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Question 505

If out of anger you curse someone and use Satan's name in the curse, have we summoned him and will bad things happen to them even though it was said in anger .     

 

 

Answer to Question 505

Cursing or Blaspheming by calling out the name of Satan is like inviting him into your life, you call him and he comes. It is often the reason why people have spiritual turmoils and when things start to go wrong they call in a priest to bless them and their homes.

 

On a similar note we should not use God's name in vain or in anger. It is common to respond to a surprise or on hearing gossip concerning someone with "Oh my God!" It has become such a common response that people just blurt out Oh my God! at almost anything even a funny joke. The Irish use "Mary mother of God and baby Jesus fairly loosely." People often use God's name as an oath to defend themselves saying "I swear to God I didn't know or swear to God it wasn't me etc. Cypriots often use God's name or the Mother of God's in anger "Θεέ μου Θεέ μου κανί" (My God, my God enough) "Παναγια μου με πέλλανες" (Mother of God you've driven me mad). Screaming out God's name in anger cannot be considered prayer because it is used blasphemously and no different to how many Greeks blaspheme by shouting out the devils name. Greeks from mainland Greece often use the blasphemous phrase "Γ.... την Παναγία σου" (F*** your Mother of God).

 

There are many ways people use God's name in vain. In pleasure people shout out: Oh God that was fantastic, in shock: Jesus man you scared the life out of me, in irritation: Oh for Christ's sake leave me alone, in annoyance: God dammit I made a mistake. All these occasions and many more are taking the Lord's name in vain. Written down some of these phrases may appear to be a form of prayer, but it is not just the words by themselves, but the tone of voice and content in which they are used that makes them taking the Lord's name in vain. Another way of taking the Lord's name in vain done by millions of people is by claiming to be a Christian. To say we are Christian means we take upon ourselves the name of Christ and thus should live according to his commandments and teachings. To claim to be a Christian only nominally is taking the name of Christ in vain.