Boss told me off for exclaiming Jesus Christ

Actually, being a professional adult is about knowing people are going to say things you don't like and just...not doing anything. You're offended by an extremely common phrase? Ok, it's your right to be offended. But be a professional adult and be offended in your own head, on your own time. You can have whatever thoughts you want and just....not voice them.

It's not even very hard.

But the issue wasn’t so much the meeting but the use of the phrase which presumably was banned in the meeting and in the wider office

the question is essentially should the phrase be banned?

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.

@Drfosters "I don’t think anyone would use them in a formal meeting (but not unheard of I expect) "

But that is exactly the context the OP is talking about-at a meeting!

Exactly! In an international context particularly but also in general, communication needs to be clear. Using local idioms, slang or jargon just introduces a risk of miscommunication. I can imagine some cultures interpreting the phrase ‘jesus christ’ as a superlative not a pejorative or emphasising phrase, thus having exactly the opposite effect to that the speaker intended.

on a daily basis I evoke Jesus

my favourite saying is from Pam e la from gavin and Stacey “ oh my christ !” Sums up my life perfectly

for me its calling him to be by my side and not in any way insulting him or Christians

however, I have recently learnt that some fundamentalists are offended by this exclamation and would not use it in unfamiliar surroundings

end of the day he’s told you off and is your boss so while he’s a bit of a knob I’d rein in your outrageous potty mouth 😄

Exactly! I swear like a trooper, personally, but this is about professionalism and a specific business setting.

Seeing as the OP specifically mentioned being called up on the use of it a meeting, that’s the context of my comments. You might be shifting that to more general use, but I expect that it’s in the context of the original post that most people are questioning the appropriateness of the phrase. Regardless, I’ve never thought or said that it’s offensive, I just think it’s unprofessional and would fully expect to be pulled up on it if used in a meeting :)

We are talking about in a workplace setting specifically though. And I've explained already that some words do function as expletives historically and culturally. I'm not sure why you're finding that hard to understand. Most languages, as I say, do have "taboo" words that are used as expletives.

And you appear to acknowledge that yes, even in your workplace most people DO actually have a boundary about what is appropriate and what isn't in whichever setting - you differentiated between muttering under their breath, say, and what they'd say in a business meeting.

In the UK, we are generally much swearier as a rule than most of our international counterparts. In my most recent corporate world, we dealt with a lot of US colleagues, for whom "cursing" is generally seen as more offensive - especially the religious type, as it's a more religious country. To say the wrong thing to the wrong person could be genuinely detrimental to good business relationships. That is why it is sensible and considered good etiquette to keep things neutral and professional. Not just in terms of use or not of expletives, but it's why the "no politics, no religion" maxim in the office is usually a good one. As I say, in diverse workplaces where people are a range of backgrounds, ages, belief systems, you simply cannot assume that everyone sees things the same way you do and cares and doesn't care about the same things. That's part of what being a professional adult is about.

Next time just play it safe and say "fuck me!".

Why does anyone have the right to use any words?

Why do you think you have the right TO use it?

Usually people swear at their desks muttering under their breath at something that has gone wrong- happens a lot. I don’t think anyone would use them in a formal meeting (but not unheard of I expect) . I don’t recall saying that that happens. You have described the exact scenario I described.

I absolutely would change my words if someone can explain why they are offensive and so far no one had. Just saying it is offensive just doesn’t mean it is. as I said previously my grandmother found the word ‘knackered’ the most offensive of words. If you uttered it you got a severe telling off. I found this odd as I used it to mean very tired but she attributed a different meaning to it. If she was in an office would she have had to right to tell you not to use it?

As I say, maybe I’m getting old. I’d put ‘jesus christ’ (which I wouldn’t capitalise…) and ‘for fucks sake’ in the same category of phrase that I’d happily use day to day and 121 to emphasise a point, but not in a professional ‘group’ capacity. But then I am over 50, so for the last 15/20 years my experience is really only in international, corporate boardrooms where I didn’t hear or use that sort of language. Perhaps Boards are more articulate ;)

Again, this isn't difficult. Nobody is obliged to give you an explanation so I'm not sure why you appear to feel so self righteous about your demand to have one.

Why is any "expletive' seen as offensive? They are words (most languages have them) which are used in that way and have historically or culturally been so. Usually, expletives are to do with bodily functions or body parts, or to do with religion/blasphemy - they are meant to be taboo or offensive in some way or have been in the past. That's their purpose, language-wise.

Look, I have family members who I have never, EVER heard utter the word "bloody" even. Or "damn." And many of them are not remotely religious. They don't "do" swearing of any intensity or level. Many generations, especially before mine (I'm Gen X) were brought up with the idea that swearing of any kind is an ill-mannered, unintelligent thing to do, or that "people swear when they have little in the way of vocabulary".

Perhaps you just have poor manners as do the people around you in your workplace, or its not a particularly diverse one in terms of mix of people, different ages, and backgrounds (after all, diversity isn't just about one group it's about a mix of people in general)? It would have been frowned on in work meetings in most of my corporate jobs - doesn't mean people didn't say it outside of that or in private conversations. That swearing's been normalised in later generations and people don't see any boundary there kind of removes its "power" in a way. I'm not sure that's a good thing. And as I say, it's not generally considered a professional one in most workplaces. It's not about whether YOU consider it an expletive or not. It's not about you. Plenty of people still do. That's the whole point being made. Nobody has to explain to you why.

Please see my explanation above.

@Tryingtokeepgoing I don’t consider ‘Jesus Christ’ to be an expletive- neither do many people on this thread. I have used it- other people have even at work. I don’t think anything of it. Just saying it is offensive doesn’t make it so. I want a detailed explanation as to what specifically causes the offence. No one has provided it

and for the record ‘bloody hell’ is thrown about like confetti at my work with the occasional FFS. I work in a corporate office.

I am a Christian and I don’t like to hear The Lord’s name being taken in vain but I don’t take offence when someone does this. I understand that people get into habits that are hard to change, particularly when shocked by something. My mother was confirmed when she was 58, and because the other candidates were all young teenagers the vicar offered to give her private confirmation classes. One evening this was the topic, they had a long discussion about it. Afterwards, over a coffee, they were just chatting and he told her about something that had happened to him that week. To her horror she heard herself say “Oh God, no” . The vicar, (very politely) didn’t notice! I’m sure that from now on you will be more aware, but if you slip, forgive yourself!

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?

I really have to explain why using the name as a deity as a swear word is offensive?

It’s really not rocket science. Saying swear words as an exclamation words is meant to be offensive. Turning the name of a dirty into a swear word is offensive.

Why is the word sh1t offensive? Why is the F word offensive? Why is the C word mega offensive?

if you want to totally rationalise it no word of itself should be offensive. They are words with meanings. But society has deemed them offensive, and moreover the way they are said is offensive.

Using the name of a deity is more offensive because to the believer it’s a name that is divine, and to be revered. Mutating that to a swear word is offensive.

You don’t have to believe in anything to be a decent and kind person and not insult someone else’s faith to their face.

I don't like swearing or blasphemy of any kind, but of course I'm used to hearing it. I don't swear myself apart from the odd bloody, and I don't blaspheme at all, with regard to any religion.

I don't force my views on anyone else but I don't like it in my house and I don't think it's at all professional in the workplace. My previous boss (a very nice woman) used to swear like a trooper, really badly. I didn't think it was at all professional but I still liked her.

This isn't difficult. It's about general etiquette and what it's appropriate to say at work and what isn't.

I am not a Christian or remotely religious. I am generally quite sweary. I say "Jesus Christ!" all the time, which for me, in my personal life and with friends, is a mild expletive.

But I don't do it at work or in front of certain family members. Why? Because I know that others DO or may find it offensive. It doesn't matter that I don't personally. I really feel no need to quiz or hound others on why they find it offensive either, or to prove how inferior I think they are to me for having religious beliefs I don't share, I just know they find it objectionable. It costs me precisely nothing to restrain myself from using that phrase and others I'd say in private in a work environment.

You're at work to be professional and that means being polite to those around you. Making exclamations that others may or do find offensive or objectionable in a work setting isn't professional. It's rude and shows poor etiquette. Which I assume is what your manager was getting at.

I’d have told you off too

It’s very offensive