Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
SerendipityJane · 08/02/2025 16:19

Jesus wept.

alwaysMakingItsofar · 08/02/2025 16:18

You mean you are a Christian but then you slam His holy name.
Similar if you claimed you actually are thankful to someone who raped you. Does not make sense. And is again, a thread looking for a loophole to make a mockery of Christianity.

SerendipityJane · 08/02/2025 16:18

90yomakeuproom · 08/02/2025 14:58

It is blasphemous and is offensive

Not to me.

Ilovetowander · 08/02/2025 16:18

All religions should be treated with respect , had someone used a different word to blasphema different religion then I am quite sure it would have been picked up as being offensive . Therefore I think the manager was right if that is applied to all religions. Too often Christianity is ignored

dutysuite · 08/02/2025 16:17

Kianai · 08/02/2025 16:10

That's exactly what I said when someone got upset that I was doodling a cartoon man titled 'Mohammed' while I was bored.

Show quote history

Good for you.

MemorableTrenchcoat · 08/02/2025 16:17

heyhopotato · 08/02/2025 16:07

You're not a real Christian.

Show quote history

I’m pretty sure a real Christian would never tell someone they’re not a real Christian.

DalzielOrNoDalzielAndDontPascoe · 08/02/2025 16:17

Do the objecters to "Jesus Christ" also not like "Jeeze" or "Jeeze Louise" etc?

They're not really that different in reality - everybody knows what you're getting at.

Supposing somebody decided to start shouting or exclaiming your Mum's name as a negative expression when something negative happened - would it make much difference to you if they changed it to (e.g.) 'Moany Joany Perkins!' or 'Joan Perkins on a bike!' ?

Drfosters · 08/02/2025 16:15

Dollychopsporkchops · 08/02/2025 16:12

It’s 2025, you do know people practice religion. Some people practice Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism etc. so yes, Christian’s do get offended by blasphemy

Christianity isn’t a cultural thing, it’s a religion that people take seriously

Show quote history

and so understandably if you don’t wish to use what would be considered blasphemous language then of course you shouldn’t .

but I still don’t make the connection why someone else using these phrases is offensive. Your relationship with god is your own as is anyone else who is religious. Absolutely 100% you’re right. But why would it bother you if someone else uses the words? How does it affect your relationship with your god?

Olinguita · 08/02/2025 16:15

I have a couple of guys in my office that curse a lot and say "Jesus Christ" at their computers in a huffy and aggressive way. Other swear words too.
I'm a Christian and while I'm not about to go running to HR about, I (privately) take a pretty dim view of this behaviour and I probably think a bit less of them as a result.

Toooldtorave · 08/02/2025 16:15

I can see that it’s against DEI etc…. Personally due to our shit IT system I spend most days quietly cursing at my laptop. My current phrase is asking why it’s such a massive effing bucket of jizz. But it is said under my breath and I hear managers ask their laptops why the fuck it doesn’t just fucking work and they can’t fucking get their bastard work done. You get the gist. I’d not say it loudly or in a meeting setting though.

alwaysMakingItsofar · 08/02/2025 16:15

Or : Krishna The elephant ! Or Ra the Cat , or Zen Zen Shinto ocaahomaaaaaaaahaamaaaaa

Patterncarmen · 08/02/2025 16:15

heyhopotato · 08/02/2025 16:07

You're not a real Christian.

Show quote history

I seem to remember that Christ taught, “Judge not lest you be judged”.

alwaysMakingItsofar · 08/02/2025 16:14

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Lovelysummerdays · 08/02/2025 16:13

I’ve done it as well at work ( not in a meeting) and had a mild ticking off. I’m an atheist but I respect that my Christian colleagues don’t want to hear the lords name in vain. I don’t actually have any Colleagues who are religious or were bothered but I’ve accepted that’s beside the point.

Twaddlepip · 08/02/2025 16:13

I find the hold organised religion has on people, on intelligent people, really astonishing.

VictoriaEra2 · 08/02/2025 16:12

Gwenhwyfar · 08/02/2025 16:05

Not taking the Lord's name in vain is one of the commandments.
However, this commandment is often broken, including by Christians who use expressions like 'Oh My God' quite often so it's quite ridiculous to have such a strong reaction to this.

Show quote history

Agree. It’s one of the commandments. For the same reason I never like OMG.

Dollychopsporkchops · 08/02/2025 16:12

TuesdayRubies · 08/02/2025 14:59

Imagine getting offended by blasphemy in this day and age 🤣

It’s 2025, you do know people practice religion. Some people practice Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism etc. so yes, Christian’s do get offended by blasphemy

Christianity isn’t a cultural thing, it’s a religion that people take seriously

HaddyAbrams · 08/02/2025 16:12

I'm not usually that bothered by blasphemy, but my niece says "oh my God" every 5 mins and it's beginning to grate a bit!

DutchCowgirl · 08/02/2025 16:11

Gwenhwyfar · 08/02/2025 16:03

Hmm. You're not offended because of your Christian upbringing, but you are very offended nevertheless, even though the phrase is only offensive if someone doesn't like taking the Lord's name in vain. I think you're being quite dishonest here, even if not on purpose.

Show quote history

I’m would not be offended but upset. If it was directed to me, because i made a mistake or something at work, I would find it very harsh language. Comparable to “You stupid cow!!” . Nothing to do with my religion, but just not a professional way of giving feedback to a colleague. Maybe suitable among friends in a pub but not ok for an office environment.

TheFifthTellytubby · 08/02/2025 16:11

Pigsinblankets13 · 08/02/2025 15:04

Try 'Christ on a Bike' instead next time, but then you'll probably get told off for suggesting a bike was his preferred mode of transport

On the programme Grantchester, the detective (played by Robson Green) is always exclaiming this in front of his mate the vicar, who doesn't bat an eyelid - and it's set in the 1950s!😂

VictoriaEra2 · 08/02/2025 16:11

90yomakeuproom · 08/02/2025 14:58

It is blasphemous and is offensive

Agreed. Hate to hear this. It is offensive.

Kianai · 08/02/2025 16:10

dutysuite · 08/02/2025 16:05

I would just say your sensitivity is not my problem.

That's exactly what I said when someone got upset that I was doodling a cartoon man titled 'Mohammed' while I was bored.

LastTrainsEast · 08/02/2025 16:09

90yomakeuproom · 08/02/2025 14:58

It is blasphemous and is offensive

Jehovah/Jesus deserves the same respect as the heroes in Star Wars,

Maybe a little less as they were the good guys.

Jehovah/Jesus not so much: 2 Kings 2:23-24 and Exodus 12:29-30

nationalsausagefund · 08/02/2025 16:07

I think I’m more likely to exclaim “Jesus wept” but I suspect I edit myself and don’t swear or blaspheme at work because I’m masking, playing a role as someone professional (when in reality I’m there to pay the mortgage and don’t care). I think your boss was being ridiculous.

heyhopotato · 08/02/2025 16:07

GloMum · 08/02/2025 14:58

Boss is not Christian, I am.

You're not a real Christian.