FāVS News News and Commentary about Religion and Ethics in Eastern Washington and North Idaho
The short answer is no.
My parents raised my brother and me to be careful of our words. We weren't allowed to say demeaning things about (or to) other people. Even things like “shut up” were discouraged. I've grown up with a very strong impression that words matter. Words have the power to hurt or heal. If we couldn't even say “shut up,” of course real swearing was out of the question. And our media consumption was limited as well.
This has carried over into my adult life, and I refrain from swearing. Not that I don't think it has its place, but it is not something I practice. And I've continued the practice of being cautious about what I watch, read, and listen to. Every entertainment is not G-rated, but it is definitely not all R-rated either. I don't want to be a person who accidentally swears. Hey, if I'm going to do it, I want to be in control of it : )
Amy C. Rice is a technical services and systems librarian at Whitworth University. She has been attending Nazarene churches for most of her life. As a result, she often approaches issues through a Wesleyan-Arminian perspective.
