07-02-2007, 10:55 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-19-2007, 12:49 AM by Director Michael.)
The Jews are commanded in the Torah: "...and the name of other gods do not mention, they should not be heard on your lips" (Exodus 23:13).
The Rambam rules that the prohibition of mentioning the name of an idol also applies to Noahides. This also applies to writing and teaching. The reason for this is so as not to acknowledge the idol or give any of its worshippers the opportunity to worship it or praise it in any manner. Those idols mentioned in the Torah may be said as the purpose there is to abolish the idol and denigrate it. The Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed memory, said in one of his discourses that even the name of an idol not mentioned in the Torah may be said in a derogatory way, if the purpose is to denigrate it, mock it and to abolish it as an object of worship. But certainly to swear in its name, or to make an oath in its name, is forbidden, even as a false oath or as a lie.
I saw that one Rabbi, the head of a Yeshiva, had once said that the power of speech is such that improper words influence us negatively, regardless of the intention behind them; therefore it is best not to get into the habit of saying names of idols.
The Rambam rules that the prohibition of mentioning the name of an idol also applies to Noahides. This also applies to writing and teaching. The reason for this is so as not to acknowledge the idol or give any of its worshippers the opportunity to worship it or praise it in any manner. Those idols mentioned in the Torah may be said as the purpose there is to abolish the idol and denigrate it. The Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed memory, said in one of his discourses that even the name of an idol not mentioned in the Torah may be said in a derogatory way, if the purpose is to denigrate it, mock it and to abolish it as an object of worship. But certainly to swear in its name, or to make an oath in its name, is forbidden, even as a false oath or as a lie.
I saw that one Rabbi, the head of a Yeshiva, had once said that the power of speech is such that improper words influence us negatively, regardless of the intention behind them; therefore it is best not to get into the habit of saying names of idols.
Rabbi Yitz