Christians, why is swearing bad?

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I always can't understand why swearing is bad...I'm a Christian and people from church and christian fellowships etc... say that swearing is bad. I try to avoid swearing and i understand that it is bad when you're swearing at other people. But what about when you accidently do something and say "S***!" Or some swear words are just a synonym (different word same meaning) of other words like "butt" and "poo" or "crap". Like when some people swear, they don't even mean to do anything bad or harm other people.

I have no idea.

(fellow swearing Christian here)

I don't know but I've heard plenty of self-proclaimed christians swear!

Well, off the cuff, there are two definitions of "swearing."

One is to take an oath, which Christians are told not to do. They are to say "yes" or "no." There are not to swear to oaths.

Another is to use foul language. I'd have to do some research as to if there is a prohibition against such an issue, but the Jesus said that what comes out of the mouth reflects what is in the heart, so using foul language is a reflection of what is inside of you.

I always thought swearing was bad, long before I was a Christian, not because there was anything morally wrong about it, but because it is a lazy use of language. Why use a scatalogical term when you can express your frustration in more imaginative ways? I hear people use adjectival nouns relating to the human body or alimentary system, and it puzzles me... It just seems the words are being used incorrectly, that's all.

Regarding the other form of swearing, taking the name of God in vain, for example... that's just disrespectful.

The other one is just lazy, but generally overlooked as such because of cultural and linguistic mores.

Swearing is offensive to many people but unless you are using God's name in vain (ref. 10 commandments) you are not officially sinning, per se. Trying to keep swearing in check is more a matter of respecting the sensitivities of those around you than a Biblical dictate. Although, of course, different congregations may have their own opinions, and I think that is what you are facing here: a group of people who believe it is wrong. But that isn't universal to Christianity. Although, of course, as a Christian you are called to show respect for the sensitivities of those around you.

Swearing your head off when you are alone and there is no one to offend can be an effective way to release anger or frustration without harming anyone or anything. I say go for it. And I'm Christian.

... accidentally hits thumb with hammer "Oh dear me! That smarts! I feel distinct pain and a throbbing sensation! I seem to have flattened my thumb and there are bits of bone, flesh and blood everywhere. How unpleasant!"

But swearing in our culture has become so common that you can swear and have a good heart.

The Bible gets retranslated every few years. According to "the New Jeruselum Bible" created some years ago the commandment about using the lord's name in vain- is translated into an admonition against- not profanity- but more against blasphemy. Blasphemy seems like a more sensible thing to have as a taboo against in a religion.

But what I wonder about is this: why exactly are 'swear words' called 'swear' words?

When you stub your toe at night and use profanity you're not pledging allegiance to the flag, nor are you promising to uphold the constitution and faithfully execute the laws of the land-nor anything like that. So what exactly does use of profanity have to do with swearing an oath?

That's pretty accurate except that many people forget that several non-swear words are permutations of this.

Particularly Gee Whiz or Jeez which are definitely more "wrong" than saying the F-word in terms of Christian dogma but for some reason, they're not recognised as such.

It's irritating but I don't mind since I swear all the time.

It's probably a manifestation of the ancient belief that words have power. It's not a reaction to the meaning or content of the words (if one uses a synonym for a swear word, a lot of the mystical impact is lost). If it was, then we would expect that words like "murder" and "torture", would be considered to be much more offensive than words like "f**k". No, it is something special about the words themselves, the particular sound they make, which is somehow arbitarily elevated above all other sounds. If you say "f**k" in a crowded room, it has a dramatic almost magical impact, something completely lacking if you were to instead say "the Armenian genocide". Swear words have their effect only because people on some level consider that there is something 'magical' about certain words.

The commandment about "taking the Lord's name in vain" is a prime example of this. Contrary to widespread belief, it does not refer to using the name of Yahweh (or later Jesus) as a curse word. In the time it was written, it was believed that if you knew an entity's true name, this gave you power over them and the ability to command them. This is a prominent theme in the mythology of the region; for instance in Egypt it is explained that Ra was forced to become the sun god and let Osiris rule the Earth, after Isis arranged for him to be bitten by a magically conjured serpent, and refused to cure him of the effects of the venom unless he revealed to her his true name. Once he did so, she was able to banish him to the skies. Likewise, in Israel, it was a fairly common practice to use the name Yahweh in magical incantations, using his name to make him do the bidding of the sorcerer. The third commandment was designed to combat this practice, and in Israel it it was forbidden to use the name Yahweh at all, except for the High Priest who was allowed to use it once a year as part of a special ceremony. Using the name of Yahweh or Jesus as a curse word is not what is meant by the third commandment. However, plenty of Christians do manage to break it unwittingly - just think of any occasion in which somebody has made a prayer "in the name of Jesus", trying to make him do some favour or other for them. Pretty much any prayer which uses the name of Yahweh or Jesus and attempts to make them do something for the person praying is a violation of the third commandment.

Bill Cosby had a routine about it.

His notion was that every time you use profanity it distracts god attention from running the cosmos. Save his name for you really need to ask him for somethng important in a prayer.

He acted it out with much more humor ofcourse.

But that might indeed be what the ancients were thinking.

If you use the lords name in vain everytime you had a hangnail he woud stop paying attention to you like the boy who cried wolf.

Just a theory.

exactly people use "swearwords" as a quick whay to show emotion though it mught be poor language somtimes we dont have time to think about it..

what annoys me is damn i mean i dont get why people say it is a swearword when cursed isnt

Profanity is like hot sauce; a little dab causes a greater effect than just pouring it over your meal...

Yeah, the 'names have power' bit comes from the Classical belief that if you know the name of something, you can bend it to your will. The Jews got smart, and named their god 'I am' (Yaweh), so that couldn't work. But then, they had fun with Baal too, renaming him Beezebub (a Semitic pun...which shows you how far back puns go... Thus, Lord of the Flies...

Because at the time (mostly the medieval period), it was believed that you were calling upon the Lord to damn someone's soul to Hell for eternity - thus, using the Lord's name in vain, at least by implication. Cursing someone would only count if you actually believed you could work magic, and thus curse someone just by saying the words.

Some Christians hold that using certain words against others causes them emotional harm, thus violating the famed Golden Rule (no, not "he who has the gold makes the rules", the other one). Others just go overboard in finding things the Lord won't like, because they seem to want as many of their fellow men to wind up in Hell as possible when the Final Trump sounds - perhaps they're afraid Heaven is finite, and they want to avoid overcrowding...

A preacher once said, that if the tongues out of order, then the rest of the body is as well. Swearng is bad because it leads to more sinning. Sure some "Christians" will curse but the majority do not. I don't like swearing but I'm use to hearing it in my everyday life.