Foul Mouth: Cussing & Swearing

A foul mouth, with all different types of swearing, cussing, shocking, and intimidating words are not of God.

Sometimes foul language is attached to God's holy name, turning it into blasphemy.

I have even heard militant atheists uses God's name for blasphemy.  How can an atheist claim that God does not exist, then use His name to express disgust?  A paradox for sure.

Foul language has been a part of our human vocabulary since the Fall from the Garden of Eden, perhaps immediately after the eating of the forbidden fruit, even before they were kicked out of the Garden of Eden.

Many people use this strong language to overpower, upset, bully, intimidate, shock, or manipulate one or more persons within hearing.  By using swear words, the speaker can transmit the message that they are tough and independent; someone who may not follow standard social customs; a loose cannon.  Others might want to clearly and unequivocally communicate to others their extremely strong emotions that they are (or were) feeling.

Jay and Janschewitz described how:

• Stephens et al. has shown that swearing is associated with enhanced pain tolerance,and helps you get over your trauma more quickly (eg. when you accidentally hit your finger instead of the nail at which you were aiming the hammer).
  
  
• Swear words can achieve a number of outcomes, as when used positively for joking or storytelling, stress management, fitting in with the crowd, or as a substitute for physical aggression.
  
  
• USA data show that swearing emerges by age two.
  
  
• By the time children enter school, they have a working vocabulary of 30-40 offensive words.
   
• Through interview data, we know that young adults report to have learned these words from parents, peers, and siblings, not from mass media.
   
• A child's swearing becomes adult-like by ages 11 or 12.
  
  
• The most frequently recorded taboo words have remained fairly stable over the past 30 years.
   
• The Anglo-Saxon words we say today are hundreds of years old, and most of the historically offensive sexual references are still at the top of the offensiveness list; they have not been dislodged by modern slang.
  
  
• All competent English speakers learn how to swear in English.
   
• Swearing generally draws from a pool of 10 expressions and occurs at a rate of about 0.5 percent of one’s daily word output.
  
  
• While swearing crosses socioeconomic statuses and age ranges and persists across the lifespan, it is more common among adolescents and more frequent among men.
   
• Over the recent decades, a greater proportion of swearing is coming from women (the reduction of a once large gender difference). These researchers attribute this increase as reflecting a greater proportion of women in public (e.g., many more women on college campuses) rather than a coarsening of women.
  
  
• We are exposed to more forms of swearing since the inception of satellite radio, cable television, and the Internet, but that does not mean the average person is swearing more frequently.
  
  
• Swearing is positively correlated with extraversion and is a defining feature of a Type A personality. It is negatively correlated with conscientiousness, agreeableness, sexual anxiety, and religiosity.
  

One person described swearing in public to be equivalent to picking your nose in public (ie. your not doing anybody any harm, but it is bad manners and repulsive).

Doing brain scans, scientists have discovered that swearing originates in a totally different section of the brain than used for normal speech. Based on this, stroke victims, aphasics and victims of other language disorders have been taught to speak again by using this alternative language pathway.

One person postulated that most of the swearing is done by individuals whom are poorly educated on the subjects they discussed, and that swearing is used as a cover for their lack of knowledge; a defense mechanism against those who expose them for making false claims.

Swearing usually has a social taboo associated with it.  If someone is willing to swear in front of others in spite of this generally accepted taboo, there is a testing of the group's trust level and cohesiveness.  If the group stays together, and none of the group members report the violation of the taboo to local authorities (eg. non-group friends, parents, spouses, police, etc.) then all members of the group are more tightly bound by this shared secret.  Gangs often use similar techniques to initiate new recruits by commanding them to perform a criminal act (ie. up to and including murder) while other gang members witness the illegal behavior.  Beyond the mutual bonding in the shared taboo, if the new recruit ever fails the gang, this known criminal act (often with live incriminating video or photos) can be used to report the failed member to authorities for punishment. 

Harvard Science Review, Pg. 27-32  suggest:

• There are four general categories for swear word.  Deistic swear words deal with divinity, religion, curses, and blasphemy. Visceral swear words deal with the body and bodily functions. Social swear words deal with people or social groups that are associated with outcasts, marginalized, shamed, or have other socially unacceptable stigmas, or are politically incorrect. There are, of course, miscellaneous swear words that do not fit one of these three categories.
   
• A study of child victims of obscene telephone calls showed that the children suffered severe psychological consequences from these calls.  Language can harm people, especially the young. (Larsen, H. B., Leth, I., & Maher, B. A. (2000). "Obscene telephone calls to children: A retrospective field study". Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 29(4), 626–632. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15374424JCCP2904_14)

Can a True Christian have a foul mouth?

What is the overall impression if someone had a very important event to go to, so they got dressed in their best dress, matching shoes & purse, but had their makeup and hair done by Joker?

I suggest there will be a significant disconnect in the impression delivered to others.  

As a related example, at Disney World, they try to keep the grounds spotless every minute of the day.  The cleaner it is, the more out of place a small gum wrapper on the ground looks; it sticks out like a sore thumb.

In industry, the Japanese originated the 5S techniques of Lean Manufacturing.  Every machine and work place was 100% spotless; everything has a place to store it, and everything was in that place.  Everything was consistent, 100% in compliance.

Every Saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.  Swearing by a Saint can indicate to others that this Saint had a colourful past.

Misery loves company.  Since less than 5% of the population are True Christian, most of those observing the vocabulary of Saints are those living their daily lives in the squallor, mud, blood, and beer of sinful misery.

These folks likely have ears that perk up when a Saint uses gutter language.  

A Saint with a potty mouth may attract sinners to drag that freshly escaped Saint back into the mud.

The Saint's language gives them away, tells of their recent past, betraying the freshly minted Saint. It will cause others to disrespect them, or try to pull them back into their muddy, sinful world; the Saint's old lifestyle.

As long as the Saint keeps the old language, they are at considerably greater risk of falling back, or being pushed, or being grabbed and dragged back into their old lifestyle.

Swearing isn't consistent with Christianity.  True Christians don't have a potty mouth. Foul language is a sin.

Bible Verses, sorted Canonically

Exo 20:7; Exo 21:17; Lev 15:12; Lev 20:9; Deu 5:11; Psa 10:7; Psa 19:14; Psa 34:13-14; Psa 39:1; Psa 59:12; Psa 109:17; Psa 119:72; Pro 4:24; Pro 15:1, 4; Pro 18:21; Pro 21:23; Pro 30:8-11; Hos 4:2; Mat 5:16, 22, 34, 37; Mat 12:33-37; Mat 15:10-11, 18-20; Luk 6:28, 45; Rom 3:14; Rom 12:1-2, 14; Eph 4:29; Phl 4:8; Col 3:8, 23; Col 4:6; 1Th 5:22; 2Ti 2:16; Jas 1:19-20, 26; Jas 3:1-13; Jas 5:12; 1Pe 1:15; 1Pe 3:10 

 [Exo 20:7 KJV] "[7] Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." 

 [Exo 21:17 KJV] "[17] And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death." 

 [Lev 15:12 KJV] "[12] And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth which hath the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water." 

 [Lev 20:9 KJV] "[9] For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him." 

 [Deu 5:11 KJV] "[11] Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." 

 [Psa 10:7 KJV] "[7] His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity." 

 [Psa 19:14 KJV] "[14] Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." 

[Psa 34:13-14 KJV] "[13] Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. [14] Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it."

 [Psa 39:1 KJV] "[1] [To the chief Musician, [even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.]] I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me." 

 [Psa 59:12 KJV] "[12] For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak."

 [Psa 109:17 KJV] "[17] As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him." 

 [Psa 119:72 KJV] "[72] The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver." 

 [Pro 4:24 KJV] "[24] Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee."

 [Pro 15:1, 4 KJV] "[1] A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. ... [4] A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit."

 [Pro 18:21 KJV] "[21] Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." 

[Pro 21:23 KJV] "[23] Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles." 

 [Pro 30:8-11 KJV] "[8] Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: [9] Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. [10] Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty. [11] There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother."

 [Hos 4:2 KJV] "[2] By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood." 

 [Mat 5:16, 22, 34, 37 KJV] "[16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. ... [22] But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. ... [34] But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: ... [37] But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."

 [Mat 12:33-37 KJV] "[33] Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. [34] O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. [35] A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. [36] But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. [37] For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

 [Mat 15:10-11, 18-20 KJV] "[10] And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand : [11] Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. ... [18] But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. [19] For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: [20] These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man."

 [Luk 6:28, 45 KJV] "[28] Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. ... [45] A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."  

[Rom 3:14 KJV] "[14] Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:"

 [Rom 12:1-2, 14 KJV] "[1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ... [14] Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not." 

 [Eph 4:29 KJV] "[29] Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." 

[Phl 4:8 KJV] "[8] Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." 

 [Col 3:8, 23 KJV] "[8] But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. ... [23] And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;" 

 [Col 4:6 KJV] "[6] Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."

 [1Th 5:22 KJV] "[22] Abstain from all appearance of evil."

 [2Ti 2:16 KJV] "[16] But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness."

 [Jas 1:19-20, 26 KJV] "[19] Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: [20] For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. ... [26] If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain."

 [Jas 3:1-13 KJV] "[1] My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. [2] For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. [3] Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. [4] Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. [5] Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! [6] And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. [7] For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: [8] But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. [9] Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. [10] Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. [11] Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? [12] Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. [13] Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom."

 [Jas 5:12 KJV] "[12] But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation." 

 [1Pe 1:15 KJV] "[15] But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;" 

 [1Pe 3:10 KJV] "[10] For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:"