Swearing in Fiction, Part 6

Today, another excerpt to consider with swearing, this time from a novel called Imaginary Jesus by Matt Mikalatos. An adult satire, the story starts with a Christian hanging out with his Jesus when a burly, fish-loving man named Pete Jonason interrupts their time together. Conversation quickly escalates into confrontation:

I put a hand on [Pete’s] arm and told him to calm down, but he ignored me and said, “What exactly do you want from my friend Matt here?”

Jesus stared at him. “I have plans to prosper him, plans for peace. I want him to be happy and rich. If he follows my instructions, that’s exactly what will—”

Pete punched Jesus hard, in the face, causing his head to snap to the right and bounce off the window. I jumped up to intervene. Pete dragged Jesus from the table, and Jesus kicked over his chair, feet flailing. Pete had him in a bear hug, and Jesus elbowed him in the stomach. Pete lost his grip, grabbed Jesus by the hair, and slammed him to the ground. I shoved Pete with all my strength and he stumbled backward, flipping over a table and shattering a chair on the way down.

I helped Jesus up. “Are you okay? You should have called down some angels to protect you.”

With a guttural roar, Pete launched himself across the table, straight for Jesus’ head. Jesus sidestepped, turned, and ran out the door. Pete shook himself off and rose to go after him, but before he could leave, I picked up a leg from the broken chair and clocked him as hard as I could right in the back of the head. That didn’t stop him, but it did slow him down enough for Jesus to get a good head start. I watched as he gathered his robes in his hands and ran like crazy, his white legs flashing out, his sandals eating the pavement like a dog licking ice cream.

Pete stood up, rubbing his head. He glared at me and then at the rapidly retreating Jesus. “Damn it,” he said and kicked the table.

“You shouldn’t curse.”

“Sometimes a curse is called for. That—” Pete pointed out the window at the racing back of my Lord—“that was an imaginary Jesus, my friend. I choose my words carefully, and I said what I meant.”

So what do you think? Is this a legitimate use of swearing, why or why not?

(Disclaimer: “At the Red and Black,” Chapter Zero, Imaginary Jesus by Matt Mikalatos, copyright 2010, is used under the fair use provisions of the United States Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C §107, for educational and critical purposes.)

Swearing in Fiction, Part 5

In my last post on discernment in fiction, I included a clip from The Unsinkable Molly Brown, asking once again whether this was a legitimate use of swearing. While this clip is more borderline, I would say it probably would qualify for three reasons.

The first two reasons mirror those used for the My Fair Lady clip: We are dealing with a non-Christian character who has no restraints against swearing and who has reached a point of extreme emotion. For what else can he say that captures this moment? Even something like “I hate you” doesn’t ring strong or true enough.

But the third factor I see at work here is historical context. James and Margaret Brown were real people. Therefore, the language needs to be consistent with what’s known about them, thus conforming to reality and meeting the standard of “true.”

If James Brown had been the sort of man known for never uttering foul language, I don’t care how extreme the emotion is—the swearing would be inexcusable. However, the Browns (if I have my facts straight) came from a rougher culture where the swearing wouldn’t be unusual. Thus the swearing seems to work here.

Swearing in Fiction Part 4

Here's another video clip to consider. This week we're looking at a piece near the end of The Unsinkable Molly Brown, where he finally puts his foot down to Molly:

So what do you think? Is this a reasonable, justifiable use of swearing in fiction? Why or why not?


Disclaimer: The Unsinkable Molly Brown, ©2000 by Warner Hom Video, is used under the fair use provisions of the United States Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C §107, for educational and critical purposes.

Swearing in Fiction, Part 3

Last week I posted a clip from My Fair Lady and asked whether this was a legitimate use of swearing.

As a whole, it probably is. I see two factors at play:

First, Professor Henry Higgins is not a Christian, and even more, has little regard or respect for anything or anyone. Therefore, nothing constrains him in his use of language; he has no reason not to swear.

Second, the use of “damn” here is used to show an extreme emotional disturbance. There is little else that could be said or done to show his unusual agitation in such a short, confined space.

Also notice that the language is reserved for the moment of most extreme emotion. While the professor could have easily been a character who would swear every other sentence, he used this type of language only here (as far as I remember), giving it more impact.

So from this we see that swearing can be an effective way to reveal extreme emotion. However, it is only effective if limited to the point of greatest impact.

Swearing in Fiction Part 2

The first movie clip we’re analyzing this week comes from My Fair Lady. Near the end of the musical, the arrogant and overbearing Professor Higgins is told off by his experimental protégé, Eliza Doolittle. He storms out of the house and well, this is what happens:

So what do you think? Is this an appropriate time/place for swearing? Why or why not?

Disclaimer: My Fair Lady, ©2009 by Paramount, is used under the fair use provisions of the United States Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C §107, for educational and critical purposes.

Swearing in Fiction, Part 1

So we’ve defined swearing (crude and offensive language and/or action which often insults God and/or the recipient thereof) and scrutinized it through the lens of Scripture, especially Philippians 4:8. From that we discovered there is very little justification for swearing.

Nonetheless, swearing is part of the real world. Since fiction reflects reality, it would make sense there would be times and places for swearing.

So before we delve into movie clips for analysis, what do you think? What might be appropriate uses of obscenities, cursing, epithets, and the other language I’ve placed under the umbrella of swearing?

Other Biblical Notes on Swearing

From Philippians 4:8 we saw that swearing doesn’t match up to those standards. But Philippians 4:8 isn’t the Bible’s only commentary on our use of language. Rather, here’s a very small sampling of what Scripture has to say:

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Proverbs 12:18) Language is not intrinsically evil, but can be used for good or evil.

It is also powerful: By language God created the world (Genesis 1), and Christ Himself is called the Word (John 1:1). So perhaps not surprisingly, it is also through language—specifically God’s Word—that Christians are protected: “Take . . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17)

Is it any wonder, then, that we will held accountable for what we say? “‘But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.’” (Matthew 12:36-37)

So how are we supposed to use our words?

First, wrong usage of God’s name (e.g. blasphemy or profanity) is never appropriate: “‘You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.’” (Exodus 20:7)

And since humans are made in the image of God, we are also to extend to them respect: “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” (Ephesians 5:4) Rather “do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs” (Ephesians 4:29) letting our “conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt.” (Colossians 4:6)

So for the Christian in their daily lives, profanity and obscenities are off-limits, as is much of the other problematic language I grouped under the definition of swearing.

However, swearing is part of our culture these days and a very prevalent one at that. Therefore, as I showed with Philippians 4:8, there may be a place for it in fiction and that is what we’ll be looking at next.

Summary of Philippians 4:8 on Swearing

Definition of Swearing: Crude and offensive language (and/or action) which often insults God and/or the recipient thereof. Includes (for this study) profanity, obscenities, epithets, and cursing.

There’s only two qualities left to examine from Philippians 4:8—the two overarching principles of this verse: “If anything is excellent or praiseworthy…”

So is swearing excellent or praiseworthy? (Excellence: anything that sets its craft over and above others for its good quality. Praiseworthy: brings praise to God.)

While swearing (both in the broader sense of insults to the narrower definition of obscenity and profanity) can be tactfully handled, it rarely is and overall usually does not show excellence in the use of language; rather it often reflects a degradation of words.

Likewise, swearing is almost never God-honoring. There are rare occasion a true curse may be called for, and the broadest sense of to insult can be employed in this way, as seen in the non-derogatory types of sarcasm. But most language of this category is an insult of God and/or the good He has made. As a result, most of it is not praiseworthy either.

And so what do we learn from this analysis of swearing? While it is a part of our real world (true), most of it is not respectful (noble), is not reflective of God’s character and commands (right), would contaminate us upon leaving our mouths (pure), does not please the senses or move the heart toward love (lovely), and rarely has a good reputation (admirable). As a result, swearing has very little to justify its use in fiction.

Philippians 4:8 on Swearing, Part 3

Definition of Swearing: Crude and offensive language (and/or action) which often insults God and/or the recipient thereof. Includes (for this study) profanity, obscenities, epithets, and cursing.

Is it lovely? (Lovely: Pleasing to the senses or moves the heart toward love/affection)

Something crude is often considered unpolished or unfinished. Language is no different. When crude, it rough around the edges both in content and sound. As a result swearing often is harsh to the ear.

Likewise, swearing doesn’t move the affections toward love. Rather it has an opposite effect: We don’t tend to kindly toward someone cursing us, and swearing is often used when a person is feeling anything but affectionate.

So swearing isn’t lovely.

Is it admirable? (Admirable: Something spoken well of; a good reputation)

Unfortunately swearing has become largely acceptable in our culture, and sometimes is even applauded, like with some types of comedy.

However, there are still many negative connotations attached to those who swear, including the concepts of being foul-mouthed, unrefined, and uneducated—that is, lacking the vocabulary to express oneself better.

Therefore, this one is mixed with leanings toward the negative.

Philippians 4:8 on Swearing, Part 2

Definition: Crude and offensive language (and/or action) which often insults God and/or the recipient thereof. Includes (for this study) profanity, obscenities, epithets, and cursing.

Is swearing right? (Right: The conformity to the will, standards and character of God)

Usually no.

We are told to love our neighbor (Matthew 22:39), to bless those who curse (Luke 6:28), and to not employ cursing and filthy language (e.g. James 3:9-12, Colossians 3:8).

While God does use curses, they are reserved for the most extreme circumstances. His language, however, is never crude or filthy, but is only offensive/insulting to those of us who are out of step with Him (e.g. John 6:60-64) and of that which is offensive to Him (e.g. mocking of evil). Nor is being offensive or insulting His sole purpose, but such language is often used to motivate us away from evil and toward good.

Is it pure? (Pure: That which will not contaminate us—cause us to sin—if we should employ it in our own lives)

Usually swearing is not considered pure behavior.

While curses and oaths are not in themselves wrong, they are very serious matters with a weight that few understand these days. But the breaking of an oath or the misapplication of vow or curse carries serious—and sometimes deadly—consequence (e.g. Deuteronomy 23:21, Judges 11:30-39).

Beyond that, though, coarse, crude, demeaning, or filthy language is never condoned in Scripture.

Philippians 4:8 on Swearing, Part 1

Definition: Crude and offensive language (and/or action) which often insults God and/or the recipient thereof. Includes (for this study) profanity, obscenities, epithets, and cursing.

Now that we have a broad working definition of swearing, the next big question is how does this use of words stack up to the standard set by Philippians 4:8.

Is it true? (True: That which conforms to reality or reveals truth)

Unfortunately, the world of swearing is very much a part of our world. Found in films and books at the lowest levels (Eloise, Inkheart, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, to name a few), fiction is saturated with it. Walk through a mall, converse with co-workers, or even eavesdrop on Christians at church, and you will sadly find many real-life counterparts to the fictional uses of this language.

So swearing does conform to reality, even if it reveals little truth except the depravity of man and our continuous rebellion against our Creator.

Is it noble? (Noble: Action done with dignity and serious topics dealt with respect)

What is dignified about using a name as a throwaway exclamation? Does that not show how little we think of the One Who bears that name?

Or where’s the respect in slandering one’s heritage? And while damnation is a serious topic indeed, does our use of curses show the seriousness of the condemnation? Do we handle such words with the respectful care God has weighted them with?

No, swearing carries few tatters that might be mistaken as the cloak of nobility.

Defining Swearing

Before we can examine the uses of swearing, we first must decide what we mean exactly by swearing.

By basic definition, swearing is to solemnly take an oath. However, these days the word has taken on a much more negative connotation, more the equivalent of cursing. It is this latter connotation I have in view for this discussion.

As such, swearing has two basic parts in view, profanities and obscenities.

Profanity desecrates the sacred and takes the name of God in vain, often as a meaningless exclamation. This would include everything from “Good Lord” and “Oh my God!” (or the texting equivalent, OMG) to “Christ” and “Geez” (an abbreviated, misspelled form of Jesus). Blasphemy would be one step beyond this, with the direct cursing/mockery of God and all things connected to Him.

An obscenity by strict definition is crude and lewd language, often referring to bodily functions (e.g. “shit”). However, for the ease of working through this section on language, I’m expanding obscenities to also include three related areas: obscene gestures, epithets (a strong insult demeaning someone with reference to their perceived identity—birth, race, religion. E.g. “son of a bitch”), and general cursing (calling for God’s condemnation on someone or something—e.g. “damn”).

In short, we will define swearing as crude and offensive language (and/or action) which insults God and/or the recipient thereof.

Practical Application: Swearing

In 1939, one line of dialogue caused a huge uproar over a movie that would go on to be one of the greatest ever filmed.

In 2005, the American Film Institute voted this same line of dialogue the number one movie line of all time.

The line?

“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn,” from Gone with the Wind. And with those eight little words, fueled at the time by an increasing use of obscenities in top-quality literature, a flood was unleashed upon the world of fiction.

Nowadays swearing is nearly inescapable. You can find it in children’s stories as well as in R-rated films. It’s mentioned in Christian novels as well as secular ones.

So what do we do with swearing? How do we handle it?

These are the questions we’ll be attempting to answer during the next few weeks.