The Rise of Profanity

You may have noticed that the use of profanity and other vulgar language seems to have increased in recent years. A Saturday Evening Post article from November 5, 2024, reported, “If you think American speech has slid from a ‘PG’ to an ‘R’ rating, you’re not alone. It appears that profane speech is becoming more common in America.” In March of 2025, the New York Times ran an article that asked, “Is There Too Much Cursing These Days?” Is this the natural progression of a decades-long trend of worsening language? What might this mean for the overall moral condition of the United States and other countries?

On May 5, the Wall Street Journal ran an opinion piece titled “Guess Who’s Cussing at Dinner,” in which pediatrician Robert Hamilton describes his recent dinner at a friend’s house. He happened to sit next to a young woman who had just graduated from an Ivy League university. He had never met her, and right during the dinner conversation, she employed a wide range of vulgar language. Later, she asked him if he was offended by her cussing. He said he was not, but he added that he strives to avoid such foul language. After giving her several good reasons as to why, he summarized by saying, “Gutter talk debases us into the gutter, while intelligent and proper language elevates.”

I appreciated and related to this pediatrician’s experience and commentary.

It reminded me of a recent visit to the grocery store, in which I passed two women, perhaps in their 30s, who were being helped by a store employee. I happened to hear one of them use a common cuss word while talking about shopping for items. She wasn’t upset or angry but was just using the word as a part of regular communication—presumably to the employee, whom she didn’t appear to know.

Such occurrences are sadly common. Perhaps you have thought, as I have, Was that necessary? Does it even occur to people who use such language, even a scatological term for grocery items, that there is such a word as dignity? Is there any decorum or virtue left, or even just a few good manners?

Again, sadly, such foul language isn’t just used by “regular people.” This unpleasant trend is led by celebrities, athletes, politicians, and other influencers. Dr. Hamilton’s article noted that Donald Trump and Kamala Harris both used the “f-word” while campaigning last year.

Many Bible passages address the sin of vulgar language. Let’s consider two verses in Proverbs 31, which describes an excellent and godly wife. In verse 10, this wife is described as virtuous. What a pleasant word, and one that even sounds old-fashioned, in a good way. This tells us that she has and shows high moral standards. In the New International Version and other translations, the virtuous wife is also described in verse 25 as being clothed with dignity, another nice and old-sounding word; she is worthy of honor or respect.

In using profanity, the Ivy League graduate, the grocery store customer, and the two presidential candidates certainly did not act virtuous or with dignity.

Compared to many other horrendous behaviors and societal trends, vulgar language seemingly lands on the not-so-bad side of the spectrum. However, small things often reflect big things (faithful in little, faithful in much, see Luke 16:10). And surely God surely takes notice of and is against profane language because He is the opposite of the profane—He is holy, the epitome of virtue and dignity. He inspired the Apostle Paul to write, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). Beautifully said.

Christians should strive to live contrary to many current trends, including the use of foul language. The use of filthy and profane “gutter talk” pulls the speaker and the hearer to a lower state of mind. Godly language is pure and clean, it builds up and imparts grace, and it shows a small reflection of a person, like the Proverbs 31 woman, striving to live according to virtue and dignity.

If you would like to learn more, we offer the free study guide What Is a True Christian? You might also consider watching the Tomorrow’s World telecasts “Is the Bible Relevant Today?” and “Finding True Christianity.”