> I remember when I was a little kid growing up, it was a *terrible* thing to use cuss words. As a child, I thought only "bad people" swore. As I got older, I began to realize that even "good people" use cuss words sometimes. My parents taught us never to use profanity, and I can still remember how shocked and even scared I was the first (and only) time I heard my father use a swear word. Unfortunately, Hollywood and television have seemingly worked hard for years to desensitize us to it. Over the years they've gradually introduced more and more profanity...first in the movies and then on television. I hardly ever watch TV anymore, because I can't stand all the profanity and taking of God's name in vain that I'm subjected to whenever the tube is on. I don't even go to the movies anymore.

I don't mind people cussing in most situations. Certain words I grew up labling profanity others learned as acceptable, even if profanity in general was not. But no matter how desensitized I feel myself to be to 'sailor-talk,' I do have a major problem with anyone taking the Lord's name in vain. I realize most don't know it's offensive to anyone, but I honestly don't think there's anything I can do about it. I have some of my better friends 'trained,' as they put it, to watch themselves, but they only do it around me.

> I think the most important reason not to use profanity is that it angers God. Ephesians 4:29 says, "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."

Heh. That's a neat verse, if only in that I know of several people that have found it for themselves, myself included, and none who have heard of it and then found it.

> I think this Biblical principle makes very good practical sense! When someone talking to me uses profanity, whether it is a lot or only a little, it makes me want to end the conversation then and there. I just don't want to talk to people who talk like that. I don't think there are any good reasons to use profanity. If someone is angry with me, a rant laced with foul language isn't going to help resolve the situation. If you hit your thumb with a hammer, the best word to use is "ouch." Swearing like a sailor isn't going to make your thumb feel any better.

Neither is saying "ouch."

Chr"no power to condemn, only to choose sides"is