June 10
DAMN “?”
According to Gary Amirault:
-"The words "damn" and "hell" are among favorite words spoken by theologians of the "hell-fire" type, that is,
as long as they are used in church. These same words used in the local bar or on the athletic field would constitute "cussing"
which would not be considered proper. If you are a little uncomfortable even reading about the word "damn" just remember the
"Authorized" King James Bible uses it quite frequently. Let us look into the etymology of this word "damn." We may find some
interesting surprises.
The Dictionary of Word Origins written by John Ayto and published in 1990 states the following about the word
"damn":
Damn: "Damn" comes via Old French "damner" from Latin "damnare," a derivative of the noun "damnum." This originally
meant 'loss, harm' (it is the source of the English 'damage'), but the verb damnare soon spread its application to 'pronounce
judgment upon,' in both the legal and the theological sense. These meanings (reflected also in the derived 'condemn') followed
the verb through Old French into English, which dropped the strict legal sense around the 16th century but has persisted with
the theological one and its more profane offshoots. Condemn, damage, indemnity." ( Etymology Of The Word “Damn”,
Gary Amirault )
According to Gary Amirault:
-"The words "damn" and its derivative do not once occur in the Old Testament. In the New Testament they are
the exceptional and arbitrary translation of two Greek verbs or their derivatives; which occur 308 times. These words are
"apollumi" and "krino." "Apolleia" (destruction or waste) is once rendered "damnation" and once "damnable." (2 Peter 2:3,
and 2 Peter 2:1); "krino," (judge) occurs 114 times, and is only once rendered "damned." (1 Thess. 2:12) "Krima, (judgment
or sentence) occurs 24 times, and is 7 times rendered "damnation." "KataKrino," (I condemn) occurs 24 times, and is twice
only rendered "be damned." ( Etymology Of The Word “Damn”, Gary Amirault )
-The word “damn” does not mean what it has come to mean today in the realm of Christianity. It means:
loss, harm, or judgment, but is definitely does not mean eternal torture in a literal hell (torture pit) away from the presence
of God. THAT IS ABSURD, AND THAT IS WHAT RELIGION DOES! Man has a religious agenda, and it is this: to make the Bible conform
to his ideas about God, rather than forming his ideas about God based on what the Bible actually teaches.
According to Gary Amirault:
-"As we can see, originally the word was neither a "cuss" word nor did it have theological significance. It
was a perfectly good word with which to translate the Biblical Greek words "apollumi," "krino," and "apolleia." But when theologians
twisted this word out of its original meaning, it became a word which would smear the character of our Father. The world followed
the church and used it as a "cuss" word, but it should be noted, that it was the church that turned it into its present meaning,
not unbelievers … In conclusion, it is time for many preachers to stop blaspheming our Father. When they say that hordes
of humanity are "damned to hell," they themselves are actually guilty of misrepresenting the Creator's role as Judge. The
scriptures declare that the earth will learn righteousness when His judgments are in the earth. It is we, who call ourselves
Christians, who need to clean up our mouths and hearts far more than the unbeliever drowning his miseries at the local bar."
( Etymology Of The Word “Damn”, Gary Amirault )
-WE MUST STOP DAMNING PEOPLE, AND START LOVING PEOPLE!-
