Using God’s name as a cuss word isn’t illegal and doesn’t offend the FCC, but it does violate the Ten Commandments, which state:

“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”

Now, NPR’s ombudsman is suggesting that the station bleep out the swear word God****.

Writes ombudsman Alicia Shepard:

“As of the latest national ratings period, fall 2009, NPR stations reach 33.9 million Americans every week, according to NPR data. NPR programming and newscasts reach 27.1 million.

There is no doubt that a healthy number of those listeners take the Lord’s name seriously and are offended when it is taken in vain.

And it’s not just in the South.”

Ms. Shepard suggests bleeping out the offending language.

What do you think? Should NPR play clips that take the Lord’s name in vain? Or bleep them out? Yes? Or no? Here’s my take — (more…)

Utah painter Arnold Friberg has died, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.

Friberg’s most famous piece depicted George Washington praying at Valley Forge. Mr. Friberg was 96.