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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:
Tryingtokeepgoing · 08/02/2025 17:30

Maybe I’m getting old, but although I am not in the slightest bit religious I wouldn’t ever use language like that in a meeting. Or anywhere at work I don’t think. With colleagues and friends outside work, sure, and much worse! But it seems incredibly unprofessional to me. Of course, the type of workplace might make a difference - but I can’t think of any office environment where it’d be acceptable.

Bollihobs · 08/02/2025 17:29

ExpressCheckout · 08/02/2025 17:25

I once (years ago) said 'JC' in a meeting and was castigated by a colleague for doing so. I've since switched to exclaiming 'bollocks' or 'FFS' and nobody has said a word 😂

I appreciate you wrote this as humourous but as John Lydon once said they are just words whereas 'Jesus Christ' is a totally different concept.

KimberleyClark · 08/02/2025 17:29

SerendipityJane · 08/02/2025 17:27

What do you think I meant ? What do you think I think ?

I really can't disagree with all of the Monty Python team (not that I need their steer but they were/are accomplished scholars) who found nothing bad to say about Jesus at all. Fictional or real comes across as a top bloke. Definitely on my dream dinner party guest list.

It was more the followers that were and are the problem.

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I think I may have misread the intention of your post. Yes I do agree that religious followers are the problem.

SerendipityJane · 08/02/2025 17:29

LynetteScavo · 08/02/2025 17:22

Although I'm sure it depends where you work, and someone will come along and tell me it's perfectly acceptable to call their boss cunty chops to their face.

You need to work in logistics where the drivers get their assignments.

DisforDarkChocolate · 08/02/2025 17:29

I'm a Christian and it wouldn't bother me at all.

FofB · 08/02/2025 17:28

Someone I worked with took me to one side when I was much younger- and in a private and respectful way, asked me to not take the Lord's name in vain. (I also said JC!) It was done in a such a respectful and kindly way, and they explained why they found it offensive; and I could not see any reason to not consider their feelings and not use it again.

Sherararara · 08/02/2025 17:28

90yomakeuproom · 08/02/2025 14:58

It is blasphemous and is offensive

Not to normal people it isn’t.

SerendipityJane · 08/02/2025 17:27

KimberleyClark · 08/02/2025 17:22

Do you hold Jesus Christ personally to blame for that evil? Do you think he advocated it?

Show quote history

What do you think I meant ? What do you think I think ?

I really can't disagree with all of the Monty Python team (not that I need their steer but they were/are accomplished scholars) who found nothing bad to say about Jesus at all. Fictional or real comes across as a top bloke. Definitely on my dream dinner party guest list.

It was more the followers that were and are the problem.

LynetteScavo · 08/02/2025 17:26

@Drfosters You don't need a swear jar if it's acceptable.

I work with under 18s, so would probably get sacked if I started saying Jesus Christ every time I'm surprised. "For fucks sack" is said quite often inside my head though.

TheWombatleague · 08/02/2025 17:25

DalzielOrNoDalzielAndDontPascoe · 08/02/2025 17:17

Of course, Jesus didn't exists in Old Testament times, so wasn't "the Lord" then, That's be rather backfilled.

Of course, you don't believe any of it at all, which you're perfectly entitled not to do; but the Bible does indeed clearly state that Jesus, as part of the Godhead, existed in Old Testament times - so that isn't quite the gotcha that you may have thought it would be to a Bible-believing Christian.

When you say "clearly", do you mean by not mentioning him at all by name and then the New Testament claiming retrospectively, and convieniently, that various writings referred to him along?

ExpressCheckout · 08/02/2025 17:25

I once (years ago) said 'JC' in a meeting and was castigated by a colleague for doing so. I've since switched to exclaiming 'bollocks' or 'FFS' and nobody has said a word 😂

BeTwinklyKhakiPanda · 08/02/2025 17:24

There's a certain type of manager or HR person who just get off on the power trip of pointing out so called microagressions when the actual people who could be made uncomfortable aren't around. They feel it's their place to 'educate' you. Ignore thmem

Bollihobs · 08/02/2025 17:23

ScribblingPixie · 08/02/2025 15:07

I don't understand why he would say it's rude to people of different religions. Other than Christians, who does he mean?

He may be thinking that it could appear you are imposing your beliefs on others by saying it but Jesus is also a prophet in the Islamic religion so this could also been seen as inappropriate by Muslims.

Personally I do think in these more considerate times it is inappropriate for the workplace environment.

SerendipityJane · 08/02/2025 17:23

Words · 08/02/2025 17:19

@SerendipityJane : D

I quite like Oh heck. ( and it is where the sausages come from too.). My Dad ( born 1915) never ever swore. He would say things like ' By Jupiter!' Or ' by the centre!'

'Oh my gosh' is just unfathomably prissy.

"By Jupiter" is very old school 😀By Jove !

It's not a popular view with Christians, but the Romans were quite progressive in terms of religion. To a certain extent.

Been a while since I were a Wiccan - is "By Jupiter" offensive to that strain of philosophy ?

Wordsmithery · 08/02/2025 17:22

I have no religion and I use the f word with abandon in my private time. But I'm very cautious around language at work, whether blasphemy or swearing in general. It's unprofessional and could offend so best to avoid.

LynetteScavo · 08/02/2025 17:22

Although I'm sure it depends where you work, and someone will come along and tell me it's perfectly acceptable to call their boss cunty chops to their face.

KimberleyClark · 08/02/2025 17:22

SerendipityJane · 08/02/2025 16:51

Personally I'd find it far more offensive how much evil has been done under that cross myself.

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Do you hold Jesus Christ personally to blame for that evil? Do you think he advocated it?

Drfosters · 08/02/2025 17:22

LynetteScavo · 08/02/2025 17:20

It's inappropriate at work, as would be "fucking hell".

I'm really surprised grown adults don't know this.

You wouldn’t last long in my office! We need a swear jar! If you work in finance, you get used to bad language!

CrazyCatLady42 · 08/02/2025 17:22

Your boss is right.

LynetteScavo · 08/02/2025 17:20

It's inappropriate at work, as would be "fucking hell".

I'm really surprised grown adults don't know this.

Words · 08/02/2025 17:19

@SerendipityJane : D

I quite like Oh heck. ( and it is where the sausages come from too.). My Dad ( born 1915) never ever swore. He would say things like ' By Jupiter!' Or ' by the centre!'

'Oh my gosh' is just unfathomably prissy.

YourHappyJadeEagle · 08/02/2025 17:19

Always swear/ exclaim in a foreign language. I’ve done it for years so dgc are unaware.

Jennifershuffles · 08/02/2025 17:19

Maybe say something like fuckado or cuntyplops next time

Whippetlovely · 08/02/2025 17:19

TheWombatleague · 08/02/2025 17:16

Do you find apostrophes offensive?

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I'm actually dyslexic, so now your being an arsehole! Lol

SerendipityJane · 08/02/2025 17:18

DalzielOrNoDalzielAndDontPascoe · 08/02/2025 17:17

Of course, Jesus didn't exists in Old Testament times, so wasn't "the Lord" then, That's be rather backfilled.

Of course, you don't believe any of it at all, which you're perfectly entitled not to do; but the Bible does indeed clearly state that Jesus, as part of the Godhead, existed in Old Testament times - so that isn't quite the gotcha that you may have thought it would be to a Bible-believing Christian.

OK. So we are back to executing homosexuals then ?