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:
Drfosters · 08/02/2025 20:10

AgnesX · 08/02/2025 20:02

Sorry, I really wouldn't have. Granted I'm older but there's still a lot of Christians who would have been offended. They're every bit as important as other religions.

There are so many other expressions. DH does Goodness... mine is good grief!

What causes the offence?

LittleBearPad · 08/02/2025 20:08

SwedishEdith · 08/02/2025 18:43

I'd object to the "Guys" bit.

Show quote history

I’d object to the threat of violence.

That’s really not ok.

AgnesX · 08/02/2025 20:02

Sorry, I really wouldn't have. Granted I'm older but there's still a lot of Christians who would have been offended. They're every bit as important as other religions.

There are so many other expressions. DH does Goodness... mine is good grief!

YourAzureEagle · 08/02/2025 19:45

TuesdayRubies · 08/02/2025 14:59

Imagine getting offended by blasphemy in this day and age 🤣

Round here there are several large companies owned by Plymouth Brethren families, I worked for one of them in my student days, great times, but you'd be fired for blasphemy in an instant.

TheThreeMiracles · 08/02/2025 19:35

I don't like it personally

InterIgnis · 08/02/2025 19:34

RandomButtons · 08/02/2025 18:32

Of course it’s offensive. It’s literally used to be offensive.

Just choose a swear word that doesn’t insult other’s beliefs next time.

You’d never say a Hindu deity or Muslim prophet name like this.

In counties where Islam is the predominant religion, or has had significant influence, people would and do exactly that. My own country of origin included.

Drfosters · 08/02/2025 19:33

Drfosters · 08/02/2025 18:38

I’m getting bored of asking this but specifically and with detail - how does it insult your personal beliefs? How does it affect your relationship with god hearing someone else use the words?

Show quote history

@RandomButtons can you answer? I’m really interested to know the answer. I keep posing the question and no one answers.

I honestly now believe it isn’t actually insulting. It is just now become part of the ‘it’s offensive’ hyperbole that goes around these days without any backing. Just the words ‘it’s offensive’ are used to control people’s words and thoughts.

SquashedSquid · 08/02/2025 19:28

I'm afraid I have absolutely no respect for grown adults who believe in deities and I won't be moderating my language to please them.

Pickled21 · 08/02/2025 19:08

I think the time to say something has been missed. You clearly didn't mean to offended anyone but use it as a phrase. Some people use it so commonly, in such a way that it's become watered down and you've already said you are christian and by using it, don't find it offensive yourself. However others will and it won't do you any harm to be mindful. Your boss could have just said that it's inappropriate to say in a workplace setting as some people would find it upsetting and leave if at that.

Some posters keep banging on about how you wouldn't speak of another Hindu deity or muslim prophet in this way, ignoring the fact that Muslims do consider Jesus a prophet and it's a completely different argument as the op doesn't belong to either of those religions anyway.

I do say things like, 'oh God, what is it now?', 'good god, god give me strength, heaven help me' but at home, usually in the school holidays.

Oblomov25 · 08/02/2025 19:08

I don't think it's that bad in the list of blasphemy order, worst to just about tolerable.

nationalsausagefund · 08/02/2025 19:06

ItsFineReally · 08/02/2025 18:24

I don't know, my colleagues seem to be more offended when I call them cunts.

Show quote history

I once told a colleague he had an Oedipus complex. (I was quite young and stupid. But in my further defence, he also had an Oedipus complex.)

CurlewKate · 08/02/2025 18:57

@HipMax "You can not like it all you want. You have no basis to say anything to anyone who works with you though, and you'd want to be careful."

As a manager, I could tell my team to conduct themselves professionally in meetings.

SwedishEdith · 08/02/2025 18:46

RandomButtons · 08/02/2025 18:32

Of course it’s offensive. It’s literally used to be offensive.

Just choose a swear word that doesn’t insult other’s beliefs next time.

You’d never say a Hindu deity or Muslim prophet name like this.

I thought Jesus was a Muslim prophet. And it's not being used to "be offensive". It's an exclamation of frustration/shock/whatever. It's not all about you.

StMarie4me · 08/02/2025 18:45

TuesdayRubies · 08/02/2025 14:59

Imagine getting offended by blasphemy in this day and age 🤣

Why is it funny?

StMarie4me · 08/02/2025 18:45

I would never use that as an expletive at work. That's totally inappropriate.

SwedishEdith · 08/02/2025 18:43

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

I'd object to the "Guys" bit.

Drfosters · 08/02/2025 18:38

RandomButtons · 08/02/2025 18:32

Of course it’s offensive. It’s literally used to be offensive.

Just choose a swear word that doesn’t insult other’s beliefs next time.

You’d never say a Hindu deity or Muslim prophet name like this.

I’m getting bored of asking this but specifically and with detail - how does it insult your personal beliefs? How does it affect your relationship with god hearing someone else use the words?

SerendipityJane · 08/02/2025 18:38

Rizzla · 08/02/2025 18:35

Well it should be. If you love Jesus and take his word seriously.

Show quote history

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turning_the_other_cheek

Turning the other cheek - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turning_the_other_cheek

Fountofwisdom · 08/02/2025 18:36

It’s unprofessional in a work meeting, the same way swearing would be. It’s not appropriate language in a formal
setting and is blasphemy to Christians.

Rizzla · 08/02/2025 18:35

TheBoots · 08/02/2025 18:09

No it's not for most of us.

Show quote history

Well it should be. If you love Jesus and take his word seriously.

Anytimeisfine · 08/02/2025 18:35

Of course it’s offensive. It’s literally used to be offensive.

Not usually, no.

RandomButtons · 08/02/2025 18:32

Of course it’s offensive. It’s literally used to be offensive.

Just choose a swear word that doesn’t insult other’s beliefs next time.

You’d never say a Hindu deity or Muslim prophet name like this.

Drfosters · 08/02/2025 18:27

beeloubee · 08/02/2025 18:25

As a Christian, I wouldn't want to hear that either.

Why?

beeloubee · 08/02/2025 18:25

As a Christian, I wouldn't want to hear that either.

ItsFineReally · 08/02/2025 18:24

Pollyanna87 · 08/02/2025 15:05

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

I don't know, my colleagues seem to be more offended when I call them cunts.

Swipe left for the next trending thread