# Poll about taking the lord's name in vain **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 19, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590 "2009-04-19T02:48:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/301 "2009-04-22T02:35:24Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > You had to go back five years to try to find a gotcha, and you couldn’t even find one that was on point? Damn, I’m consistent. I don’t want to get into a discussion about whether it was consistent or not, but I will note that I didn’t go back five years to find a gotcha. I just remembered that discussion while reading this thread, and searched for it, and was hugely surprised when the date was 2004! Time flies :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/302 "2009-04-22T02:37:45Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > My employer would have a right to ask me not to say “God damn” at work. Would the employer have the right to ask you not to say “God” at work? Maybe they do have that right, just asking. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/303 "2009-04-22T02:44:18Z")
I don’t know the answer legally, but in some circumstances they probably do. Actually, I’ve had a job where I wasn’t allowed to say it – when I was teaching in public schools. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/304 "2009-04-22T02:51:20Z")
> [@Fantome](#): > > Read the OP again and try to understand what we’re discussing. > > Read what I wrote again and then ask yourself if asking me that makes any sense. > > And again, this thread is about people that don’t want other people “taking the lord’s name in vain” in front of them. This thread is not about foul language in general or the OP would not be framed the way it was. So you disagree that saying “Goddammit” (or “God Dammit”) is taking the lord’s name in vain (as well as swearing)? Then we’re just going to have to disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Fantome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Fantome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fantome)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/305 "2009-04-22T03:36:53Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > So you disagree that saying “Goddammit” (or “God Dammit”) is taking the lord’s name in vain (as well as swearing)? What is it I said for you to come to the conclusion that i believe saying Goddammit isn’t taking “taking the lord’s name in vain”? The point is that finding foul language in general offensive isn’t relevant to the OP’s question. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/306 "2009-04-22T04:22:52Z")
If somebody requested, I would comply in respectful deference for the individual. However, if they insist on starting this line, this dogmatic enforcement and preaching, and force me to a concord with a 5000 year old silly Mediterraneaen, tribal superstition against cursing the Gods then I would feel obliged… no, obligated, to point out that in my religion that kind of blind, unthinking, reverrence to dogma is actively discouraged, and is one of the many things that chains us to the wheel… …I would then bring out my statue of the Buddha, pull out my fat cock, and proceed to piss all over him, giving him a good cleaning and spraydown, all the while shouting “Smiling H. Buddha!”. I would then ask this Christian if that offended him, of course he would say, “No… because it’s not my GOD”. I would then say, “Good, because it didn’t offend me and it certainly didn’t offend the Buddha, as all things come and go. Why does your God’s name lead you to offense and discord by his very mention?” ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/307 "2009-04-22T04:33:06Z")
Back to the OP – if someone asked, I’d try to accommodate them, but I wouldn’t try very hard, and I’d fail. And if they got huffy, I wouldn’t give a shit. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/308 "2009-04-22T04:54:53Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I don’t know the answer legally, but in some circumstances they probably do. Actually, I’ve had a job where I wasn’t allowed to say it – when I was teaching in public schools. ??? You can’t say the word “God” in public schools? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/309 "2009-04-22T05:04:34Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > ??? > You can’t say the word “God” in public schools? :dubious: Well, let’s just say you can’t say anything ABOUT God in public schools if you’re a teacher (at least not in a classroom), so it’s hard to conceive a context in which the word would ever come up. The kids, of course, can say it all they want. Why the eyebrow smilie? You’ve never heard of the Establishment clause before? ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/310 "2009-04-22T06:05:26Z")
> [@Fantome](#): > > What is it I said for you to come to the conclusion that i believe saying Goddammit isn’t taking “taking the lord’s name in vain”? The point is that finding foul language in general offensive isn’t relevant to the OP’s question. And how not? Yes or no: The OP is talking taking the lord’s name in vain. Yes or no: “God Dammit” is taking the lord’s name in vain. My answer to both of those questions is yes. What’s yours? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/311 "2009-04-22T06:24:32Z")
The point is that invoking the name of a deity is not the same as using profanity. Whether it’s “in vain” or not is a judgement call. I could just as easily say it’s frivolous and “in vain” to say “God bless you,” after somebody sneezes, but no one ever objects to that. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/312 "2009-04-22T06:44:27Z")
I am not talking about invoking the name of a deity. I’m talking specifically about the word/phrase “God Dammit”. Since “God Dammit” has the word “Dammit” in it, it is usually considered profanity/cursing/swearing. Do you disagree? If you do, that’s okay. If you don’t, what are we debating? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/313 "2009-04-22T10:08:16Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Well, let’s just say you can’t say anything ABOUT God in public schools if you’re a teacher (at least not in a classroom), so it’s hard to conceive a context in which the word would ever come up. > > The kids, of course, can say it all they want. > > Why the eyebrow smilie? You’ve never heard of the Establishment clause before? This is completely incorrect. I’ve taught my second graders about ancient Greek gods. I’ve read them a children’s version of the story of Hanukkah, while a teacher across the hall prepared a lesson on Christmas and others prepped lessons on other winter holidays. Teaching children about religious practices does not violate the establishment clause. Teaching children that a particular religious belief is correct or incorrect does. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/314 "2009-04-22T10:12:42Z")
If a word becomes mainstream, i.e., used on television, radio and in general conversation in most places (including the workplace), is it still a curse word? I think the word has evolved beyond that. Since we can say “damn” or “damn it” with virtually no repercussions, why should I defer to someone’s religious viewpoint by omitting the “god” from my statement? ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/315 "2009-04-22T11:12:54Z")
When did God’s name become God? It seems to me it is like saying human is a name for Elvis. If it is God’s name is God;Why did Moses ask Him what His name was? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/316 "2009-04-22T11:48:14Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > If a word becomes mainstream, i.e., used on television, radio and in general conversation in most places (including the workplace), is it still a curse word? I think the word has evolved beyond that. Since we can say “damn” or “damn it” with virtually no repercussions, why should I defer to someone’s religious viewpoint by omitting the “god” from my statement? I have yet to see a movie on TV where a character says “Goddammit” and they do not bleep out the “God” part of it. Is TV really the standard by which you want to judge whether or not something is acceptable? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/317 "2009-04-22T12:04:19Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > I have yet to see a movie on TV where a character says “Goddammit” and they do not bleep out the “God” part of it. > > Is TV really the standard by which you want to judge whether or not something is acceptable? What do you think the standard should be? TV is under the thumb of the FCC who are under the thumb of the christian right. You hear it in movies, at the store, at work, at grandma’s, in school (by students) and in every other venue. I’m talking my responsibility to play a religion game with someone over the use of “god” when a plain “damn it” is acceptable on TV and everywhere else in this country. The “god” piece (or the omission thereof) is a personal choice made by those who believe such a thing exists. It’s kind of like marriage. I don’t require a god to bless my marriage. Those who do have churches they can turn to for that blessing should they feel the need. Is it any business of yours if I choose a civil union? Of course not. Likewise, if you don’t think it’s a good idea to say ‘god damn it’ then don’t. It really has no bearing on my life. “Damn it” is an acceptable form of expression nearly everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/318 "2009-04-22T14:30:30Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > What do you think the standard should be? If they wanted to allow swearing on TV up to and including “motherfucker”, I’d be completely fine with it. The primary goal seems to be to protect the fragile little minds of the children, because someone has to think of them donchaknow. If I had kids and decided I didn’t want them exposed to that stuff, they wouldn’t watch TV. It’s just that simple. I just don’t find the “well everyone else does it” argument very persuasive. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/319 "2009-04-22T14:33:44Z")
You’d have to keep the kids in social isolation in order to protect them from exposure to cursing. Children are much more fascinated by bad words than adults are. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/320 "2009-04-22T14:52:23Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > If they wanted to allow swearing on TV up to and including “motherfucker”, I’d be completely fine with it. The primary goal seems to be to protect the fragile little minds of the children, because someone has to think of them donchaknow. If I had kids and decided I didn’t want them exposed to that stuff, they wouldn’t watch TV. It’s just that simple. > > I just don’t find the “well everyone else does it” argument very persuasive. So take TV and the religious right’s influence out of it. It sounds like it’s YOU who’s making TV the standard for whether or not non-believers can say “god damn” versus “damn.” If that’s not the yardstick you’re using, what is? And what is it based on? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590.md?page=17)