Pah, I think cursing shouldn't be such the big deal that it is.  Words are just a random collection of sounds that we as human beings give meaning to.  If I said "schnargle" it probably wouldn't mean a thing to you, but 100 years from now, saying it could be punishable by death because some one some where used it as a derogatory term, and people everywhere started doing it.

If I made a "turkey hand," put my thumb to my nose and wiggled my fingers at you, you'd just look at me funny, right?  Back in the time of Shakespeare that was the equivalent to flipping the bird.  It means nothing now, except a joke to the weirdos who know what it means.  Spoken attacks are no different.  Here today, the joke of tomorrow.

The f-bomb is only derogatory because we make it to be.  That's all there is to it, and I will continue to swear like a sailor and mean nothing by it.  :]  Of course, I do know when to keep my tongue in check.

I unintentionally curse in my mind, never out loud. If you're lucky, you'll only hear the first letter of the curse word I was about to say. Ex: Oh SHHHHHHH! I rarely, if ever, cuss, but I do say "OY!" a lot. xD

In general I try to watch my language, particularly in polite company (ie anything other than close friends or family - though I try not to cuss around them as well). But I think people do get a bit legalistic about the use of cuss words. In context it may be funny, or it may be an appropriate expression of rage or even fear. As a matter of fact, I swear (quite unconsciously) when I am afraid.

Once when I was on a rollercoaster, I threw back my head and screamed. I was later told that I had screamed a long string of obscenities.

@HeartOfPandora@xanga - good point!

I agree with Pandora.  However, we also shouldn't do anything that causes another to stumble, and we need to avoid the appearance of evil.  If you've got that friend that associates "darn" with crackheads, you probably don't say it around him... but that doesn't mean when you go to mend your socks that you're going to continue abstaining

The intentions is what I base it off. Am I using the word to insult someone? Am I using it in a way to harm? Then I consider it a bad word.

Like the rock opera !Hero, Intentions I hope that mine are for the good of man, if good or bad, who can say? I do the best I can.

Unfortunately, that is how I judge many things, but I really wish that song wasn't sung by Jude. Way to make my default philosophy sound like I plan to stab everyone in the back.

@HeartOfPandora@xanga - I couldn't agree more. 

I recently wondered about swear words and whether God thinks they're really such a big deal.  The commandment translated is "don't misuse my name."  Yet all the Christians I've been confronted with say that commandment includes all swearing.  Does it really?
Personally, however, I don't swear, though I used to be quite foul-mouthed.  Someone once said that to use swear-words is indicative of a lack of intelligence; such language seems to say that one can't think of any better way to express themselves.  This, and the impression of an overall lack of decorum and class swearing creates, have retrained me.  Even words such as "piss" make me raise my eyebrows in shock. 

@OsuwarInuyasha@xanga - Thanks for the Biblical references; I was just wondering if God explicity told us not to use such language, and the Ephesians verse includes the newer language such as "piss;"  as for darn, crap, poo-ey, mother- (minus the second half)...this makes me think. 
@BrokenCrutch@xanga - Isn't that the crux of it?  To learn to keep ourselves from getting angry in the first place?  Excellent point.  --Laura

@OsuwarInuyasha@xanga -  You took the words right out of my mouth!

I think James covers this best when he speaks of the concept of blessing and cursing flowing from the same spout.   The difference I see, however, is that I believe blessing and cursing is meant there in a way that refers to how you address people.  Things like directing curses towards a person... "Damn you," etc. 

Then to consider, also, is the bible verse that says, "from the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks."

"There is both the power of life and death in the tongue."

I think it really relates to situations and people rather than exclamations.  Christ was able to curse a tree and it died on spot.  I don't think the problem lies in when we scream, "holy crap!" because we just hurt ourselves.  It's when we direct our words towards someone else and speak negative things in their lives.  In fact, I don't think it even relates so much to "cuss" words... as even telling someone that you hope something horrible happens to them... or one situation that I see at work a lot is when a patient is very very sick, some of the ICU nurses will speak death into their lives by saying, "This person's a goner." etc.  I think that's a more dangerous game.  I don't remember who says it in the bible, but there's the verse that speaks of not even talking about what you will do tomorrow because you don't even know!  Only God knows what will happen tomorrow.  So then why would someone say that someone else will die?  Etc.  It's better to leave it to God in that sort of thing... but that's a bit of a tangent.

Anyway, that's my two cents.

One should only speak words of edification and words that build people up and glorify God. Words that do not glorify God glorify Satan and that is offensive to God. It's the heart that matters. No one word is especially sinful, however, the attitude and intention and thought that are exhibited that cause a specific word to glorify God or worship Satan.
This is also self directed at me. I'm not preaching at ya'll, it hurts me too to realize that truth. Ouch.

Wow what a great subject for me. I was raised in a non-Christian home. My father (God rest his soul) became a Christian very late in life. He always meant well, but he cursed A-LOT (he was a Marine you know). So I developed the habit of cursing as a teenager. The thing is though. Society norms dictated that out of simple politeness we should be careful what we say in mixed company. I mean, you never heard Dad or me cursing in front of Grandma if you know what I mean.

Anyway, I became a Christian in my mid 20's and tried to clean up my language. I made some good headway, but the issue did not crystallize for me until had children of my own. I have to tell you, the first time you hear the word b*%#@ or sh%! come from you three or four year old, it is shocking!

When I am out with my kids in public and I hear others using foul language it bothers me. Don't me wrong, it is not as though I get deeply offended, I do not take myself that seriously, I just want to be sure my kids use to learn words that edify.

The facts are that words are powerful and we need to be careful to use language that builds up and does not tear down. If foul language is going to build a barrier or wall between you and others in your life, then it makes sense to try and tame the tongue.

Paul writes in 1 Cor 10:23-24 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me,but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.

Also - Psalms has much to say about being careful with the tongue as well. Psalm 10:7 describing the wicked man says, 'His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats;
       trouble and evil are under his tongue.'

There are other scriptures as well, so I won't belabor that. I do believe though that the boundaries set by society are being eroded. Don't get me wrong. Tearing down some walls is good; like those that alienate or discriminate. But this is one barrier I think we should leave intact.

I am still working on it though. Thanks for the subject!

@pmiller683@xanga - Thank you for your excellent comment. I don't think I can add anything to what you have said. I'm just so thankful that you are a real Christian and that you have such a wonderful sense of responsibility with regard to the words that come out of your mouth, especially in front of your children. They are blessed to have you as their parent!


David