Should an author refrain from using cuss words in a book if the author is Christian?

There's the position that ... okay, Will Smith is married, and he has to sometimes be believable with love interests in movies. He has to do things with these women that he would never do in real life without it being considered cheating on his wife.



On the other hand, should Will refuse to play anyone's love interest in a fictional film because he's married?



Same thing with book writing -- so, should an author keep things clean because of his/her beliefs?Should an author refrain from using cuss words in a book if the author is Christian?
"Clean" is relative. St. Paul swore and Jesus cursed a fig-tree.



However, my opinion as a fiction writer is: bypass dirt, smut and cuss words because they demean your own consciousness. There's always another way to tell a story. If you want to show depth of feeling, words like 'howl' are very evocative.



Thanks for asking.



We need writers to embrace ideal beauty, hope you are or will be or a patron to one who is or will be.
It's all up to the actor or writer.



If an actor believes he cannot act a part while staying Christian, he shouldn't. If he views it as "just acting" then that's fine.



If an author does not feel right cursing in his book, he can find other ways to express it (I like expressions like "Son of a ..." because he got cut off in the middle of his cursing. Being vague helps also). If an author views it as necessary to the believability and has no problems with it, that's fine too.Should an author refrain from using cuss words in a book if the author is Christian?
1 Corinthians 10:23

"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive. 24Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

25Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."[c]



27If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28But if anyone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake[d]— 29the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience? 30If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?



31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
Yes. A true Christian would not use cuss words in a book or in speach.



The apostle Paul, an exemplary true Christian counseled: “Put them all away from you, wrath, anger, badness, abusive speech, and obscene talk out of your mouth.” “Let all malicious bitterness and anger and wrath and screaming and abusive speech be taken away from you along with all badness.” (Colossians 3:8,?9; Ephesians 4:31)Should an author refrain from using cuss words in a book if the author is Christian?
It all depends upon what type of book it is. For instance if the book is about an evangelist who goes into the inner city to tell kids about Jesus and the writer has the kids using cuss words, then that's just the reality of the world that we live in.



Gratuitous profanity on the other hand wouldn't be appropriate for a Christian writer. In the above example the writer could use marks to make the words less plain like putting 3 *** after the letter F to convey the meaning.
You mean that Mr. Smith has to act like he's doing those things, otherwise he's going to be arrested on charges of prostitution.



It's a matter of conscience, but we do have to be careful of the example we set. The protagonist of a story, if he is treated sympathetically, should probably conduct himself or herself like a person we can wish to succeed.
I feel they should refrain, if we are to be good examples to others what does that tell the non-believers, there is a saying that says "oh be careful little tounge what you say, oh be careful little mind what you think" and if we filter cuss words into our spirit eventually it can become our everyday thoughts
Just have to address terafloop above: Will Smith is NOT a scientologist. His friend Tom Cruise is. I saw them both in person at a film festival about a year ago. An audience member asked Will Smith about it and he said, yes, Tom has tried to convert him, but he is NOT a scientologist. He said something about his mother or grandmother (I don't remember which) rolling over in her grave if he converted, for one thing.



~Atheist.
Art is an expression of who you are. So if you believe in christian beliefs then you don't use curse words. So why would you use them in your artistic expressions. if you used it in your writings then they truly wouldn't be artistic expression of you.
It's a matter of context and intent I guess. Very few people believe that sex or violence in movies are bad in every case.



There's a difference between the sexual content of "Monster's Ball" and that in "Emmanuelle".
If You are a writer or an actor, You must make that decision for Yourself. But Your question shows You know nothing about either one. To do a good job at either pursuit, You must leave Yourself outside in the car.
I'm sorry, but I don't see the connection between Will Smith's movies and Christian books. Maybe it's just I, but I think your analogy is off somehow.
Will Smith is a Scientologist, but NO, I don't think people should censor themselves. It detracts from the realism. You'd never reach an over PG audience because you'd have your terrorists yelling things like "darn"
Profanity has nothing to do with Christianity, so no.
They're just words. Grown ups can say them ... and write them.
I don't know. Stephanie Meyer wrote about two people having sex in her books, and she's a Christian. Don't think they're married either. I dun know. I don't read that crap.
People should write what they want. If you don't like it, don't read it.
Of course!
I think God understand "creative works"
Bastar d and dumb a** is in the Bible, Whats next Jesus don't have free speach? Pfff
A true follower of Jesus is one 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in all areas of life; Jesus shouldn't be "compartmentalized" to only church on sundays or maybe being nice to your cranky annoying neighbor... he wants us to follow him in EVERY single area of our lives. total surrender, to put it succinctly. :) So yes - a christian author/actor/regular person/[whatever..fill in blank] should by all means stay true to a lifestyle that honors the Lord in everything. Yes, doing so might create a bit of difficulty temporarily - but it's worth it. Jesus gave his life for all of us - went through unbelievable, horrific torture FOR US - so it's not too much to ask that we who claim to follow Him, actually DO so. :)



Romans 12:1-2 (Amplified Bible):



"I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.



"Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]."

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EDITED to add:



"Thank you for the scripture quoting, but that really doesn't add anything to the complexity of the dilemma. Thanks."



I can't speak for anyone else, of course... the reason I quoted a coupla verses following my answer, was to demonstrate the reasoning behind and basis for my answer. :-) Life is complex; but truth is often simple (but not easy to live out at times). Hope that helps clarify/expand on my answer some! :-)