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Jenny Slate’s Unscripted “F-Bomb” Didn’t Bother Me Nearly As Much…
as what she said next, while following the script: “I swear to God.”
The Saturday Night Live skit in which Slate accidentally used the four-letter F-word involved two “biker chicks” who repeatedly use the word, “frickin’.” Slate slips and, when she does, you can see the chagrin and concern on her face as she puffs her cheeks, as if to say, “I can’t believe I just said that.”
But then she goes on to her next line, apparently hitting it perfectly. To me, as a Christian, it’s even more offensive. God’s name gets thrown around a lot in movies, TV, and everyday life. And not just to swear. It’s a conversation filler, thrown in when people can’t think of anything else to say. Or, when they want to sound cool or emphatic.
Yeah, I know, Slate was only playing a character. But it bugs me. In his Small Catechism explanation of the Second Commandment (some count it as the Third), “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain,” Martin Luther writes:
We are to fear and love God so that we do not use his name superstitiously, or use it to curse, swear, lie, or deceive, but call on him in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.
I live in a neighborhood with lots of noisy people who yell at each other a lot. But the F-Bomb I hear them constantly drop isn’t nearly as jarring as the G-Bomb. That’s the sound of God’s name being used for anything other than “prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.”
So, when Jenny Slate’s SNL debut appearance is re-run, I’d love it if the NBC people, after bleeping out the F-word would follow up by bleeping out the G-word. I know…not gonna happen.
[This has been cross-posted at my personal blog.]
19 Responses to “Jenny Slate’s Unscripted “F-Bomb” Didn’t Bother Me Nearly As Much…”
So you must also agree that the image of Allah must never be shown in public. Or how about the killing of infidels? It is also in a religious book. Or how about stoning a women if she does not call out while being raped? How about the 1000 other religions that have their own books?
I believe in Jesus, but I in no way believe that his teachings should be made law simply because they are in his book.
PS I am sure you expected this response
I don't believe that my personal beliefs should be made into public law either. I was just giving my personal reaction. Thanks, Shannon, for your comments.
I'm with you on this one, Mark. And BTW, where have you been? We need you here at TMV!
Religion Offends Me.
Religion is just another public control mechanism.
Moreover, in the United States, it's just another business.
I can understand where you're coming from, Mark. If it helps any, I once read a commentary about this, from a Jewish perspective. I don't remember where or when or who, but this author addressed the commandment against taking God's name in vain, and that many people interpreted that to mean you shouldn't say the name “God” in trivial contexts, like when you're surprised, or annoyed, or fed up with something. I won't give an example because I don't want to actually say it since it offends you, but I'm sure you know the kind of context I mean.
Now, I read this commentary with great interest, because I actually do use the word “God” in those trivial contexts quite a bit. And although I am not observant, I do feel very emotionally connected to Jewish history, ritual, traditions, and values. So what this author said was that she felt that the commandment had a deeper meaning — that it referred to the idea that if you make a promise, or commit to do something, you should keep the promise or follow through on the commitment, because in a sense you have made a commitment to God. She added — and this is the crucial part, I think — that even though if you take the commandments seriously it feels wrong to use God's name in trivial contexts that have nothing to do with God, she thinks that God is deeper and greater than that. In other words, yes by all means try to avoid using God's name unless you mean it, but if you slip, or if someone else does, it's highly unlikely that God is so petty or so hypersensitive as to take offense at that. And also, let me add: It's highly unlikely that God, whatever God is, actually meant the commandment in such a literal way, or that God actually expects human beings to have such perfect control over their reactions and exclamations that they never say “Oh,____!” and that they've violated a commandment if they do.
You may not agree with this, but perhaps it will make you feel a little better about this topic.
Yeah, Father Time, I'm a control freak with lots of money. Well, I'm a recovering control freak who has little money. In 25 years as a pastor, I've never asked for a raise. My congregation has simply taken care of my needs, which has been fine by me. I have no secret bank accounts. Heck, I don't even have an air conditioned dog house…or a dog, for that matter. And I have no interest in controlling other people…just telling them good news. Period. Thanks for dropping by and for your comments.
Mark
KK: You could have used the example. That isn't a wanton misuse of God's Name. You're explaining something. And I don't jump on people when they do this in conversation; what good would that do? No, I just object to the trivialization of God's Name.
I think that the commentator is very good.
Jesus puts this discussion in the context not only of the Second Commandment–”You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (with vain referring to that trivialization of the Name), but also under The Eighth: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Jesus said, “…you have heard it said, 'You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black [obviously spoken in the days before Revlon or 'Just for Men']. Let your word be 'Yes, Yes or 'No, No'; anything more than this comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:33-37)
I think that dovetails with what your commentator said.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Redbus:
I've been extremely busy and it has been hard for me to find time to do much blogging.
Thanks for the encouraging words. I really appreciate them.
Mark
Mark,
I think we misread the intention of the second commandment when we worry about people saying “I swear to God.” Yes, this is a technical violation of the commandment, but I think a better reading is that scripture is condemning those who claim God's authority when making pronouncements. This type of using God's name in vain happens all the time, be it by the Jerry Falwells of the world claiming God sends hurricanes to punish New Orleans, or politicians who claim that God would not support this or that position. This is a far more damaging use of God's name then an actor using a phrase.
Hi Mark —
I definitely appreciate this article. I'm not a Christian, and I live in an area where almost nobody subscribes to religious practices, so I forget sometimes that the G-Bomb can be and is offensive to many people. Just like I think it's in poor taste to curse in public places when there are children around, or to make a racist or sexist joke regardless of the company, I have to remember that to some people the G-word is just as bad.
Maybe this makes no difference as far as the way it's taken, but I do think most people who use “God” in such a context are using god, little “g”; as in, not the Christian God, or the Muslim God, for example, but just 'god'.
I think that this is a very nuanced and meaningful understanding of the commandment, Jared. Thank you for such a valuable addition to the discussion.
You're right. The 28th Amendment of the Constitution guarantees your right not to be offended.
Please.
And being a liberal, I'd think you'd LOVE yet another way to control the public. Or do you only like to control the public through governmental means?
As far as the article goes. Right on….and not just with a Christian perspective.
No disrespect to ANY religion should be shown on television or anywhere else within a public forum.
I would not disrespect Allah, Vishnu, Confucious, or Yehovah. It's a matter of common courtesy.
And taking the Jewish/Christian God's name in vane, is disrespectful to those in that faith.
And that includes showing Mohammed as a terrorist as the Dutch did in print.
And it's a business?
Where's MY cut? I haven't seen a dime since I was baptised into Christ.
You make a lot of stupid assumptions.
Screw religion. Hows that for freedom mr. “free man”…?
Right, as if I have no basis for my comments. I think you know better than that.
roro80's comment made me wonder why nonchalant use of the word “God” is so prevalent. If someone does not believe in God, why would that person ever “swear to God” or exclaim “oh my God!”? Isn't it a little strange? On the other hand, if someone really believes in God, why would that person not be offended by God's name being taken in vain? I can only assume that since most people believe in God, most of the people who use his name in vain believe in God.
To kathy's comment, I would say that I agree in principle in that I don't personally believe that anyone who uses the name of God this way is automatically evil and is going to hell. However, I would also add that in my opinion, as far as commandments from God go, this one is about as easy to follow as it gets. It's just a simple habit. Yes, habits can be hard to break, but anyone who actually cares about this one can do it. I've been doing it for almost 27 years.
“Screw religion. How's that for freedom mr. “free man”…”
That's fine. You have the right to not like (or hate) religion. And you have the right to say that you don't like religion. The first amendment protects us all, brother.
You do NOT have the right to PERSECUTE on that basis, however. I know you'd like to line us all up and give us a good dose of humanism to cure us of our faith.
But your humanism has done “wonders” for our nation so far. Drugs, preteen pregnancy, and general lack of purpose (among many others)…. That's what your belief system has brought upon us. Thanks for that, by the way.
yada yada yada…….
You have no idea what I believe. You just make assumption after assumption. I have no idea what you are suggesting with blanket generalizations like “persecute” and “humanism” because none of it applies to me. You just want to blame anything you can accuse me of to justify your asinine assertions. You just make crap up as you go.
Good retort….not!
I make no generalizations. I can only judge by what you put out there, and from everything I've seen you type, you scream “humanist”. If I'm wrong, I apologize. If not, then you still didn't address my statement.
What the hell are you going on about? You make nothing BUT unsophisticated generalizations and offer nothing BUT completely subjective opinion.
Ya know, this is not a game of whomever makes the last post …wins. What on earth is WRONG with you?