Damnation

Damnation is the state of being damned; condemnation; openly expressed disapprobation. In one sense, it can mean condemnation to everlasting punishment in the future state, or the punishment, itself. "How can ye escape the damnation of hell?" (Matthew, 23:33), or "Wickedness is sin, and sin is damnation" (Shakespeare, As You Like It). In another sense, damanation can be a sin deserving of everlasting punishment. "The deep damnation of his taking-off." (Shakespeare, MacBeth).

In some forms of Western Christian belief, damnation to hell is the punishment of God for persons with unredeemed sin. Damnation can be a motivator for conversions to Christianity.

One conception is of eternal suffering and denial of entrance to heaven, often described in the Bible as burning in fire. Another conception, derived from the scripture about Gehenna is simply that people will be discarded (burned), as being unworthy of preservation by God.

In Eastern Christian traditions, (Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy), as well as some Western traditions, it is seen as a state of separation from God, a state into which all humans are born, but against which Christ is the Mediator and "Great Physician."

Etymology

Its Proto-Indo-European language origin is usually said to be a root dap-, which appears in Latin and Greek words meaning "feast" and "expense." (The connection is that feasts tend to be expensive.) In Latin this root provided a theorized early Latin noun *dapnom, which became Classical Latin damnum = "damage" or "expense." But there is a Vedic Sanskrit root dabh or dambh = "harm."

The word damnum did not have exclusively religious overtones. From it in English came "condemn"; "damnified" (an obsolete adjective meaning "damaged"); "damage" (via French from Latin damnaticum). It began to be used for being found guilty in a court of law; but, for example, an early French treaty called the Strasbourg Oaths includes the Latin phrase in damno sit = "would cause harm." From the judicial meaning came the religious meaning.

The concept of hell

In many world religions, the concept of hell refers to a literal or symbolic place (or sometimes an existential condition) of damnation where the wicked and unrighteous are punished for their transgressions. The concept of hell is prevalent in many religions although its exact description varies from one religion to another. In traditional Christianity, Islam, and the popular imagination, hell is frequently depicted as a fiery pit located underground where souls are tormented by their past sins and demonic forces. Alternatively, hell has been described (e.g., in Dante's Inferno) as a freezing cold and despondently gloomy place.

Many moderns describe hell as an existential or psychological state (or condition) of the soul. Modern literary understandings of hell often depict it abstractly, as a state of loss rather than as fiery torture that is literally under the ground. Thus, hell can be seen as the complete and final separation of God's love and mercy from sinners who have rejected his moral standards of goodness and have chosen to live a rebellious life of sin. In this light, the actions which supposedly result in one's soul being sent to Hell (i.e. the so called "sins") are precisely those actions that in everyday life cause those states of mind. Hell in the afterlife is but an intensification of the pangs of hell on earth, intensified because the material props of a self-centered life have been removed.

Another issue is whether or not hell is eternal. Religions with a linear view of history typically depict hell as an endless, infinite abyss; conversely, religions with a cyclic view of history often depict hell as an intermediary period between incarnations (for example, the Chinese Di Yu or the Buddhist Naraka). The widespread notion of hell as purgatory is helpful in reconciling the justice of God with his ultimate mercy upon his children.

Despite these variations, the common ground among the descriptions is a place of estrangement and alienation from Divinity, which translates into unbearable pain and suffering.

Other uses of the word 'damnation'

Sometimes the word damned refers to condemnation by humans, for example:

• A discussion guidefrom the California Council for the Humanities says "... The Grapes of Wrath was an immediate best-seller, widely praised and almost as widely damned throughout the country. ...."
• The common journalese expression "a damning report."
• The name of the Prokletije mountains in Albania and Montenegro means "Damned" (plural).

Profane language

"Damnation" (or, more commonly, "damn," or "god damn") is widely used as a moderate profanity, which originated as such from the concept of punishment by God. Until around the mid-20th century damn was a more offensive term than it is today, and was frequently represented as "D—n," "D---," or abbreviated to just "D." The use of "damn" in Rhett Butler's parting line to Scarlett O'Hara in the film Gone with the Wind in 1939 captivated moviegoers with "Quite frankly my dear, I don't give a damn."

"Damn" is commonly nowadays known as a very mildly profane word and used while cursing or swearing in North America.

"God damn" is usually seen as more profane than simply "damn," and in present-day radio or television broadcasts, the word "God" is usually censored or blurred, leaving "damn" uncensored. An example of this is with the 2007 Fall Out Boy single, "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race."

In the USA, "damn" is also commonly used as an exclamation when an extremely attractive person or object of approval is located; e.g. "Damn, he/she is fine" or perhaps "Damn, he has a nice car!." "Hot damn" may be used similarly, but it is somewhat distinct; for example, if one says, "Joe just won the lottery," a response of "Damn!" on its own indicates disapproval, but "Hot damn!" indicates approval or surprise.

"Damned" is also used as an adjective synonymous with "annoying" or "uncooperative," or as a means of giving emphasis. For example, "The damned furnace is not working again!" or, "I did wash the damned car!" or, "The damned dog won't stop barking!"

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Edwards, Jonathan. The Justice of God in the Damnation of Sinners, Diggory Press, 2007. ISBN 978-1846856723
• Harold, Frederic. The Damnation of Theron Ware, Public Domain Books, 1994. ASIN B000JMLEX6
• Kresta, Al. Why are Catholics So Concerend About Sin?, Servant Publications, 2005. ISBN 978-0867166965
• Rosen, Michael J. 101 Damnations: The Humorists' Tours of Personal Hells, St. Martin's Press, 2002. ASIN B000FA5TLU

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