Richard Rohr: Unknowing: Week 1 Summary

You shall not take the name of God in vain. —Exodus 20:7

Many Christians think the second commandment is a prohibition against cussing. But I believe the real meaning of speaking the name of God “in vain” is to speak God’s name casually or trivially, with a false presumption of understanding the Mystery—as if we knew what we were talking about!