Language, Reality, Whatever

I wrote the opinion piece for the upcoming issue of the Talon. I was assigned the position that "swearing affects faith," but, because I swear like a sailor, it was something of an intellectual exercise to figure out how to defend a position I not only disagree with, but actively resist. This is the result.
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Words are powerful. The words we speak define the types of thoughts that we can express, and it is through words that we explain to those listeners around us who we are. Seen in this light, language itself defines me as an individual and also peoples’ perceptions of me. Words exist, both written and spoken, as the most common and efficient means of communication with others. Thus, language use should not be taken lightly, because in a very real way language works to define both personality and integrity.

This same principle applies to the use of profanity. By swearing (or conversely, not swearing), we are making a statement about the kind of individuals we are. Whether we like it, or always realize it, people do judge character based on the language a person uses and how it is used. Ignoring this fact can result in sloppy, unintentional impressions which do not accurately reflect the true nature of a person. I don’t think this is necessarily an issue of whether swearing itself is right or wrong, but of appropriate behavior in certain situations and of us, as speakers, being aware of the kinds of effects those behaviors have on others.

Expressing faith is no different. When I was attending community college, one of the ways I chose to express my faith to my peers was through my choice not to swear. Profanity runs rampant on most campuses, so my choice to show that I was different was through speaking differently than my peers. This approach was inoffensive and implicit; it didn’t push Christianity down anyone’s throat, but instead introduced my character through my language use. In this way, I was able to set myself apart obviously, but still subtly.

Profanity is also contextual. Words often exist on a scale of ‘better’ or ‘worse,’ and although these standards are arbitrary and change with time, geography, and situation, the capricious nature of words needs to be considered. There is nothing faith-like about offending a person through needless profanity, so in order to avoid the possibility of causing undue offense and harm to one’s testimony, it is better to avoid the use of swear words at all. In this way, one’s own faith is unhampered and one’s impression on others also remains intact.

Language presents a unique opportunity to witness without being invasive, threatening, or overly evangelistic. If faith should come through actions and not just professed declarations, abstaining from swearing can only have positive effects on both faith itself and on perceptions of faith by others. Therefore, if we want to portray images of being people of faith, our language should also reflect that goal.