CanoeMan

What does this mean, exactly? Does it mean that you should never say it? Or does it mean that you shouldn't say it unless it actually means something in context? Or does it mean that you shouldn't pretend to act on the authority of God when you're not (acting in Gods name, so to speak)? Or does it mean that you shouldn't use it if it's pointless to use? What was it originally meant to mean?

seebs

That's a very interesting question. I don't know exactly, but I connect it somewhat to the prohibition in the NT against swearing oaths.

Alethias

In modern contexts, at least among the christians I'm around all the time, it's almost exclusively used to refer to swear words that reference god. For example goddamit or Jesus H. Christ on a pogo-stick!. Older usage would include any reference to god that is thought of as too casual or callous. This also matches with what orthodox jews would consider as taking god's name in vain.

SoT

reddhedd

But "god" is just a title. It's a job description, if you will.

A name is "Allah" "Jehovah" "Jesus" "Amon-Ra" etc.
So, unless you are saying "Allah damn you" or " Oh Amon-Ra" or something like that, how are you taking god's "name" in vain?

Redd

The Colourful Jester

I used it in an artery myself.

regis

TCJ quote: I used it in an artery myself.

I was thinking that if you mixed up yer heroin with holy water & shot it into yer arm, yes, then you'd be taking the lord's name in vein.


'Sdruth!


:devil1:


Seriously, Jesus [I think] (if he existed) said something to the effect of: Don't swear oaths ("By all that's holy, by the great Hammer of Thor", etc.) - just say 'I'll do it'

mikey1987

It's so uptight Christians can run around telling people to stop using the name Jesus or God when they are mad. Just another way for fundies to tell us what we can't say.

amaradulcis_nyx

OT - "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." (Exodus 20:7, NIV)

NT - "But I tell you, do not swear at all; either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes', and your 'No' be 'No'. Anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matt 5:34-37, NIV)

Which I take to mean - as a human, you have no powers, so you can't swear by anything since you're insignificant and can't change anything. Also, that to do so is "evil" and that God has a *major* power trip going on. Maybe it's the old "the name is the essence of the thing", so don't let people abuse/use/have power over your name/essence?

One of the salesmen at work has cards in his biz card holder that asks people not to swear. I know one of the reasons listed is that it "offends God and others". I tone down my language around him because he's one of the oldest salespeople we have and he's generally a very nice (if over-enthusiastically Xian) guy. That doesn't hold true in my own office where the air sometimes turns blue when the printer jams for the 10th time.

seebs

FWIW, I refuse to swear (and I have had to explain this to confused judges and court clerks), but I don't object to cussing.

I think the objection to swearing is mostly that it implies dishonesty. If I only tell you the truth when I swear, what confidence can you have that I am truthful then?

firebird

Ther'es a misconception about what using the lords name in vain really means, some say it's cursing with god's name etc.

But that's not it at all. See below.

http://www.hiddenmeanings.com/comment.htm

[firebird, if you have thoughts of your own, please provide them. Copying and pasting is not considered a valid form of argument. You may provide links as you desire, but a dialogue is better served if you present your thoughts on said links. Thanks, FM/FRD Mod]

fb