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From: marty@ism780c.UUCP (Marty Smith)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc,net.religion.christian
Subject: Re: More Figs!
Message-ID: <3590@ism780c.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 17-Sep-86 14:00:45 EDT
Article-I.D.: ism780c.3590
Posted: Wed Sep 17 14:00:45 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 23-Sep-86 01:02:06 EDT
References: <5385@decwrl.DEC.COM>
Reply-To: marty@ism780c.UUCP (Marty Smith)
Organization: Interactive Systems Corp., Santa Monica, CA
Lines: 41
Xref: linus talk.religion.misc:119 net.religion.christian:4668

In article <5385@decwrl.DEC.COM> arndt@lymph.dec.com writes:
>It has also occured to me since I posted the piece on Jesus cursing the
>fig tree that my explanation of the event might shed light - for me at least,
>perhaps more mature souls out there already thought of it - on the whole
>concept of why man should not 'curse'.
>
>I have always tried to justify
>NOT cursing (God damm it!) because it involved the frivolous use of the name
>of God.  And it is rude, unmannerly and disrespectful of God, not to mention
>it betrays a lack of control and ability to deal with things when they 'fall
>apart' in ones hands so to speak.  A character flaw. 

Ken, in all seriosity I hold the opposite view here.  Use of the curse "God
damm it" is actually the Christian thing to do.  I'll even go so far as to
say that a Christian who claims the opposite is being anti-Christian.

First, when one uses the curse, one acknowledges that God exists.  It makes
no sense to say God damm it if there is no God.  Second, it presumes that
God has power over the thing or person being damned - omnipotence.  Third,
it presumes God is listening - omniscience.  Thus, use of the curse "God damm
it" is, for a believer, an act of worship.

But suppose a nonbeliever utters the curse, perhaps even with a believer as
the object of damnation.  The nonbeliever would only do this to provoke, or
insult the believer, because, being a nonbeliever, the curse holds no power
for him otherwise.  But this is an acknoledgment of the believer's faith.
Therefore, the believer's reply should be, "Thank you, sir, for that generous
compliment."

>But back to figs.  And here's the point of my posting (yea, it got one).  What 
>Jesus did with the fig tree was exactly to say, 'God damm it!'  Not only did
>something happen - it was not an EMPTY gesture of frustration and an expression
>of desire to change something 'not right', but it resulted in ACTION, unlike
>our 'cursings'.  WE SHOULD NOT 'CURSE' THE WORLD BECAUSE IT PRESUMES THE
>PEROGITIVES AND POWER OF GOD!  And so is a form of blasphemy!  

A contradiction, Ken.  To presume the prerogatives and power of God is to
attempt to be closer to God, to be more like God.  This is not blasphemy.
This is worship.  Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

					Marty Smith