Changes

[[File:Penn Jillette.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|A [[National Public Radio]] reviewer of one of [[atheism|atheist]] [[Penn Jillette]]'s books found the book "showy and assaultive" in terms of its use of profanity.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/08/16/139669958/penn-jillettes-god-no-an-atheist-libertarian-on-tricks-bacon-and-the-tsa National Public Radio [NPR) review of the book ''God, No! Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales'' by Penn Jillette]</ref> See: [[Atheism and profanity]] ]]

[[File:Penn Jillette.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|A [[National Public Radio]] reviewer of one of [[atheism|atheist]] [[Penn Jillette]]'s books found the book "showy and assaultive" in terms of its use of profanity.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/08/16/139669958/penn-jillettes-god-no-an-atheist-libertarian-on-tricks-bacon-and-the-tsa National Public Radio [NPR) review of the book ''God, No! Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales'' by Penn Jillette]</ref> See: [[Atheism and profanity]] ]]

'''Profanity''', also known as '''bad language''', '''swearing''', '''cursing''', or '''cussing''' or '''vulgarity''', is the usage of [[word]]s which are considered to be offensive or abusive. Its use is taboo in polite or formal environments, and more commonly accepted in informal contexts. The word "profanity" comes from the word "profane", which means that which is not sacred.

'''Profanity''', also known as '''bad language''', '''swearing''', '''cursing''', or '''cussing''' or '''vulgarity''', is the usage of [[word]]s which are considered to be offensive or abusive. Its use is taboo in polite or formal environments, and more commonly accepted in informal contexts. The word "profanity" comes from the word "profane", which means that which is not sacred. In 2008, it was found that liberals are more than twelve times likely to use profanity on the Internet when compared to conservatives.<ref>https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/07/profanity-greater-on-liberal-blogs/</ref>

Profane words tend to involve certain near-universal subjects: filth, particularly human waste; forbidden sexual practices; and [[blasphemy|blasphemous]] treatment of the sacred. However, it is the words themselves, and not the concepts they represent, which cause offense, as there are numerous words to signify any taboo subject, with varying levels of acceptability. Among profane words, there exist at least two levels of offensiveness. There are also, in many languages including English, euphemisms such as ''darn'', ''drat'', ''gosh'', ''frap'' and so on.

Profane words tend to involve certain near-universal subjects: filth, particularly human waste; forbidden sexual practices; and [[blasphemy|blasphemous]] treatment of the sacred. However, it is the words themselves, and not the concepts they represent, which cause offense, as there are numerous words to signify any taboo subject, with varying levels of acceptability. Among profane words, there exist at least two levels of offensiveness. There are also, in many languages including English, euphemisms such as ''darn'', ''drat'', ''gosh'', ''frap'' and so on.

Over time, the perceived offensiveness of some expressions has changed.  Up to the twentieth century the most offensive terms were religious.  Many exclamations we find completely inoffensive are euphemistic renditions of blasphemy.  The twentieth century saw a shift to sexual terms as the most offensive.  Recently racial terms have grown in their offensiveness (the "N" word was commonplace and acceptable until the mid-nineteenth century, it is now too offensive even for use in male-only settings) due to [[political correctness]].<ref>http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/751/Nigger.html</ref>

Over time, the perceived offensiveness of some expressions has changed.  Up to the twentieth century the most offensive terms were religious.  Many exclamations we find completely inoffensive are euphemistic renditions of blasphemy.  The twentieth century saw a shift to sexual terms as the most offensive.  Recently racial terms have grown in their offensiveness (the "N" word was commonplace and acceptable until the mid-nineteenth century, it is now too offensive even for use in male-only settings) due to [[political correctness]].<ref>http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/751/Nigger.html</ref>

== Atheism and profanity ==

== Atheism and profanity ==

In [[Buddhist]] [[morality]], the [[Five Precepts]], which are required to receive as a formal [[oath]] or [[vow]] in order to be a Buddhist (unlike many [[liberal]]s who call themselves Buddhists while ignoring [[morality]]), specifically forbid lewd or lascivious speech (profanity) in the Fourth Precept which also forbids [[lie|lying]], [[gossip]] or "divisive speech" and [[anger|harsh speech]].

In [[Buddhist]] [[morality]], the [[Five Precepts]], which are required to receive as a formal [[oath]] or [[vow]] in order to be a Buddhist (unlike many [[liberal]]s who call themselves Buddhists while ignoring [[morality]]), specifically forbid lewd or lascivious speech (profanity) in the Fourth Precept which also forbids [[lie|lying]], [[gossip]] or "divisive speech" and [[anger|harsh speech]].

==See also==

==See also==

==References==

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{Reflist}}

 

[[Category:Language]]

[[Category:Language]]

[[Category:Liberal Traits]]

[[Category:Liberal Traits]]