Aug. 23, 2010 issue
‘God,’ the rubber stamp
By Bradley SiebertPage:
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The congregation flowed from the sanctuary fairly steadily, I thought, when suddenly my way was obstructed. Frank Lehman.
Bradley Siebert teaches English at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan.
Frank rushed passed social nicety: “Wha’d ya think of Roger’s sermon?”
“His comments on not taking the Lord’s name in vain got me thinking.”
“Great minds … !” Frank exclaimed. “I think he hit the nail on the head in what he said about the commandment covering more than cursing.”
“Though that doesn’t leave cursing uncovered.”
“No, of course not. Damning the hammer that hit the thumb is still totally irreverent and prideful.”
“Some Sunday school teacher even scared the ‘Golly!’ out of me for a long time.”
Frank recollected: “A friend once reasoned that just saying ‘Damn you!’ is worse than saying ‘God damn you!’ because the latter recognizes God’s authority in the damnation business.”
“A scary image of God I don’t much care for. And a kind of moral quibbling that sidesteps the horribly unforgiving spirit of either curse.”
“But,” Frank resumed, “it’s about more than cursing.”
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