To wonder if Jesus Christ is swearing

I'm a Christian and it makes me feel very sad if I hear it. I think it's unnecessary and there are other words to use if you need to. I do swear sometimes mainly at other drivers.

Imagine he’s swearing and saying ‘after all I did for you!!!’

I am a Christian and hardly any of my close friends are. My husband is atheist. Everyone swears around me and it doesn't bother me but 'Jesus Christ' used in place of a swear word gives me a horrible nails down a blackboard feeling. I don't police other people's language but I did ask my husband to stop with the 'Jesus Christ' and he did. The other stuff doesn't bother me, even though I don't swear myself. I don't expect anyone to really care about my feelings on it one way or another, but I do have a very unpleasant, visceral reaction when I hear it.

I mean. I'd probably try to keep that for at home. But if it slipped out on the school run I'd just laugh and apologise. Then forget all about it

I used to be Catholic too and all my family is Catholic and everyone in my very large Catholic circle (including myself) had no problem saying 'Jesus Christ' in place of a swear word. I cannot speak for anyone else but I just didn't love Jesus and I was only really culturally Catholic. Now I do love Jesus (and I can only imagine the eye rolling of some mumsnetters reading this!) and Its because I love him and respect him far too much to ever say it. It just feels so disrespectful. Not saying you are like this by the way, just the Catholic comment struck a chord with me.

Also Jesus wept. Jesus Mary and Joseph! Holy Mother Of God. Jesus and the divine heart of God. And many other staples if my Irish childhood.

I'm atheist and it doesn't bother me in the slightest as the words are meaningless to me personally. However, I accept that it feels disrespectful to many Christians, so I don't think it's the kind of thing that should be said unless you're very sure that your audience won't be offended.

In front of children outside a Christian primary school... not appropriate.

ETA I agree that it's blasphemy rather than swearing. Though I couldn't really care less about either!

I can see why people might feel as if it's targeted, but I think the use of Christian blasphemy in particular is just a natural result of being a historically and culturally Christian country. Having grown up in a culturally Christian environment surely it makes sense that we use Christian terms? I wouldn't name Hindu, Jain, or Shinto religious figures in the same way because I'm not nearly as familiar with them.

Anecdotally, I've read from Muslims that in Muslim countries people tend to say "ya Allah" in a similar way as we say "oh my God" in Britain; to express shock, frustration, excitement, etc. In other historically Christian countries people usually use some equivalent of "oh God" or "my God" as an exclamation in their relevant languages too, such as "dios mio," "mon dieu", "o boże", or "о боже". The Quebecois are particularly well known for it, in fact!

Either way, I can see why the school consider it inappropriate even if it wouldn't bother me. At the same time, I wouldn't worry about it beyond trying to be more careful in future.

Don't be silly - it's very obviously all about the context and intention. The commandment says not to take it in vain; when talking sincerely about Jesus or praying, of course they say his name.

The name is very precious to (devout) Christians. Imagine if you started hearing people randomly shouting "Patricia Thompson!" (if that were your DM's name) every time they were shocked, surprised or angry... would you genuinely not find that at least a little bit unpleasant and unnerving; especially if they mixed in a few swear words for good measure as well, or even just added 'on a bike' or similar?

Obviously, if you bumped into an old friend or neighbour of your DM's from way back and they said "You're Patricia Thompson's daughter, aren't you? How is Patricia keeping these days?", of course that's a perfectly normal, entirely non-offensive and proper use of the name.

It's already been touched on in this thread, but it's disingenuous and somewhat faux-naive to claim to be surprised that it will cause offence. Even though you probably wouldn't instinctively do so, you would know 100% that you would never dare to angrily shout the name of the Muslim Prophet when something bad happened to you, never mind asking "Really, is that offensive?!" afterwards.

well put, I agree with this

weird how there’s power in his name even when said in anger by those that don’t believe. I mean, why do people say it at times of distress and anger.

That doesn't really make any difference, considering that the musical itself is considered blasphemous by a great many devout Christians.

Even apart from the controversial content, whilst most people would probably be quite chuffed to be called a 'superstar', it's clearly a frivolous huge downgrading of somebody who is considered a Deity.

That Patricia story is one of the most ridiculous analogies I’ve ever heard.

And the notion that people wouldn’t dare use a prophet/god name from another religion is a totally false equivalence given most of us here have grown up in a nominally Christian country so would obviously use terms we’re familiar with.

Not by everyone.

Interesting - I've always taken "swearing" to be an umbrella term that includes profanity, obscenity and blasphemy

and of course if you take the strict pedantic definition of "swearing by" as noted above then it definitely is. It's an oath, like zounds! or by jove!

incidentally, when I read the thread title I immediately added mentally "...swearing in the streets" - anyone else? no? just me then (sorry John Bell)

You see it’s not just me who thinks that’s how you soften it! 😂

It’s blasphemy and very disrespectful to Christians as it is very upsetting to hear our Lord’s name used like that. I think swearing is the intention not necessarily the word itself . So yes I would consider it swearing - I would much rather people used actual swear words than God’s name .
I don’t hear holy names from other religions used as swear words. So why ours?

Presumably it's ridiculous to you as you aren't a devout Christian - so it's unsurprising that you wouldn't make the link. Whether people believe it or not, surely many in a culturally/historically Christian country will be aware that God is referred to as a Father to believers in the Bible?

I did specifically say exactly what you just said: that most people in a nominally Christian country wouldn't instinctively think to invoke a sacred name from a different faith; but the key word in what I said was DARE. If somebody specifically asked you to shout that name out in public, would you nonchalantly comply, reasoning that it was essentially no different from shouting the name of Jesus Christ, and thus 'not offensive at all'?

What would Jesus say?

Get those fucking tables out of here!!

That’s quite funny because I know a fair number of devout Christians who love the musical! Include a vicar!

When we were kids (I was brought up Catholic) I remember that we even sang a song from it in church…

What I mean though is that then you’re saying the name of the musical instead - but maybe if people are very sensitive they will get offended whatever.

Most likely!

Tbh what people forget about Jesus is that a big part of what he stood for was not having great lists of rules for no reasons or calling everything blasphemy.

I doubt he’d give a shiny shit about people saying his name tbh - he’s not Voldemort!

Fair enough - I take your point. I know it's not universally considered blasphemous by believers, and a lot have no issue with it... and indeed enjoy it.

oh my love, you have my sympathy. yeah,round here is better impressed you didn't say fuck, but in a faith school blasphemy is basically fuckyfuckfuckfuck.

don't worry about it, it was an extreme moment of stress, there was no lightening, only parental judgement.

I can't believe someone tattled on you

Our vicar is very keen to let us know that she doesn't like anyone taking the Lord's name in vain, but she did use the expression 'shit happens' in a sermon recently. The kids were out at Sunday school though 🤣

I happily swear like a sailor, but I don't blaspheme (clergy sibling hates it). I'm always astounded when I hear the unexpurgated version of 'murder on the dance floor' in Tesco, but it's all about what grates our own ears.