*I can stand when people blaspheme and say Ch*** as if its a swear word*

[Serendipity30]

I can stand when people blaspheme and say Ch* as if its a swear word do people think its cool?? People say they are tolerant of peoples faith but situations like that make me wonder I literally wince when people say it. I refuse to believe I ABU

iaint - i have never come across a more patronising poster. Who do you think you are, ordering people to bed, telling them they're on the 'wrong thread' when they are just trying to put their point? You come across as incredibly stubborn and childish.

You can believe whatever you want to believe: you can believe in god, fairies, or the easter bunny. You're entitled to believe whatever you want, but there's no reason why other people should pussyfoot around you, watching what they say. What makes you and your fellow believers so special? You have chosen to believe in an invisible 'deity' and you're perfectly entitled to, but you're not entitled to censor people's speech because you are 'offended'.

"a bit pompous and arsey on an anonymous forum."

Hmm, I'd prefer opinionated and refusing to be the doormat some seem to hope for, but hey, you're entitled to your opinion :o

"Religions as a whole however have done heaps to make me feel angry, sick and disgusted with humanity."

I think you'll find a lot of us who have a faith are equally disappointed at what has been done in the name of a God we believe represents love and compassion.

I probably use Christian swear words where I wouldn't dream of using offensive words of other religions. If that makes sense.

I'll say Christ on a bike, OMFG, etc etc., and I feel that I have some ownership and right to do so, seeing as I was brought up within the Christian religion without any choice, made to sing and pray at school (which I found offensive) and generally been given no respect for the fact I may not be a believer.

I do actually respect Christians, and if in the company of someone I know to be Christian will be more careful with my language and general demonic behaviour, but I also feel I have a certain ownership of Christianity, and certain sweariness.

The OP (or any other Christian) is NBU to find it offensive though, but meh, there are a lot of offensive things in the world. I wouldn't go out of my way to cause offense to anyone, I would certainly actively avoid it, but I think if my very being offends someone else, they need to live with it because they are free to act differently.

I think its about balance between frothing at the offence caused and calmly accepting there's no personal offence intended, a balance between being able to say what you wish, and respecting other people as well.

But dont you have any moral issue with supporting an institution which has caused so much harm and damage?

I'd like to think that the church can be changed for the better from within, by enough people standing up for what is right, pushing for debates on equality and so on. We can't change the past but we can do our part in trying to make the church a better environment. Many Christians do want to meet together with others who share their faith, and if you disband one church there will of course be others. If the relatively liberal Christians give up on trying to improve the established church it will simply get taken over by hardline fundamentalists.

Thread round up, no thanks needed but I'm sure my 4 year olds imaginary friend 'Pongys' would appreciate your prayers.

Oh my fucking god, awww Gawwwwd, Jehovah! Jehovah!, Cherrrrrr-ist, Christ! Jesus! God!, 'Jumping Jahosafits,
FENTONNNNNNNN, Kerrrrrist, Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the wee donkey, Jesus Wept,
Jesus H Christ, Jesus H Corbett, Jesus Holy Christ, Jesus Hagrid Christ, Jesus H Christ (In homage to H from Steps), Jesus Horatio Christ, Jesus Hard Christ
Christ on a Bike, Jesus tapdancing CHRIST, Fuck me straight to hell, oh for Gods sake, Holy cunting cow'
for Gods Sake, for Christs sake (Chrissake),
Minced Oaths
darn or dang instead of damn
heck instead of hell
goodness, golly, gosh instead of God
gee, geesh, geez, geeze, or jeez instead of Jesus
oh my word instead of oh my Lord
crikey or cripes instead of Christ ??

Hope you feel better soon TheIIlusiveShadow :o

Pongy's also appreciates fighting other people with imaginary friends, fighting other people with the same imaginary name and claiming that glitter is magic dust from the world's invention.

Yabu. Jesus titty fucking christ is my personal favourite for those moments of shocked confusion. I would use another phrase if it fit the requirement, but other fictional characters dont have the same ring to it.... harry titty fucking potter? Nah...

kansas - I am sorry to break it to you but it is more my complete unwillingness to settle down and do any work that brings me to this thread, rather than my internet noodlings being signs that I tossed and turned all night in a sweaty heap of guilt and regret.

I am sad to report that when the cat did its usual flying leap onto my head at about 7am I could be heard to mutter Jesus FUCKING Christ so I apolgise to either side of my terrace house if the walls are thin and Christians are therein.

I do take the point about equal opportunity offending though. So I am going to experiment with other forms of expostulation so the Christians don't feel picked on.

Its quite hard though as KEEERRIIISST is such a satisfying word to express indignation with that lovely hard 'K' and 'T'.

Allah is too soft and gentle sounding. Not sure I know the names of any other gods.

Any suggestions welcomed.

Scarletcrossbones your mindreading skills could do with a bit of work as I think none of those things.

Bejeezus, I have no more of a moral difficulty with supporting a religious institution than I do with supporting a national one with my taxes. The bad comes with the good and I try to change the bad.

As for the original thread, I see it no different from the AIBU threads about the word cunt. As this thread progressed religious and non religious posters have expressed discomfort around blasphemy. Religious and non religious posters have stated that they are all right with it. I think it's ok to blaspheme and I think it's ok to be offended by it.

Taking offense is not the same as removing your right to offend.

My DH has a most annoying habit of saying 'Oh Loooorrd' in a despairing tone whenever he's lost something. This pisses me off because its invariably me whohas to miraculously produce the item without any divine intervention.

His other quirk is using 'Christian' to denote bad driver... unfortunately whenever I've started to open my mouth to object sure enough, there's been a fish logo on the back of the offending car.

I don't believe in god.

However, as I am tolerant enough of others to not point out that anyone who still believes in a fairytale needs to evolve a bit more, I don't expect them to tell me what to say.

Who is telling you what to say? We've just openly said we don't like it, that's all. Your choice whether to continue, of course :)

"I don't expect them to tell me what to say."

Fish logo
'Witty' stickers
Hats
Cushions
Box of tissues

All signs that one should turn round and find an alternate route.

I'm an atheist, and use religious swearwords all the time. (by all the time, I mean all those occasions when a swearword is clearly necessary, eg hitting one's thumb with a hammer - I don't pepper my everyday conversation with them).

I actually wish I didn't, because they don't rationally have any meaning to me, and so I shouldn't be getting any release of emotional tension from using them. But they are clearly deeply ingrained in me from a childhood spent in christian schools.

Kansas and Dione, I'm confused. You don't think I'm going to hell?

What is going to happen to me when I die then?

Genuine question.

Popcorn said: "It has been suggested I am being offensive to take the Lords name in vain. I have responded that those who follow the lord have done far worse things, so if anyone should be offended it is me at their actions."

Right, tell me what I've done to you and I will apologise.

Popcorn also said: OK, let's go for that then. What would you like me to apologise to you for today? Please bear in mind though, that I'm not personally responsible for everything every Christian or church has ever done

bejeezus replied to you saying: But dont you have any moral issue with supporting an institution which has caused so much harm and damage?

Popcorn, you didn?t even acknowledge bejeezus? comment, let alone admit that this might be something that is worth contemplating apologising for. I agree with Tim Minchen, in that you do have something to answer for if you defend and financially support an organisation that actively covers up a large number of sexual assaults on children. Not to mention the fact that it is completely misogynistic and discriminatory. If you have given money to and support the church, then you are part of this process.

So now you know what you have done wrong, will you apologise like you promised you would?

dido - full marks for correct use of swearing. Apparently an expletive can alleviate pain, but only if you don't habitually swear.

Ganesh on a bike, well said technodad.

Sorry, I've only read the first page of this thread and apologise if my light hearted post doesn't fit with where it is now but...

Is it U that I still audibly snigger when I think about "FENTON!"?

Scarlet, I can honestly say that I have never given any thought to what will happen to you when you die.

Technodad what makes you so sure that members of religions are not challenging the crimes and outdated attitudes that you describe?

I do not financially support the religious organization where I worship. Through my taxes I do contribute financially to a country where the government is increasingly making life difficult for women and funds violence in other countries. I also challenge these policies. Is there a difference?

Through my taxes I do contribute financially to a country ...Is there a difference?

the difference between that and financially supporting a religious organisation is that taxes are mandatory. Anyone who voluntarily supports an organisation bears some responsibility.

And yes, people within religions are trying to change them from within - perhaps they would do well to shake off all deferentiality and be a bit more vocal so that outsiders realise?

Is it U that I still audibly snigger when I think about "FENTON!"?

No. Especially not if you happen to know the same Fenton as I do

Well Dione, the first clue that members of religions are not challenging the crimes committed in the name of that religion might be er, the complete absence of any evidence that they are?

Why weren't catholics marching with big fucking banners to express their absolute disgust at the industrial scale abuse of children over many decades which was covered up and hence facilitated at very high levels in the catholic church??

Why aren't the Muslim clerics opening decrying the murder of Afghan women, the stoning of Nigerian women etc, etc. All this is done in the name of Allah and I am getting tired of Muslims I know saying 'o this isn't Islam you know, It is cultural misappropriation of the Koran'. Well, bloody say something about it then.

Happy to be proved wrong. But Mohammed on a moped, you are going to have an up hill struggle with this one.

Because religious people often do awful shitty things IN THE NAME of their God. Ergo they think not only are they right, but going to heaven because of it.