja

[hyperdulia again]

Praise God, Catholics get to drink, dance, gamble, AND cuss. And still have the hope of salvation. Whodathunkit?

[cooltuba]

I cuss. The way I see it, the words are only "cuss words" because society makes them that. Words that describe the exact same thing (such as butt instead of @$$) are not considered cuss words. What makes one word worse than the other? I say if you're against cussing, you need to be against saying any other word that means the same thing. If our society had made it tabbo to mention anything relating to certain things, that would make more sense to me. Example: Since it is considered taboo to say s**t, it should also be taboo to say feces, poo, etc. Subjects being taboo I can understand; picking one word out of many that relate to a subject to be taboo is just stupid to me. I also think it's rather silly that our society finds words, of of all things, taboo. There are so many other things for us to worry about that are much more important than which word someone uses to describe a particular person/situation/thing/etc.

[voiciblanche]

[quote]Words that describe the exact same thing (such as butt instead of @$$) are not considered cuss words.  What makes one word worse than the other?[/quote]

It really depends on the context. A angry parent may warn a child that he or she will "spank your butt," and according to your logic, it'd be the same difference if he or she said, "I will spank your a**." However, that is not an appropriate word to be used with a child, if with anyone, and in addition to that, the child himself may start using it. On the other hand, if I call you an "a**hole," that's not any better or worse than calling you a "butthole," because they're both uncharitable. There isn't any reason for us to be uncharitable to each other.

[Benedict]

[quote name='cooltuba' date='Jan 1 2005, 12:05 PM'] I say if you're against cussing, you need to be against saying any other word that means the same thing. [/quote]
It is not always the meaning that is taboo. Connotation is very important.