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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:
Fountofwisdom · 09/02/2025 09:42

GloMum · 08/02/2025 22:02

Just to clarify! Meeting was just between me and the boss, sharing some updates on team changes. We normally enjoy a pretty informal communication but yes, professional set up

Would have been useful to say that in the first place. It’s a bit different if it was just you and your boss, and if you normally speak informally, but very much depends on what language you normally use together. Do you swear in front of each other, for example? Nevertheless, I still find it unprofessional to use an exclamation like that at work.

Drfosters · 09/02/2025 09:21

AgnesX · 09/02/2025 08:07

It's blasphemy, taking the Lords name in vain. Generally the tone also causes offence as well.

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But surely that is the person saying it not the person hearing it. If the person saying it isn’t religious then they aren’t taking the lord’s name in vain as they don’t believe. Should the person hearing it have the right to say to the person saying it that they are bound by the 10 commandments?

The only analogy I can think is it is like someone coming from another country and telling you off for breaking a law that is illegal in their country but not your own and expecting you to be arrested. It makes no sense.

Sharptonguedwoman · 09/02/2025 08:44

90yomakeuproom · 08/02/2025 14:58

It is blasphemous and is offensive

We don't have blasphemy laws here, thank goodness.

AgnesX · 09/02/2025 08:07

Drfosters · 08/02/2025 20:10

What causes the offence?

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It's blasphemy, taking the Lords name in vain. Generally the tone also causes offence as well.

GreenYellowBrown · 09/02/2025 08:06

It wouldn’t bother me personally but I can see how it might bother others. For that reason only, I think it’s best to stick with the classics, i suggest:

  1. Oh fiddlesticks
  2. Bah humbug seasonally of course
  3. Ahh flapdoodles!!!

Or my favourite…SHITE!!

MajorCarolDanvers · 09/02/2025 07:16

HipMax · 08/02/2025 23:04

And?

(Also, how does he cope with daily life if he's terribly offended by such a commonplace phrase)

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In most professional workplaces people don’t curse, swear and utter expletives

coxesorangepippin · 09/02/2025 02:07

If you'd have said fucking hell how would he have reacted??

ThatAgileGoldMoose · 09/02/2025 01:23

GloMum · 08/02/2025 17:48

Meeting was just between me and the manager who as I said is not Christian. Some weeks ago boss themselves said “Guys, if we don’t deliver well on this, I’ll smack you” which I found quite patronising and rude. Perhaps I’m just a bit upset about being picky about other people’s choice of words but not minding your own.

and eeh blasphemy I can understand but this is in no way religious discrimination.

Edited

That's a bit of a drip feed!

If the meeting was just the two of you his reaction is pathetic.

Him saying he will smack you on the other hand is outrageously inappropriate!

I voted YABU purely because I don't think it's particularly appropriate language for the workplace. Too casual and too close to swearing.

InterIgnis · 09/02/2025 01:17

Burntt · 08/02/2025 23:31

I think what's most offensive is that it's ok to take the pods out of the Christian lord this way but not any other. None of it is ok. I can accept it slips out and not get offended so long as a person isn't trying to offend. But the effort not to offend a Christian is minimal compared to trying not to offend other religions. All faiths and those without faith deserve respect and not to be intentionally offended

That’s not the case though. As I said earlier in the thread, my home country has the Islamic version, due to the influence of the Ottoman Empire. The UK’s common vernacular was and is shaped by cultural Christian heritage, and as such reflects that.

The idea that ‘this only happens to Christians!’ is incorrect.

Cutito · 09/02/2025 01:13

HipMax · 08/02/2025 18:00

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.

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Where are you getting your numbers from? The 'vast majority'? I don't think you can back that up.

Anytimeisfine · 09/02/2025 01:02

HipMax · 08/02/2025 22:04

Yes, we absolutely completely do. Daily. Hourly.
Please do not come to Ireland if you don't like it. It's our culture and we'll be very offended if you complain about it.
Stay out of Italy too. And Spain. And Australia. Probably lots of other places.

Edited
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I don’t think most Irish people would regularly use the sort of language pp mentioned (oh for fucks sake’, ‘jesus christ’, ‘bloody hell’, ‘c*nt’, ‘wanker’ or any other expletive) when in a meeting with their boss actually? Nobody I know does anyway. Quite a bit more professional than that.

treesandsun · 08/02/2025 23:55

MudpiesinEssex · 08/02/2025 15:03

It's not even as if you shouted "Jesus fucking Christ and all the cunts of Hell!" is it?

That's only for when you're really surprised.

Burntt · 08/02/2025 23:31

I think what's most offensive is that it's ok to take the pods out of the Christian lord this way but not any other. None of it is ok. I can accept it slips out and not get offended so long as a person isn't trying to offend. But the effort not to offend a Christian is minimal compared to trying not to offend other religions. All faiths and those without faith deserve respect and not to be intentionally offended

Funnywonder · 08/02/2025 23:24

We are very fond of our Jeee-sus/Jesus Christ/Holy God/Sweet Holy Jeez type exclamations in NI. I am an atheist and use all of these frequently. But I would never, ever use any of them in a professional setting. I seem to be able to catch myself on, as we like to say here, when it comes to the very real prospect of pissing people off. Some phraseology doesn't belong in the workplace. I don't think it SHOULD be a massive deal. It just is sometimes.

Moonmelodies · 08/02/2025 23:10

CurlewKate · 08/02/2025 21:31

And as to why it's offensive to some, it's "taking the Lord's name in vain" which is breaking one of the 10 Commandments. Which some Christians would not want to hear.

Can't you forgive them?

HungerGames · 08/02/2025 23:06

InterIgnis · 08/02/2025 15:56

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

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Exactly. I'm am Irish lapsed Catholic, and say 'please God' all the time, as it's just a turn of phrase really. Likewise I say Jesus christ oh my god, mother of God, holy God, Jesus Mary and Joseph, and so on many times a day without at thought. Including at work. No-one bats an eye. They are the leftovers of a formerly religious country.

HipMax · 08/02/2025 23:04

MajorCarolDanvers · 08/02/2025 22:21

My Christian husband would be very offended by you saying that.

And?

(Also, how does he cope with daily life if he's terribly offended by such a commonplace phrase)

Patterncarmen · 08/02/2025 22:46

Moier · 08/02/2025 22:39

My Dad wasn't particularly religious but that's one thing he would pull us up on.
I don't like it either.
Nor do l like " Oh my God".
I say " oh my gosh".
( I'm religious).

Gosh (gosh) is a euphemistic alterations of the word God or, in the case of gee, Jesus. Its usage originated in about 1750. Strictly, you are still taking God’s name in vain. I guess you could say Oh bother instead.

Moier · 08/02/2025 22:39

My Dad wasn't particularly religious but that's one thing he would pull us up on.
I don't like it either.
Nor do l like " Oh my God".
I say " oh my gosh".
( I'm religious).

LovelySunnyDayToday · 08/02/2025 22:37

Pollyanna87 · 08/02/2025 15:05

Blasphemous language is the most offensive language you can use around colleagues.

I'm sure there's more offensive things one could say.

LovelySunnyDayToday · 08/02/2025 22:36

MudpiesinEssex · 08/02/2025 15:03

It's not even as if you shouted "Jesus fucking Christ and all the cunts of Hell!" is it?

🤣🤣🤣

AubernFable · 08/02/2025 22:30

CurlewKate · 08/02/2025 21:31

And as to why it's offensive to some, it's "taking the Lord's name in vain" which is breaking one of the 10 Commandments. Which some Christians would not want to hear.

The issue with this is it’s only christians that are expected to follow the 10 commandments, not the rest of the population. You can’t expect atheists and those of other faiths to follow your religious teachings as not to offend- thats unreasonable.

I can understand you would not say it, or even like to hear it and thats fine but other people saying it is honestly not your problem. At school they would’ve said “That’s between them and god”.

MajorCarolDanvers · 08/02/2025 22:21

My Christian husband would be very offended by you saying that.

SuzieQ300 · 08/02/2025 22:10

Reminds me of that Life of Brian sketch :)

HipMax · 08/02/2025 22:04

Tryingtokeepgoing · 08/02/2025 20:18

I’m not in the slightest bit religious, but it’s clear to me that any expletive in a professional setting is unprofessional, and us such surely one ought to expect to be pulled up on it, regardless of whether or not anyone is personally offended. No one really goes round saying ‘oh for fucks sake’, ‘jesus christ’, ‘bloody hell’, ‘c*nt’, ‘wanker’ or any other expletive in meetings do they? A building site, maybe. A garage, perhaps. On a sports field, almost certainly. Between colleagues, in private, occasionally. But in a group meeting at work?

Show quote history

Yes, we absolutely completely do. Daily. Hourly.
Please do not come to Ireland if you don't like it. It's our culture and we'll be very offended if you complain about it.
Stay out of Italy too. And Spain. And Australia. Probably lots of other places.