Boss told me off for exclaiming Jesus Christ

Holy buckets is a great phrase @Scorchio84 . Another one I heard was Geez a flip. I also rather like flipping heck. Or H E Double toothpicks (for HELL).

This.

You're a professional, Christian, adult - accept you were wrong and exercise better self-control in future.

I would just say your sensitivity is not my problem.

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.

Why? I have already mentioned by grandmother found the work ‘knackered’ offensive beyond measure. If you said it she would get very angry about it and we would get told off.

I use it to mean tired but she understood it to mean something offensive . Had she got the right to tell me not to use it?

Surely it's just a matter of respect. It's clear from all these posts that some people and others don't - well then, unless you're sure that everyone in the room doesn't, don't use it. For myself, I am a Christian and it just makes me so sad when I hear "Oh God" or the like - it implies that the person using it not only disrespects my faith, but they disrespect people like me by not thinking about what they are saying. We have a wonderful creative
language - why not use it?

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.

People of that faith still have the right to be offended, just as people not of that faith say they have the right to say it.

I agree with you completely, there is such a big difference, blasphemy doesn’t affect anyone else where as insulting someone’s religion or other protected characteristic does.

I don't find it remotely offensive but I don't think it's appropriate language in the workplace.

Highly inappropriate anywhere! Blasphemous and offensive regardless of anyones religion or ethnicity.

Can I ask why Christian's don't like it ? Like what is the issue ? I say Jesus Christ all the time, I'm a non believer btw but just genuinely interested what's so wrong with saying Jesus' name ?

Really?

This place gets more ridiculous by the day.

Eh? Speak for yourself

A friend who attended a convent secondary school said the nuns used to say as you were calling upon God if was ok.

Though it might have been in reference to God and not Jesus Christ.

Although I had a Christian upbringing, I wouldn't find 'Jesus Christ' offensive on religious grounds but I would think that you were managing yourself badly to use it at work. If I were your manager, I'd be talking to you about how you were undermining your own professionalism by using language carelessly and what a shame that was. I hope your manager did that. You're a grown-up. Telling off is for children.

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?

I disagree. Targeted, personally-offensive language focussing on a person's looks, intellect, ethnicity and sex or sexuality is far more offensive and hurtful.
And if there are such things as omnipotent, all-knowing, all-seeing divine beings i'm sure they would find it in themselves to understand and forgive such behaviour from we poor, inferior human beings.

It’s quite interesting that, as a pp pointed out, my examples of alternatives - Good Heavens! and For Heaven’s Sake! are actually considered to be really tame exclamations. Even Good God! sounds more acceptable, if you’ve had some shocking news imparted. I don’t know why, but Jesus Christ! sounds much more jarring to me.

Does that extend though if I take offence to a random word like ‘table’. I just don’t like it and find it offensive - can I say to everyone else that they are not to use it?

Difference between a child and an adult. Of course, teachers and other adults can comment on small children's use of language. I don't think they should do so for adults, unless it's serious.

Unprofessional and inappropiate, they are right to call you out on it. That could have changed the way a partner dealt with us if they had hear it.

I think if anyone around here or near me ever said "Good Heavens" it would actually sound like a piss take which ultimately might sound even more offensive tbh

@Patterncarmen I'm going to have to start using "Holy buckets" 😂

No, he's not demanding that she prays before a meeting or anything. He is asking her to think before she speaks in order to respect others who have a different view of the words that she used - and in a professional setting.

I accept that it is part of everyday language, but I don't have to like it, and it isn't (IMO) very professional to use such language at work.

It’s no great mystery. Religious heritage reflects in the common vernacular.