If an Indian (eg) person heard someone say 'oh my Buddha' would they be offended? Do Christians, when they hear ' Christ on a bike' and 'OMG' get offended? G

[marjproops]

sorry if this has been ddiscussed before, Im fairly new to this particular forum.

It really bewilders me, this current saying 'Christ on a bike'. I mean, what the IS that?
You NEVER hear anyone saying 'oh my Mohammed' or 'Oh my Allah' yet its okay to say anything pertaining to God/Heaven/Christ?

anyone have an answer or am I just being pedantic?

[marjproops]

I mean, there are plenty of other alternatives to say.

I usually say, eg- OMD- orchestral manouvers in the dark

I just get that fingernails down a blackboard feeling when i hear someone use Gods name like that?

As a Christian I find it offensive, to me, as bad as the N or C word.

Oversensitive, or any other Christian feel this way?

[Wishiwasanheiress]

Christ on a bike is quite old. My dad said that when young! I'm cofe. Doesn't even register. I'd be more offended by swearing. Guess depends on ur persuasion but surely there's bigger stuff to sweat?

[MandragoraWurzelstock]

I get a little sort of prickle of the conscience yes

My mum gets offended but she is proper RC

I am totally agnostic but still it does bother me...equally though I find it quite cathartic to actually say, which is probably wrong of me - I walk a narrow line between the two states of mind

[TeggieCampbeggBlegg]

Doesn't bother me

My granny eould have been horrified though.

[weegiemum]

I'm a Christian and it's a bit offensive in an "oh no not again" sort of way! I don't like OMG much. My dc go to a Gaelic language school and they text "OMC" - "O Mo Creach" - basically means "oh dear me"!

"Christ" is a very important word to me. I accept it isn't to many people. But I almost always flinch when I hear it used in a "oh no" type manner rather than sensitively.

But that's me.

[marjproops]

My mum will have a go at people if she hears them...thats every other person then! shes a devout RC and wont have it.

I know Gods had worse thrown at Him but still.....

and Ive had my fair share of rants at Him too, but never used that language.

wish yes there is bigger stuff to sweat, but i also dont like it when someone says 'i swear on my mothers life' or something.

so why doesnt anyone ever say 'oh my devil?' oh for hells sake?'

[WarmFuzzyFun]

But if I say 'oh my god' I am talking about my god which may or may not be your god.

Not being funny, or pedantic, just how I see it.

[Dadthelion]

What if God isn't Roman Catholic?

[JakeBullet]

Our local Catholic priest swears like a trooper and thinks nothing of "Oh for Gods sake". He is a bit unusual though .

[meditrina]

The potential to cause offence is obvious. No place for that in a modern, diverse society which has plenty of other expletives so readily available.

[marjproops]

Its just a personal thing I suppose then.

like, I wouldnt like anyone using my DCs name as a swear word.

and for Christians God is our Father...so someones swearing using my fathers name. did that make sense???

Not trying to sound Biblebashing-y btw. OP is a genuine question.

(dadthelion not sure what you're getting at there. the Catholics/Protestants worship the same God.)

Is anyone who's answered here of a different belief/culture?

[marjproops]

YY meditrina, exactly what im trying to get at.

[Gingerandcocoa]

I am a Christian, and I wouldn't use those expressions as I don't think we should use God's name in vain.

However I think it would be a bit of a stretch to say I'm "offended" by people saying it. I don't like it, of course, but I know people are not really thinking when they say those things, and as a result I'm not really offended by it.

[JuneChurch]

All the Catholics I know curse the saints, Jesus, Mary, the Holy Spirit and God quite happily!

[shazbean]

I've actually had this conversation with an Indian friend who told me that this kind of thing is usual and pretty much encouraged.
I'm not sure exactly of the phrasing but "for the love of Vishnu" for example would not be a bad thing because the gods would prefer you to talk about them as it means you are remembering them in everyday life which I think is a pretty good way of thinking about it.

[CognitiveOverload]

Not all indian people are Buddhists?

[marjproops]

But you never hear 'for the love of Vishnu' in your high street do you?

and ok, if Christians use the G word for whatever reasons thats one thing but those that just bandy it about included in the effing Cing bas* type thing? they're certainly not appealing/praising are they?

and the ones who KNOW you dont like it and wind you up and you ttry your best to ignore, while gnashing teeth.

I once said to someone I know 'for someone who doesnt believe in christ you sure do say his name a lot!' he soon stopped that word!!!

[marjproops]

cog I realise that, I said Indians in general as an example, I meant whoever believes in a Deity. Not everyone is a Christian!

[morethanpotatoprints]

My dearest friend is a Christian and used to teach 6th formers. Whenever they said Oh God, or Jesus etc. She used to ask what their problem had to do with them.
It always raised a giggle. She wasn't outwardly offended but will always say this or similar and put people right.

[IThinkOfHappyWhenIThinkOfYou]

When I hear people say OMG it doesn't occur to me that they mean a specifically Christian God. I know several nuns people who say Jesus or Christ because they mean it rather than in a lazy sweary way. Doesn't offend me personally (I'm RC)

More Christians than Buddhists in India, by quite a lot.

[Abra1d]

I don't mind Oh my God as much as I detest (and I'm going to spell it out) Oh my f..king G.d.

I once asked if MN would delete if someone posted Oh my f..king M.ham... on a thread or Oh my f..kin. A...h.

They would.

Some time after I asked if they would delete the Oh my f..king G.d I'd seen in a thread title. No, they said, they wouldn't, because they didn't delete for blasphemy.

I find it a bit confusing, tbh.

[marjproops]

abra I cant believe that! Im jaw on the flloor with that.

Theres a thread somewhere else that satrts Christ oin abike in capital letters.

Lunatic I KNOW! thank you.

The Indians I know (and I live in a very Indian area) are Buddhists round here.

Must ask them one day this question, get a different perspective?

[CognitiveOverload]

A minority of indians are Buddhists...so your generalisation is offensive to some. So maybe the point is everyone can be offensive at one time or another, inadvertently.

[CognitiveOverload]

Yes do ask the indians you know as that will surely account for all indians.