Taking God's Name In Vain?

[curtins]

Would saying "God forbid" be breaking the 2nd commandment?

[prose]

If you were asking God to forbid something... Then I don't think it would be.

[cathoholic_anonymous]

I don't think so, as I've never heard it used in anything other than a prayerful sense.

[curtins]

well I was kinda being sarcastic, I think I said something like

they attack romney cause he's mormon
they attack huckabee cause hes evangelical
God forbid a catholic were to run

[KnightofChrist]

The answer is yes if the comment is not a prayer. The meaning of Vain is "having no real value". If the comment is not a prayer and directed to God, it would be taking the Lord's name in vain. Because it would have no real value it would be vain.

Edited January 5, 2008 by KnightofChrist

[let_go_let_God]

I agree with KOC, any use of the Lord's name that isn't referring to Him directly or using the Lord's name in a way that is not reverent is a violation of the 2nd commandment.

God bless-
LGLG

[Paladin D]

[quote name='let_go_let_God' post='1442705' date='Jan 6 2008, 01:29 PM']I agree with KOC, any use of the Lord's name that isn't referring to Him directly or using the Lord's name in a way that is not reverent is a violation of the 2nd commandment.

God bless-
LGLG[/quote]

Therefore, a suprise reaction or that one of awe such as "Oh my G**" is using the Lord's name in vain? For some reason I always equated vain as to desecration (such as using God's name along with a curse word).

It makes sense, but this is where it can get dicey. What about when people say "Oh my gosh"? Most people know you're just replacing 'God' with 'gosh'. Would it be wise just to avoid the phrase all together?

I find this startling because no one has ever corrected me on this. I knew using Christ's name or the Holy Family in the same manner was vain, but never honestly put two and two together with the 'omg' phrase.

Edited January 9, 2008 by Paladin D

[let_go_let_God]

[quote name='Paladin D' post='1443561' date='Jan 8 2008, 10:32 PM']Therefore, a suprise reaction or that one of awe such as "Oh my G**" is using the Lord's name in vain? For some reason I always equated vain as to desecration (such as using God's name along with a curse word).

It makes sense, but this is where it can get dicey. What about when people say "Oh my gosh"? Most people know you're just replacing 'God' with 'gosh'. Would it be wise just to avoid the phrase all together?

I find this startling because no one has ever corrected me on this. I knew using Christ's name or the Holy Family in the same manner was vain, but never honestly put two and two together with the 'omg' phrase.[/quote]

I believe it's all in context. If a person says "gosh" but means "God" then yes I believe it is a sin, but there are people like me that do say "omg" as oh my gosh, and to keep it clear when I type in chat it is omgosh. My friends all know it and think I'm a dork for it but that's fine. But back on topic the whole OMG thing where G is clearly meant for God yes it is using the Lord's name in vain. We've been working with our youth group kids on this one because not a lot of people think about it since the use of omg is so wide spread.

God bless-
LGLG

[prose]

I got lynched here once when I wrote omg. And I honestly always think oh my goodness. But thank goodness Phatmassers were so cautious of the fate of my soul that they blasted me for it.

Yes, I think "Oh my God" is a swear.

No, I think "Oh my Gosh" is not.

God in vain is the Lord's name in vain.

Gosh is not the Lord's name.

[Paladin D]

Well I have a life long habit of saying OMG, boy it's gonna be hard to curb it.

Which brings up another question: What about actors/actresses who curse or use such language on TV or movies? Is it permissible depending on the context of the situation and/or role?

[qfnol31]

I listened to a wonderful Protestant speaker talk about how gosh, darn, heck, shoot, and (this was added by a different Protestant) fudge are all said with the same intention and really mean the same thing.

You can tell how they come from the same words.

Anyways, I actually live by this and by not saying those, never cussing is really easy.


And then I knew a Priest who told my friends in Confession to look up the words in their family's original language and use them to get out of cussing.


And to answer the original question, I think to use "God forbid" wrongly would be taking His name in vain, though I think you could use it correctly. I think you could use it to describe a person's opinion pretty well, if you actually mean to say that he thinks God does forbid something...Sorry, I'll try to be clearer after a good night's rest.

As far as the other words, I think their intention is often the same, which does make an action evil..........

[prose]

Maybe I am feeling feisty, but I am going to argue that is ridiculous.

Fudge is not a swear. Neither is gosh, darn, heck, or shoot.

It may substitute a swear, but it is not a swear. You clearly don't have the "intent" to swear, or you would have sworn.

I am sorry, I think that is being over scrupulous. It is using a word to fill a space. Does it sound more intelligent and mature to not use those words, of course. Because they are a waste of breath, but that doesn't make them a swear.

[qfnol31]

How come cuss words are swearing?

[prose]

Because my momma said so.

[ardillacid]

[quote name='qfnol31' post='1443946' date='Jan 10 2008, 01:42 AM']I listened to a wonderful Protestant speaker talk about how gosh, darn, heck, shoot, and (this was added by a different Protestant) fudge are all said with the same intention and really mean the same thing.

You can tell how they come from the same words.[/quote]
So what you are saying is that instead of saying darn, I should say beaver dam. Instead of saying shoot, I should say shinobi. Instead of frick I should say floopy.

lol.