Bleep

Do you have a favorite swear word? I know I used to join in the giggling with other children every Christmas when we would sing about the ox and ass, but I am not sure I have a favorite. The children’s show Recess gave a portion of my generation the phrase “this whomps” as a substitute for many other words and perhaps we were also inspired by the book Frindle. The other thing to consider is that words that were bad when I was a child are now commonplace and found on not just hot sauce bottles, but in punny business names. Some are on shirts and mugs. No matter how we look at it, language changes over time and I found myself pondering, especially after our scripture this week that speaks of cursing and blessing with the same mouth, if there really is such a thing as a bad word or if that is just a temporary assignment from humans.

First thing to consider is that all words are made up. No, really. The only reason we call things what we call them is because we agreed that the sound we make or the letters we write mean that. And with apologies to linguists and etymologists everywhere, we as people like to ruin words. Take the word literally. It now has two conflicting definitions that mean the exact opposite. This makes it a contranym. It means that I literally cannot use this word anymore because people will not know if I mean it as its original definition or as its common usage, figuratively. Other words when combined take on a whole variety of meanings. A Finnish comedian, ISMO, has a comedic take on this. As a warning, there are unbleeped curse words in this clip which is why I am linking it, not posting it. For those of you who have chosen to skip it, just know that the addition of the word the to a common swear word, changes the meaning from an item or situation that is undesirable to a person, place, or thing being the best. It’s not a contranym because it’s a phrase, but it is in the same spirit. You know sometimes words, they have two meanings.

Accepting that all words and their meanings are made up, what else would make a word a bad word? What criteria would you use? Well, I for one, like for things to be spellable. Which actually makes most curse words good words. Anything that follows the general rules of English (ha!) is accessible. A word like ghoti is not, in my opinion, a good word. You have to really know that word to know how to pronounce it. Think for a moment about English swear words… they are easily spelled and said. A win all around! But that also leaves us to ponder if it’s not the meaning of a word that necessarily makes it a bad word and it’s not a question of following most phonetic rules, what would make a word, in its essence, a bad word?

Next guess, intention and elitism. If it is the intention behind the usage, how would we ever know? Sweetheart can be a term of endearment or a belittling statement that denigrates women with thinly veiled misogyny. I’m also not sure I have the time or energy to write the treatise on how classist language distinctions can be. Look at Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. It is considered crass when she yells out a swear word at a horse race. It’s an indication that she is not yet a lady and therefore, lower class. Many a parent has tried to use this argument to convince a teenager or child to not use a swear word. It’s trashy or you sound low class might be attempted. It is also worth noting that there appears to be some generational change around this mindset. Coarse language used to be associated with rough and tough sailing people, but these days I would counter that most people swear, it is simply a matter of where and when.

Whether you swear often or not at all, there is still wisdom in Scripture for us all to absorb. One of the original arguments against swearing was not ever saying Jesus Christ because that was taking the Lord’s name in vain. It even made the top ten there in Exodus. You weren’t supposed to just bandy that name about as there is power in the name. I say this knowing full well that many modern versions of Scripture present this in a different light:

“You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. (Exodus 20:7 NRSVUE)

Using God’s name as an excuse to hurt others or be self-righteous or otherwise not follow Jesus (looking at poor Peter again from Mark 8:33) appears to be the meaning behind these words. That is the commandment we are meant to follow. There are also Scriptures about unclean lips and thoughts, but those do not appear to have the same connection to swear words. God is not your excuse for treating people as not people or otherwise poorly.

As a parting thought, when I first started attending seminary and people found out I was going to be a pastor, there was a big change in my work environment. Starting at that point, people did not stop swearing in my presence, but they did start apologizing to me for saying something where I could hear it. An interesting response that speaks to human nature. As a soon to be pastor, I was clearly (ha!) too pure and holy to hear such crass words. It had people putting me on a pedestal that I do not belong on. Which leaves me in the position to hold a specific opinion on swear words. Swear words do not make you good or bad, high or low class, godly or ungodly- what matters is how you treat the people around you. If you are swearing to cut someone down and belittle them, that’s shameful. In almost any other situation, if you let out a string of curses with the same mouth you bless God with (or as some say, you kiss your momma with that mouth?) give yourself some grace. And may God always help you find the words to offer the same abundant grace, unerring mercy, and steadfast love that we find in God.