Calling a man a fool....

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Is it considered by the RCC to be a mortal sin if one calls a man a fool?

Matthew 5:22 "But anyone who says 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell."

-- Oliver Fischer (spicenut@excite.com), May 24, 2004

Answers

Oliver,

Very good question! I don't have a good answer. I have some thoughts on it that may or may not help. I think the answer lies in what it means to say "You fool" to someone in a biblical context. My feeling is that it means a lot more than the modern use of the phrase might mean.

In Luke 12:19-21

And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

I think the context here is in God condemning the man as being a "fool" in His eyes. Typically, I think the word fool is used for those foolish in a spritual sense. I take the phrase "You fool!" as used by Jesus in Mt 5:22 to mean that we should not judge or condemn our fellow man by assuming we know his/her heart. This would fit under Jesus' description of why we should not judge others for we shall be judged accordingly.

Just my humble opinion.

-- Andy S ("aszmere@earthlink.net"), May 24, 2004.


Oliver,

I would say no, probably not if the person is just saying that. I don't know for sure, but I searched the Catholic Catechism with no hits: "fool"

I think it's more about the attitude of the person's heart. Notice that it says "in danger" of hell. Thus, the person apparently is not seeking to follow God by degrading others in this way.

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), May 24, 2004.


Hey Andy, I think we posted simultaneously. lol. Good post.

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), May 24, 2004.

In fact, if you look at the parable in Luke 12, God didn't just condemn the man as a fool, but demanded his life as well. In light of Jesus' use of the term "You fool" when further explaining the command not to kill and as part of being angry with someone, this may have even deeper meanings than I originally thought.

I don't know. Just when I think I may have insight into the meaning, it escapes me. Anyone have other thoughts?

-- Andy S ("aszmere@earthlink.net"), May 24, 2004.


Yes we did Emily! lol Thanks. I think you're on to something with the attitude of one's heart, especially the one saying "You fool!" and the words "in danger of".

-- Andy S ("aszmere@earthlink.net"), May 24, 2004.


If so then some of the regular contributors here are in big trouble!

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), May 24, 2004.

emily is correct, it is more than just the act of calling someone a fool in the sense that we do today. its more an act of holding a specific hatred in your heart against the person. i believe the word used for fool was RAKA (sp?), which holds a MUCH stronger meaning than todays word fool.

-- paul h (dontsendmemail@notanaddress.com), May 24, 2004.

Maybe I'm wrong, but-- It's very plain the sin of calling some fool a fool has last place in our Catholic evil repertory. A simple act of contrition will call down the mercy of God, Even imperfect contrition is adquate, we have to think. Our own mothers were quick to call us fools whenever we deserved it. This doesn't mean they are going to hell. Only a fool would say so.

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), May 24, 2004.

I wouldn't regard the matter so lightly Eugene. Consider Saul persecuting the believers, later discovered that He was persecuting Christ Himself, because of the divine revelation of the Body of Christ. Therefore, to call a brother in Christ (or a sister) a fool is to insult the Body, which is to insult Christ Himself.

If we have the attitude that (as New Zealanders commonly say) she'll be right mate, then I think we need the Lord to shine on us. To think we can just say a few words loosely as an act of contrition as you put it, is nothing more than a slap in the face to Jesus.

I believe we need to take such things more seriously.

-- Oliver Fischer (spicenut@excite.com), May 25, 2004.


The full quote from Matthew 5:22 and the footnote from Douay-Rheims online:

But I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council. And whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matthew Note 5:22 Raca. . .A word expressing great indignation or contempt. Shall be in danger of the council. . .That is, shall deserve to be punished by the highest court of judicature, called the Council, or Sanhedrim, consisting of seventy-two persons, where the highest causes were tried and judged, which was at Jerusalem. Thou fool. . .This was then looked upon as a heinous injury, when uttered with contempt, spite, or malice: and therefore is here so severely condemned. Shall be in danger of hell fire. . .literally, according to the Greek, shall deserve to be cast into the Gehenna of fire. Which words our Saviour made use of to express the fire and punishments of hell.

I believe emily and paul are correct. Calling someone a fool or Raca was then looked upon as a heinous injury. Calling someone a fool today is to say that they are silly, or unwise. The simple act of calling someone a fool is not a mortal sin, unless you mean it in an utterly contemptuous, spiteful, or malicious way. This is very rarely the case IMHO.

Oliver, I find it hard to believe that you thought calling someone a fool, today, would condemn one to hell. Were you actually curious about this in your original premise, or are you trying to make a point?

-- Brian Crane (brian.crane@cranemills.com), May 25, 2004.



Maybe it's a distinction between not separating the acts from the person. For example we have a *duty* to correct foolish actions, perhaps that would mean it's acceptable to say "your actions are foolish and Hellbound, Repent!" but you are not condemning the person, you are condemning their actions. Calling someone a fool IS condemning the person and may be a serious thing, as that's not our decision to make.

I kind of agree with both you and Eugene, but think like with most things there is a sliding scale of severity depending on one's intent, knowledge, faith, etc. Could be a venial sin, could be mortal, depending. Could even be nothing as in a greeting among friends "yo, fool!" ;-)

In any event, perhaps I should make it a point to say "you have the actions of a fool" rather than say "you fool" to someone's next foolish post.

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.cam), May 25, 2004.


Maybe what Oliver wishes to say is, It all depends.

I am prone to saying ''Don't be a fool,'' not ''You fool.''

But that's parsing the words. I don't know what Christ meant. I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Many apparently straight comments of our Lord's are open to dispute. ''Call no man father,'' and ''Get thee behind me, Satan.'' They call for a grain of salt. --Saint Paul says, ''The letter kills; the spirit gives life.'' It's my rule of thumb. Even so; notice I began by saying: ''Maybe I'm wrong.''

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), May 25, 2004.


Good discussion going on here.

Just wanted to add a couple "literal" translations of Mt 5:22 that are along the lines of Brian's D-R quote.

Analytical-Literal Translation

"But _I_ say to you*, every [one] being enraged at his brother without cause will be in danger of the judgment, and whoever says to his brother, 'Empty-headed fool!' will be in danger of the high council, and whoever says, 'You worthless fool!' will be in danger of the hell [Gr., gehenna] of the fire [or, the fiery hell].

Young's Literal Translation

but I--I say to you, that every one who is angry at his brother without cause, shall be in danger of the judgment, and whoever may say to his brother, Empty fellow! shall be in danger of the sanhedrim, and whoever may say, Rebel! shall be in danger of the gehenna of the fire.

I guess the point is that "You fool!" has some extra baggage attached to it that we don't usually apply to the phrase today.

-- Andy S ("aszmere@earthlink.net"), May 25, 2004.


I really appreciate the discussion here, folks. Thanks for taking the time to address the issue, it has been interesting to follow everyone's input. I like Eugene's way of saying about taking things with a grain of salt. Each situation is to be treated in it's context, while we may in jest call a friend a fool, with no ill intentions, this is quite different to speaking such words in a condemning way, which would go for any such speaking really. If we enjoy the continual presence of the Lord, surely our tounge will be tamed.

Thanks again people, great contributions!

-- Oliver Fischer (spicenut@excite.com), May 25, 2004.


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