Why do people take the Lord's name in vain?
- Lark_Truth
- Posts: 212
- Joined: December 24th, 2016, 11:51 am
- Favorite Philosopher: Brandon Sanderson
Why do people take the Lord's name in vain?
Yet in our day and age, people do it all of the time. Oh my ___, (name of God is omitted due to the spirit of this discussion). People use the name of our savior Jesus Christ as a swear word! Talk about disrespectful to the ones who have done so much for us here in mortality and have paved the way for us to reach eternity. People today are taking God and treating Him and his beloved son as dirt: worthless.
Why?
- Sy Borg
- Site Admin
- Posts: 14997
- Joined: December 16th, 2013, 9:05 pm
Re: Why do people take the Lord's name in vain?
Think of it as God kindly providing some extra help for Her weak minions. She has donated Her name to them so that they can release their frustrations rather than unhealthily repressing. If She didn't forbid it then there's be no taboo and it wouldn't work. There's no point being God if you're not a few steps ahead of your creations.
-
- Posts: 3364
- Joined: April 19th, 2009, 11:45 pm
Re: Why do people take the Lord's name in vain?
As I've learned over the years, the commandments are not for God's benefit but for ours. There is simply no reason why an ineffable God would be insulted by what some insignificant organism on an obscure planet says.Lark_Truth wrote:In the Old Testament, One of the commandments Jehovah gives to Moses is to not take the Lord's name in vain. Basically, don't commit blasphemy.
Yet in our day and age, people do it all of the time. Oh my ___, (name of God is omitted due to the spirit of this discussion). People use the name of our savior Jesus Christ as a swear word! Talk about disrespectful to the ones who have done so much for us here in mortality and have paved the way for us to reach eternity. People today are taking God and treating Him and his beloved son as dirt: worthless.
Why?
The word "God" contains a high quality of energy which belongs in higher parts of our collective soul. This quality serves as a quality of nourishment. When we swear, we throw away this valuable energy by releasing it through lower parts of our collective soul goverened by pride and or vanity. It satisfies our pride but starves our higher parts.
Most prefer catering to their pride and vanity so prefer swearing. Some respect their spiritual nature so don't throw away valuable energy. We must choose what we want.
- Sy Borg
- Site Admin
- Posts: 14997
- Joined: December 16th, 2013, 9:05 pm
Re: Why do people take the Lord's name in vain?
If the taboo regarding "blasphemy" concerned people who we cared about, we wouldn't blaspheme. However, I have generally found political theists to be interfering, controlling, sanctimonious, prejudiced and tricky and manipulative in discussion. Therefore it makes no sense to have any respect for their taboos until they learn respect to respect secular thinkers, and that will not happen in our lifetimes.
-
- Posts: 2466
- Joined: December 8th, 2016, 7:08 am
- Favorite Philosopher: Socrates
Re: Why do people take the Lord's name in vain?
7 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
-
- Posts: 3364
- Joined: April 19th, 2009, 11:45 pm
Re: Why do people take the Lord's name in vain?
You want to justify your actions by what other people think and do. There are those who care about their inner life and its need to develop. Then what other people do is not important.Greta wrote:I do not think it vain or proud to return just a little of the utter contempt that fervent theists have always had for secularists.
If the taboo regarding "blasphemy" concerned people who we cared about, we wouldn't blaspheme. However, I have generally found political theists to be interfering, controlling, sanctimonious, prejudiced and tricky and manipulative in discussion. Therefore it makes no sense to have any respect for their taboos until they learn respect to respect secular thinkers, and that will not happen in our lifetimes.
Many are content to kill the seed and get even while proclaiming their self importance by swearing. Others are good farmers and sense the value of the seed and their inner life that provides the medium for its growth. A person must choose which direction to grow in and follow its path.The seed of God is in us. Given an intelligent and hard-working farmer, it will thrive and grow up to God, whose seed it is; and accordingly its fruits will be God-nature. Pear seeds grow into pear trees, nut seeds into nut trees, and God-seed into God. ~ Meister Eckhart
-
- Posts: 2466
- Joined: December 8th, 2016, 7:08 am
- Favorite Philosopher: Socrates
Re: Why do people take the Lord's name in vain?
Or to put it another way, two wrongs don't make a right.Greta wrote:
I do not think it vain or proud to return just a little of the utter contempt that fervent theists have always had for secularists.
If the taboo regarding "blasphemy" concerned people who we cared about, we wouldn't blaspheme. However, I have generally found political theists to be interfering, controlling, sanctimonious, prejudiced and tricky and manipulative in discussion. Therefore it makes no sense to have any respect for their taboos until they learn respect to respect secular thinkers, and that will not happen in our lifetimes.
You want to justify your actions by what other people think and do. There are those who care about their inner life and its need to develop. Then what other people do is not important.
By the way which people? In the UK many people couldn't care less about blasphemy, indeed you would be more likely to hear blasphemy from a christian than an atheist. For example this poor guy is committing blasphemy but is he really so offensive?People use the name of our savior Jesus Christ as a swear word! Talk about disrespectful to the ones who have done so much for us here in mortality and have paved the way for us to reach eternity. People today are taking God and treating Him and his beloved son as dirt: worthless.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is that is it really necessary to get so offended? Is the level of offense proportionate with the actions taking place? Again in the UK you are more likely to hear of blasphemy accusations in videos from terrorists beheading/shooting people.
-
- Posts: 10339
- Joined: June 15th, 2011, 5:53 pm
Re: Why do people take the Lord's name in vain?
There's nothing special about our time. People have done it since time immemorial, as the plethora of both old and modern euphemisms, or minced oaths, demonstrates ("strewth", "jeepers creepers", "gadzooks" etc).Yet in our day and age, people do it all of the time.
As Greta says, in order for an expletive or blasphemy to do its job (of releasing tension) all that's required is that it breaks a taboo. It doesn't matter what the taboo is, or whether the taboo has a practical reason to exist. I've had a few interesting discussions with my 11 year old son on the subject of when it is and is not acceptable to use various swear words and the people in front of whom he is most and least forbidden to use them. It's interesting and fun because he knows perfectly well that I can't point to a rational, practical reason for the taboo and he enjoys running conversational rings around me and pointing out my hypocrisy with mock outrage.
If anything, in secular societies, I would have thought that the instances of blasphemy are probably reducing because it's not the taboo that it used to be so is losing its tension releasing power.
-
- Posts: 2466
- Joined: December 8th, 2016, 7:08 am
- Favorite Philosopher: Socrates
Re: Why do people take the Lord's name in vain?
I'm not convinced catharsis does actually in the long run benefit you. I've read of studies which say catharsis actually increases rage. This certainly tallies up with my experience.As Greta says, in order for an expletive or blasphemy to do its job (of releasing tension)
Whilst it's a fallacy to say that something is right because other people do it, at the same time we need to compromise to some extent otherwise it becomes impossible to live together. It's reasonable to avoid blasphemy around people who are offended by blasphemy (it's also reasonable not to get offended by blasphemy). For example I wear trousers partly to keep me warm and protect my skin but also because it's expected of me by society not to walk around naked. Whilst at the same time there is no logic behind wearing trousers for reasons of decency and I have nothing against naturists.It's interesting and fun because he knows perfectly well that I can't point to a rational, practical reason for the taboo and he enjoys running conversational rings around me and pointing out my hypocrisy with mock outrage.
-
- Posts: 10339
- Joined: June 15th, 2011, 5:53 pm
Re: Why do people take the Lord's name in vain?
Really? If that's true then it's interesting. In the short term, I certainly do find that swearing my head off helps if I drop my dinner on the floor and the dog starts to eat it. But maybe you're right. Maybe it's like alcohol. In the short term it relaxes you after a stressful day at work but prolonged use actually increases anxiety. I don't think I'm going to stop drinking and swearing though.I'm not convinced catharsis does actually in the long run benefit you. I've read of studies which say catharsis actually increases rage. This certainly tallies up with my experience.
Maybe it is right because other people do it, simply because, other things being equal, it's right to try to get along with people?Whilst it's a fallacy to say that something is right because other people do it, at the same time we need to compromise to some extent otherwise it becomes impossible to live together.
-
- Posts: 2466
- Joined: December 8th, 2016, 7:08 am
- Favorite Philosopher: Socrates
Re: Why do people take the Lord's name in vain?
Perhaps like a lot of things in life it's to do with the quantity I aim to do exactly the 'right' amount of drinking and swearing....Really? If that's true then it's interesting. In the short term, I certainly do find that swearing my head off helps if I drop my dinner on the floor and the dog starts to eat it. But maybe you're right. Maybe it's like alcohol. In the short term it relaxes you after a stressful day at work but prolonged use actually increases anxiety. I don't think I'm going to stop drinking and swearing though.
Yeah I agree. I guess the key thing here and how it pertains to the opening post is 'things being equal'. For example if I swore in public and someone politely asked me not to, I'd feel pretty embarrassed and would aim not to swear inappropriately in future. If I was in my own house and my friend was over and he politely asked if I'd refrain from blasphemy then I would feel less embarrassed but I would respect his wishes. It is after all at very low cost to myself. If however someone told me I was offending them to the core of their being I would probably not invite them around my house again. I would not go out of my way to offend them but at the same time I would not go out of my way not to. And if someone wanted blasphemy to be a crime I would actively oppose them.it's right to try to get along with people?
-
- Posts: 10339
- Joined: June 15th, 2011, 5:53 pm
Re: Why do people take the Lord's name in vain?
I mostly agree.Yeah I agree. I guess the key thing here and how it pertains to the opening post is 'things being equal'. For example if I swore in public and someone politely asked me not to, I'd feel pretty embarrassed and would aim not to swear inappropriately in future. If I was in my own house and my friend was over and he politely asked if I'd refrain from blasphemy then I would feel less embarrassed but I would respect his wishes. It is after all at very low cost to myself. If however someone told me I was offending them to the core of their being I would probably not invite them around my house again. I would not go out of my way to offend them but at the same time I would not go out of my way not to. And if someone wanted blasphemy to be a crime I would actively oppose them.
If my friend politely asked if I'd refrain from blasphemy, and it was clear that they weren't joking, I'd say:
"Who are you?!? And what have you done with my friend?"
Off the top of my head, I don't think I know anybody who would even consider being offended by blasphemy.
If I did meet someone who claimed to be offended to the core of their being by blasphemy I think I'd quite like to talk to them, because they'd be interesting. I don't normally knowingly meet anyone like that.
-
- Posts: 3601
- Joined: February 28th, 2014, 4:50 pm
Re: Why do people take the Lord's name in vain?
Young’s Literal Translation has:
The term translated as vain, shav, has a range of meanings including useless, empty, false, and deceptive.Thou dost not take up the name of Jehovah thy God for a vain thing
The term translated as take, nasa, also has a range of meanings including to take away and give to.
The name of God is important in Exodus. Moses asks in whose name he is to instruct the people. In other words, by whose authority. The answer is intended to unify the people by claiming that the god of Abraham, the god of Isaac, and the god of Joseph are all the same god. Such a statement would have been unnecessary if their ancestors had all worshiped the same god and did not have different names for their gods.
God’s name confers authority. Moses acted in God’s name when he addressed the people and challenged the authority of Pharaoh. Compare this with what he tells the people at Mount Sinai when he brings the commandments to the people:
Is this what God said or was Moses using God’s name to assert his own authority, that is, was he using God’s name in vain? Unlike the first story where it is clear that God tells Moses what to do, there is nothing in the story of the tablets to indicate that God actually said this to him. In addition, unlike the first story which is one of unity this is a story of divisiveness among the people. It is a struggle for authority between Moses and Aaron and their descendants."This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.'" (Exodus 32:27)
If it is blasphemy it is because it takes the authority that is God’s as one’s own. If it is a curse, it is to invoke or call upon, to take up with God to prevail upon someone or something. It is in vain because its purpose is one’s own. If it is a swear, it is to bind to God by oath, and again, vain because its purpose is one’s own.
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 6105
- Joined: September 11th, 2016, 2:11 pm
Re: Why do people take the Lord's name in vain?
-- Updated January 17th, 2017, 4:43 pm to add the following --
Those silly asterisks are not of my makingBelindi wrote:I usually exclaim "bugger" or "****" when I drop my dinner on the floor. I remind myself not to as someone sometime might be offended however it is an old-established habit. I wish I retained the slightly nicer habit of my girlhood when I exclaimed "Hell's teeth" which is a little less coarse maybe I shall practice Hell's teeth first thing every morning before breakfast.
-
- Posts: 10339
- Joined: June 15th, 2011, 5:53 pm
Re: Why do people take the Lord's name in vain?
2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month
Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023
Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023