Neurological or Mental Disorder

[KingsGambit]

Regardless of what we think about where the "line" is between what's acceptable or not, I think we can all agree that whether something is acceptable to say is not a matter of saying/avoiding certain words (Matthew 5:22).

[seanD]

Did you even see my post about the difference between profanity and vulgarity? I have been talking about profanity.

I did, but it seemed you were being more specific about certain phrases in the two last paragraphs of your post, whereas I was sort of steering clear of that and being more general about it as the OP was. People who suffer this condition I don't think have a choice of being either vulgar or profane, so I assumed the OP was lumping everything together.

[theblueprint_Ni]

Agreed, if you're talking about specifics. The OP seemed like he was being general about cussing. I wouldn't use the Lord's name in vain and it bothers me when others do it. I also think the "F" word is pretty vulgar, as there's no other way of using it that isn't vulgar. But, again, this is just an opinion, not an objective religious issue. An objective religious issue would be something specifically addressed in scripture, such as adultery, murder, stealing, etc.

I don't know, I think it is directly addressed in Scripture in James 3. I hear you about the subjective element. The words and expressions are almost entirely culturally defined, but I do think that even though that's the case we pretty much know what those words and expressions are without having to think too hard about it. Our Christian obligation to chasten our tongue and to avoid all appearances of evil should indicate to us that we shouldn't employ those things that are mostly used to convey intentionally vulgar thoughts and feelings. Taking the Lord's name in vain is blasphemy, however you choose to do it. Using the Lord's name carelessly to express disgust or discontentment is a violation of the third commandment. That's a big one for me.

[JimL]

Many people claim that there is a neurological or mental disorder that can cause a person to utter cuss words or obscene words involuntarily. People call this disorder "coprolalia." How would you respond to someone who says that if a person has a neurological or mental disorder that causes him to utter cuss words involuntarily then he is not responsible for saying those words? They assume that if you do something involuntarily then you do not have a choice to do it and if you do not have a choice to do it, then you are not responsible for what you do.

I believe that all cussing is sinful and that all people will be held accountable by God for saying those things. I was asking because I wanted to know how to respond to those people who make that claim.

The disorder is called tourette syndrome which is a neurological d/o causing involuntarily twitches and utterances which are often swear words. Unless you want to say that the involuntary twiches are the fault of the person with tourette's, then you can't fault him for the involuntary cussing either.

[RBerman]

I did, but it seemed you were being more specific about certain phrases in the two last paragraphs of your post, whereas I was sort of steering clear of that and being more general about it as the OP was. People who suffer this condition I don't think have a choice of being either vulgar or profane, so I assumed the OP was lumping everything together.

I see. I wouldn't say that involuntary utterances such as those in Tourette's Syndrome qualify as "careless" as I was discussing.

[The Remonstrant]

Many people claim that there is a neurological or mental disorder that can cause a person to utter cuss words or obscene words involuntarily. People call this disorder "coprolalia." How would you respond to someone who says that if a person has a neurological or mental disorder that causes him to utter cuss words involuntarily then he is not responsible for saying those words? They assume that if you do something involuntarily then you do not have a choice to do it and if you do not have a choice to do it, then you are not responsible for what you do.

Speech, Cursing & Scriptural Emphasis

Supposing the spewing of curse words to be genuinely involuntary in any particular case, it would be absolutely absurd to suppose God would consider such to be morally culpable for such. (I hope also that we would not ascribe -- or suppose God to ascribe -- guilt to those who have frequent or infrequent coughing or sneezing fits, diarrhea, nocturnal emissions, &c.)

I believe that all cussing is sinful and that all people will be held accountable by God for saying those things. I was asking because I wanted to know how to respond to those people who make that claim.

Humans will be held responsible for what we are genuinely morally responsible for. While it is true that those whose lifestyles are characterized by perversity of speech are abominable specimens of the human race, I'm of the persuasion that innumerable religious folk are overly concerned with "bad words" or naughty curse words. We must be careful to place our emphasis where the Bible places its emphasis. While much of Scripture is concerned with integrity of speech (truth-telling or honesty, refraining from lies or perverting the truth, lying, avoiding corrupt or profane conversation, gossip, slander, purity of speech, &c.), I don't see the emphasis being so much on certain cultural four-letter words per sé. Externally religious people often go well beyond the call of duty pertaining to contemptible speech apart from swearing (tale-bearing, backbiting and the like).

[siliconwafer]

This is a real condition, not just something that "many people claim". If somebody really does have this condition and is a Christian, I think it is cruel to tell him that he will be punished for God on the basis for something they genuinely cannot control.

Is there a cure for this? Will God remove this condition when a person becomes a Christian? I was just wondering because God doesn't want people to use foul language or take His name in vain.

[siliconwafer]

Suppose someone does not have Tourette's syndrome and he accidently touches a hot stove, burns himself, and unintentionally says a cuss word. Is he morally responsible for unintentionally saying a cuss word? He doesn't have Tourette's syndrome, but he did say a cuss word unintentionally.

[KingsGambit]

Is there a cure for this? Will God remove this condition when a person becomes a Christian? I was just wondering because God doesn't want people to use foul language or take His name in vain.

No, there is absolutely no promise in scripture that God will cure this. When people who struggle with homosexuality become Christians, while in some cases the attraction is removed, it is not always removed, and some Christians actually directly cause apostasy by falsely promising people that God will remove all temptation to ever sin again in such cases (or claiming that people whose attractions were not removed must not have been sincere enough).

And you're right that God doesn't want people to use foul language, but God knows the heart (Jeremiah 17:10), and based on what is revealed of His nature in Scripture, He knows the difference between an involuntary slip of the tongue and an abusive epithet directed toward somebody in a hateful way.

[RBerman]

Suppose someone does not have Tourette's syndrome and he accidently touches a hot stove, burns himself, and unintentionally says a cuss word. Is he morally responsible for unintentionally saying a cuss word? He doesn't have Tourette's syndrome, but he did say a cuss word unintentionally.

In what sense was this an example of an unintentional utterance? I don't see the comparison to Tourette's.

[siliconwafer]

In what sense was this an example of an unintentional utterance? I don't see the comparison to Tourette's.

The person would say, "I didn't mean to say that."

[RBerman]

The person would say, "I didn't mean to say that."

But he would be mistaken. He did what he meant to do; he just meant the wrong thing, in a moment of duress.

[siliconwafer]

But he would be mistaken. He did what he meant to do; he just meant the wrong thing, in a moment of duress.

If he said, "I didn't choose to say that cuss word.", how would you respond to him?

[KingsGambit]

If he said, "I didn't choose to say that cuss word.", how would you respond to him?

I would tell him he's wrong. I'm with RBerman, I don't see the two situations as equivalent at all.

[RBerman]

If he said, "I didn't choose to say that cuss word.", how would you respond to him?

That is essentially the same quesiton you asked in your previous post, so my answer is the same as well. Really, our split-second reactions tell more about who we really are, compared to our premeditated actions.