In vain

Contemplating the commandment to pray always made me wonder if some of the current practices of taking the Lord's name in vain may have come from abuses of this command.  People could have been feigning prayer.  Seeking to be seen as pious, god-fearing people, they utter the name of the Lord in a form that would convey they are either asking him to curse someone or something, turning to him in awe or horror, or even expressing gratitude.  They are not though, and this is a serious enough offense that the Lord makes it one of the original ten commandments given to Moses.  Trying to look good, we do evil.