To wonder if Jesus Christ is swearing

^I agree with both your last two posts as well. We are called to tell the truth in love. But we do need to be very aware of we ourselves fall short. I believe this is what is meant by ‘do not judge’.

She does say we can’t judge others though - I read the next bit not as negating that but being an observation.

I mean I did make a very similar point to someone else up thread, so I agree in principle with what you’re saying, but I thought it was fair to point out that she does concede she shouldn’t be judging.

It's a fascinating history.

Christianity in Ireland was a very different beast to christianity in many other cultures. Because of our polytheistic culture and the way in which the deities were woven into every day life, imposing a single god was never going to catch on. So loads of the gods/goddesses were converted in to saints, St Brigid being the most famous of these. She was a triple deity and was a major part of Irish life. St Brigid's day lines up with Imbolc, the pagan Spring festival. Holy wells, mountains etc became associated with saints rather than the original goddess/god.

The Tuatha Dé Danann became the Aos Sí (fairies). Associated piseogs (superstitions) carried on in to modern times. For example, it was disastrous to cut down a solitary hawthorn tree as it is believed to be a direct gateway to the Otherworld and the property of the Aos Sí. Even today, people would be reluctant to cut one down just in case. There is actually a kink in one of our motorways built this century that was done to avoid cutting down a hawthorn.

The Bible is full of advice to use discernment and wisdom. Using good judgement is a crucial part of Christian living. I make judgements all day. Should I bring an umbrella? Will I eat now or on the train? Should I tell this person about a personal problem I am having? It isn't possible to get through life without judging.

The main passage you are probably referring to means that I can't judge you for saying Jesus Christ and then go and say it myself. Jesus himself said 'you will know them by their fruit'; Christians absolutely can make judgements about whether they deem something is right or wrong, and about whether someone is doing something right or wrong. We cannot condemn them. We can pray for them, care for them, bless them (or should).

A Christian attitude is conforming oneself to the image of Christ and striving to be more like him. Sometimes discrete judgement is required for that. Speaking the truth in love is also commanded in the Bible and how can you discern the truth if you never judge anything or anyone's actions? We all judge because if we didn't we would all be in trouble; we would be running across busy roads, trusting the wrong people with our lives and happily letting our friends wander into terrible decisions.

Nah, sorry. If a person can’t get to the end of the sentence without a “but”, they are not sincere. It’s just being sanctimonious.

I’ve liked some of your posts in this thread but if you start your replies with “nah!” that doesn’t make your argument more convincing.

It’s almost as bad as when people start their posts with “WRONG!” as though that’s going to impress anyone.

Would you class 'For god's sake!' as swearing too? And why is it offensive? I really don't understand why people take offense at these things. I think any deity would be big enough to just shrug it off.

Fair point and not my normal style of writing. I’m currently half watching a gritty tv show that has obviously influenced my style.

If you wouldn't call your child a swear word, why would you be ok with someone else using their name as a swear word?

Ok. Maybe let him who is without sin etc would have been a better choice of quote.

There is a big difference between judging others and making a judgement. The problem with an awful lot of devout christians is they are ridiculously judgemental of others. I have met an occasional one who actually lives what I would consider to be a Christian life but most I have encountered seem to measure their devotion by the degree to which they see themselves as better than others.

Yes I would. A lot of people do believe in God and in many religions God does care very much about respecting his name. It's unnecessary.

I don't expect non-religious people to care, but I do internally wince when I hear it, and know many people who feel the same. Plus I don't think you have to be religious to think it's not something to encourage children to say.

See also: "Blimey" (as in, you are asking God to blind you).

I don't think it is. I know some people think it's blasphemy but I think the idea of blasphemy is outdated.

Because I exclaimed OH JESUS CHRIST in frustration today on the school run. Not my finest moment and I will admit that; it had not been a good morning, lots of stress here and my younger child nearly tipped me over the edge demanding to be carried and blocking everyone’s way on the very narrow pavement, picked her up, dropped everything else I was carrying and said the above.

We have had a message about bad language in front of the children and I feel like it’s aimed at me.

wondering what MNetters think?

Yes I would. A lot of people do believe in God and in many religions God does care very much about respecting his name. It's unnecessary.

I don't expect non-religious people to care, but I do internally wince when I hear it, and know many people who feel the same. Plus I don't think you have to be religious to think it's not something to encourage children to say.

See also: "Blimey" (as in, you are asking God to blind you).

@UniquePinkSwan

What makes contemporary pagan religions - such as Modern Druidry, Wicca, modern Celtic Paganism, modern Hellenic Paganism, modern Kemetic Paganism, etc - offensive to you? What is it about these particular religions that you find offensive?

Good morning. If I am honest, I was being a little pedantic because, as I said upthread, I do get a little annoyed when people talking about not judging others etc when a Christian makes a statement about something they believe to be true. We are to show grace to eachother in every context.

Yesterday somebody did something that really upset my little girl. It was buzzing around in my head all evening and I think it affected how I responded to you. And I know that many times, people do things because of some kind of hurt inside. Anyway I'm sorry if I cane across like O was lecturing.

In my original post I was trying to get my head around why someone would claim to be a Christian and not have a problem with saying 'Jesus Christ' because its something I have wondered for a long time. I wouldn't ask someone outright for many reasons and was just explaining my reasoning in thinking what I did. I just want to clarify that because actually I don't like when Christians condemn others flippantly.

Because it isn't a swear word!!! Do you really need this explained? Its like when someone says 'shut the front door ' , is that swearing to you?

It isn't like saying shut the door.

If everyone started using a particular common name in the same way as Jesus Christ, in place of a swear word, people with that name would care and I bet it'd fall out of use. Just like Karen, Fanny and Dick. I feel very strongly against the modern use of Karen too and although it's not a swear word being used as an insult is bad enough.

I'd hate my name to be used like that.

Good morning. If I am honest, I was being a little pedantic because, as I said upthread, I do get a little annoyed when people talking about not judging others etc when a Christian makes a statement about something they believe to be true. We are to show grace to eachother in every context.

Yesterday somebody did something that really upset my little girl. It was buzzing around in my head all evening and I think it affected how I responded to you. And I know that many times, people do things because of some kind of hurt inside. Anyway I'm sorry if I cane across like O was lecturing.

In my original post I was trying to get my head around why someone would claim to be a Christian and not have a problem with saying 'Jesus Christ' because its something I have wondered for a long time. I wouldn't ask someone outright for many reasons and was just explaining my reasoning in thinking what I did. I just want to clarify that because actually I don't like when Christians condemn others flippantly.

I hope your little girl is feeling better. As a parent, there is nothing worse than seeing them upset.

I’m an atheist but was brought up catholic so while I can’t personally answer why a devout Christian would happily use the term Jesus Christ etc in a way that seems flippant/irreverent to you. However, I did mention upthread that Christianity in Ireland evolved from our polytheistic history where gods and goddesses were entwined in daily life. Language and social norms have also evolved based on this. In the irish language, god and saints are evoked regularly as part of the language For example, “god be with you” is the direct translation of the phrase used for hello. These obviously carried over in to English. You have statues/pictures scattered around the house/local area that people engage with so they become a part of everyday life and so evoking them in anger/shock etc is normalised.

Basically, the relationship many Irish people have with their religion, gods, saints is quite different to the relationship other Christians have with their. It doesn’t make them less devout.

I find cults offensive

There is also debate about some expressions in the original Greek and Aramaic. For example, in Philippians 3:8, the Apostle Paul (not Jesus) uses the Greek word skubalon, which some scholars argue is a rather crude term meaning "rubbish," "dung," or something stronger. But this is Paul, not Jesus.