The Conundrum of "Christian Cussing"

The Conundrum of "Christian Cussing"

My brother Darrell and his brother Darrel—we’re sons of a Baptist preacher. I’ll grant you, it’s not as much fun as saying “son of a biscuit-eating bulldog!” but it's still what I'd call "Christian cussing."

Lately, I've been wrestling with a question: If you use a phrase like “go float yourself!” instead of the f-word, is it still considered cussing? My all-time favorite fake cuss phrase is “got dandruff, some of it itches!” It’s a classic.

Then there are the tried-and-true phrases like “dang gumit!” or “fudgecicles!”

I’ve brought this conundrum up with Catholic, Lutheran, and Baptist preachers. The Catholics and Lutherans had a similar take: it all comes down to the intention of your heart. If you say it in jest or in good spirits, it's not cussing. My Baptist kin, however, saw it differently. They believe that if the real curse word was in your mind, even if it didn't come out of your mouth, it's still a sin.

I'd love to hear what you think. Do you agree with the “heart’s intention” rule, or is it a sin of the mind? And more importantly, what's your favorite fake word for a potentially inappropriate phrase? Drop your best one in the comments!