Gods name

[pesama]

Is it true that you should not take Gods most holy name in vain?

[Octavius]

It is true that this is what was intrepeted and written into the KJV Bible as the3rd of the 10 Commandments.

"Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."

In Jewish thought, that commandment refers solely to oath-taking, and is a prohibition against swearing by God's Name falsely or frivolously (the word normally translated as "in vain" literally means "for falsehood").

[Xavier X]

No it's not true.

Firstly, the bible is a book. There is no proof of god's (deliberate lower case) existance, so the book is fictional. As such it contains no more objective 'truth' than Alice in Wonderland, 1984 or any Mills and Boon offering.

If you want to disregard the fact that it is just another book you could accept that as the "word of god" it must be 'true' (as god is perfect, therefore all his words and actions are perfect) - interesting then that this commandment came ahead of exhortations not to murder, steal or commit adultery. But ,accepting this, you should also be prepared to defile young virgins, commit child abuse and engage in genocide (all actions committed or encouraged by god in various parts of the bible). We'd probably all accept that to conduct ourselves in this manner would not encourage a caring, empathic and secure society so would not advocate labelling these as desirable (or 'true') traits.

[Octavius]

...or you could just make an affirmation.

[keyplus90]

I think the same. It is to do with Oath taking. Or swearing by Gods name falsely to get away with things.