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Feb 7, 2023·edited Feb 7, 2023Liked by Jim Eisenbraun

Another positive aspect of this, however, is minorities reclaiming slurs against them and making those words as a part of their own subculture so they cannot be used harmfully. The LGBTQ+ community excels at this. For example, the words queer, butch, and fag all contain a lot less venom than they used to (the last one is in-process of reclamation, and should only be used by queer people for queer people who have expressed comfortability with it).

BIPOC communities have reclaimed slurs. Sex workers have, as well. Language evolving to diminish the power of oppressors and transfer that power to the oppressed is beautiful, IMO.

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Feb 7, 2023Liked by Jim Eisenbraun

Because I did not grow up in a extreme right wing Evangelical home, phrases like “I’ll be damned,” “come hell or high water,” “I’m having a hell of a day,” and the occasional use of “shit” when trying to fix stuff; was common! Naturally, when I began attending right wing Evangelical institutions, those expressions were deemed “wordy durds.” Nevertheless, such expressions as well of the use of the “f…” word does not bother me at all. Consequently, one’s family and religious background is a factor! For instance, “grumbling and complaining” in Scripture are two words that may be conveyed with one English word … “b..ching.” Some gen-X Evangelical students had no problem saying the word, while others had ears that were quite “virgin” to hearing such language and easily offended. Yet, it’s difficult to watch television or movies today without hearing a four letter word. We are far removed from the Puritan culture that tried to forced people to conformed to their personal convictions about such matters.

What bothers me more are Christians who are so concerned about the words people say while turning a blind eye to the authority of Scripture that’s specifically concerned about our deeds like integrity, justice, sacrifice, lust, etc. It’s been my experience that far too many Christians strain at gnats while swallowing a camel 🐪.

They remind me of the folks that said I couldn’t attend a Bible college unless I cut my hair, stop attending movies, stop dancing, stop drinking beer or wine (as an older student living on their own), stop cussing, etc.

Does this make sense, Jim!

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