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Original poster

Boss told me off for exclaiming Jesus Christ

614 replies

GloMum · 08/02/2025 14:55

The other day my boss told me off for exclaiming Jesus Christ when I was surprised during a work meeting. Boss told me it’s rude towards people from different religions and asked me if I’d done my DEI training. I have, and I enjoy friendships with colleagues from varied backgrounds. I feel really stressed now in case I slip again, and embarrassed I should be told off.

YABU - This is an inappropriate exclamation at work
YANBU - It’s just an exclamation and you shouldn’t be told off for that.

OP posts:
HipMax · 08/02/2025 18:23

SerendipityJane · 08/02/2025 18:21

Which is why I suggested upthread a far better intervention was merely to say that all exclamations should really be controlled. If someone else can hear it who isn't meant to then it's a bit rum.

That wouldn't eliminate the case where a single person was being addressed and they felt it offensive. But it would certainly reduce the risk of the sort of frothing this thread has generated.

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That's a ridiculous. All exclamations should be controlled? What nannyish stupidity is this?

SerendipityJane · 08/02/2025 18:21

Drfosters · 08/02/2025 18:18

@SerendipityJane There may be others but yet no one has come forward. Honestly I am not religious at all so it completely passes me by.

I keep asking in complete good faith why people feel it offensive. The exact, specific reason. Not just ‘it’s offensive’ or ‘it’s discriminatory ’. Not a single person on here who has said it is offensive has given me a detailed reason as to why that is the case.

Edited

Which is why I suggested upthread a far better intervention was merely to say that all exclamations should really be controlled. If someone else can hear it who isn't meant to then it's a bit rum.

That wouldn't eliminate the case where a single person was being addressed and they felt it offensive. But it would certainly reduce the risk of the sort of frothing this thread has generated.

SerendipityJane · 08/02/2025 18:18

CurlewKate · 08/02/2025 18:11

It's not discriminatory. But I would not like a member of my team to use any form of expletive in a work meeting. Not professional. On a night out, in a social setting-fine. Not at work.

"Bad form" would have been a much better observation.

Drfosters · 08/02/2025 18:18

@SerendipityJane There may be others but yet no one has come forward. Honestly I am not religious at all so it completely passes me by.

I keep asking in complete good faith why people feel it offensive. The exact, specific reason. Not just ‘it’s offensive’ or ‘it’s discriminatory ’. Not a single person on here who has said it is offensive has given me a detailed reason as to why that is the case.

HipMax · 08/02/2025 18:18

CurlewKate · 08/02/2025 18:11

It's not discriminatory. But I would not like a member of my team to use any form of expletive in a work meeting. Not professional. On a night out, in a social setting-fine. Not at work.

You can not like it all you want. You have no basis to say anything to anyone who works with you though, and you'd want to be careful.

SerendipityJane · 08/02/2025 18:15

Drfosters · 08/02/2025 18:00

Thanks - seems very tenuous!

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Please do not trust me as an arbiter of anything.

That was my interpretation, I am sure there will be others. 😁

Jc2001 · 08/02/2025 18:12

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 08/02/2025 15:03

Well , there’s going to be a law about it soon ( but not for Christians, Hindus, Sikhs….)

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Stop reading the daily mail comments section.

CurlewKate · 08/02/2025 18:11

It's not discriminatory. But I would not like a member of my team to use any form of expletive in a work meeting. Not professional. On a night out, in a social setting-fine. Not at work.

LynetteScavo · 08/02/2025 18:11

The thing is, unless it's offensive, a word or phrase it doesn't have the gravitas to make a point.

If the OP has said "jelly babies!" they wouldn't have felt they were communicating the same level of surprise.

HipMax · 08/02/2025 18:11

Whippetlovely · 08/02/2025 17:07

If someone called your mum an arsehole would that piss you off??

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Oh FFS. The analogous question would be if someone said your mother's name

It's just a name. Saying jesus Christ as an exclamation is an invocation, not a fucking swear.

TheBoots · 08/02/2025 18:09

Rizzla · 08/02/2025 15:12

Why are people saying this who claim to be Christians? It’s a commandment to not take the Lord’s name in vain. It’s a big deal for Christians.

No it's not for most of us.

Gorgeousfeet · 08/02/2025 18:09

BCBird · 08/02/2025 15:23

I am not religious but would pull someone up about this. Work on a school, if kids say oh GOD or anything else that is blasphemous I tell em off

Edited

Absolutely .

Montuaklighthouse · 08/02/2025 18:05

I had no idea MN was awash with pious do-gooders who can’t get to grips with the vernacular of the country they live in.

Drfosters · 08/02/2025 18:00

SerendipityJane · 08/02/2025 17:57

I think there is some sort of idea that because it doesn't offend (some) non Christians, it is in someway a slight against Christians.

Whilst discrimination is generally nto be encouraged (although we do need a measure of it in society) I am less sympathetic to matters of choice. People can't chose their sex, their colour or where they were born. But you chose your religion and your hairstyle.

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Thanks - seems very tenuous!

Boredlass · 08/02/2025 18:00

“All religions should be treated with respect”

They haven’t earned my respect and never will

HipMax · 08/02/2025 18:00

Cutito · 08/02/2025 17:30

Surely nothing is offensive 'objectively'?

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On a societal level, it pretty much is. There are things that we agree as a society are offensive. It doesn't mean literally everyone agrees, but I imagine you get my point.

Something like this is the opposite. The vast majority have decided it's not offensive. Even religious people use these exclamations. They're actually an example of how deep the religion is embedded into a society.

Abitofalark · 08/02/2025 17:58

CurlewKate · 08/02/2025 17:45

Funny how the expression DEI suddenly seeps to be cropping up everywhere....

Indeed. It was EDI for a time but that quickly faded as it was replaced by the American DEI.

Drfosters · 08/02/2025 17:58

FedUpandEatingChocolate · 08/02/2025 17:52

I'm Christian and this makes me cringe internally, but I wouldn't raise it as an issue.

I do have a senior boss who swears quite a lot and I can't stand it! I like a swear when needed, but she goes overboard in huge meetings.

Why does it make you cringe internally? I still am genuinely struggling to understand.

As someone who is Christian, you choose to follow the 10 commandments. That is 100% your right.

why should you be bothered by someone who isn’t Christian and therefore not bound by the same commandments using the phrase? How does it affect you? When you hear it what specifically causes the offence? How does it affect your personal relationship with god?

SerendipityJane · 08/02/2025 17:57

Drfosters · 08/02/2025 17:51

How is saying a quite common phrase religious discrimination?

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I think there is some sort of idea that because it doesn't offend (some) non Christians, it is in someway a slight against Christians.

Whilst discrimination is generally nto be encouraged (although we do need a measure of it in society) I am less sympathetic to matters of choice. People can't chose their sex, their colour or where they were born. But you chose your religion and your hairstyle.

suburburban · 08/02/2025 17:55

PicturePlace · 08/02/2025 15:58

Irish people say "Jesus Christ!" all the time, and it is a very Christian country. I have never known a single Irish person the find this phrase offensive. If anything, it's like a little prayer! Why would saying Jesus's name be offensive? What does "taking a name in vain" even mean?! Isn't it nice for Christians to have God be such a part of their everyday language?

But are they praying to him or in what context are they using it.

Mrburnshound · 08/02/2025 17:54

Im christian and i wouldnt care. It wouldn't even register tbh

HipMax · 08/02/2025 17:53

DalzielOrNoDalzielAndDontPascoe · 08/02/2025 16:19

And presumably you'd also say the same to a black or Chinese person who objected to you using words that they found very offensive?

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If they were perfectly normal every day exclamations used by almost everyone and only found offensive by a tiny minority...yes of course. Wouldn't we all?

Cattreesea · 08/02/2025 17:52

Since when is saying 'Jesus Christ' offensive?

Is saying 'god' offensive?

Ultimately it is simply a name...

I think too many people are professionally offended these days, meaning they just look for reason to feel superior and try to impose their views on others.

I was raised a catholic by the way in a catholic country before moving to the UK and I find this absolutely ludicrous...

FedUpandEatingChocolate · 08/02/2025 17:52

I'm Christian and this makes me cringe internally, but I wouldn't raise it as an issue.

I do have a senior boss who swears quite a lot and I can't stand it! I like a swear when needed, but she goes overboard in huge meetings.

Balloonhearts · 08/02/2025 17:51

Whippetlovely · 08/02/2025 17:07

If someone called your mum an arsehole would that piss you off??

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If you were Jesus's daughter, you'd have also been dead for nearly 2000 years. So would your children and your children's childrens children. A woman in an office taking your name in vain would not even make the top 10 of your biggest problems. Since you aren't, it isn't a comparison.