Using God/Christ in negative threads

[Tigertalk]

Hi all, I’m a long time mumsnetter but finding it hard to read constant threads (as a Christian) that use phrases starting with ‘ for G*d’s sake ( insert some nasty phrase about something) . We don’t accept racist or phobic language so why is it okay to use God, Jesus, Christ etc in these contexts? It’s really uncomfortable to read constantly 🙁

As a fellow Christian, I take your point but these phrases are ingrained in the vernacular and it's fashionable to be rude about religion. So I don't think you will get very far. Maybe this is one of the areas where we hold ourselves to higher standards than we expect of those who don't know the reason why we have those standards? Tbh I am a newish Christian and I find myself using 'Oh __' from time to time and have to stop myself. It's part of everyday language - the Bible does say we will be counter cultural...

The worst one is Jesus Christ with the word ‘fucking’ inserted in the middle.
Really offensive imo.

Um.. How does saying for God Sakes compare to racist and phobic language?

God doesn’t necessarily mean your god. It could mean Thor for example. When I say god, it is nondenominational. 😈

I’m a Christian, but I haven’t been a Christian all my life. I find it really hard not to say ‘for gods sake!’. I’m working on it.
You are right though, it’s an every day phrase but we wouldn’t say ‘For allahs sake’ as a exacerbated phrase or ‘ah Ganesh’ as a Jesus Christ type phrase!
People don’t mean offence by it though, they’re not actually having a go at Jesus (I don’t think)
On balance you’re right, but I think we need to try and not get too worked up about it.

I find it a bit uncomfortable to read too but I wouldn't do anything about it. I do tell my DC off if I hear them say it in our house but am fairly sure one of my DC uses it outwith my hearing. I think it is so ingrained in society that people don't recognise that it makes some people feel uncomfortable.

@phoenixrosehere

Um.. How does saying for God Sakes compare to racist and phobic language?

This.

There are lots of things on here that make me uncomfortable, that's ok.

I was also going to ask how it compares to racism or homophobia.

Anyhow, good luck with getting it stopped, people have been using similar terms for hundreds of years so I can't imagine that it's going to change anytime soon.

Which god are you taking about OP?

@phoenixrosehere

Um.. How does saying for God Sakes compare to racist and phobic language?

This.

Is a 'blimey' allowed? (God blind me)

You might want to give Line of Duty a miss!

@Orf1abc

You might want to give Line of Duty a miss!

That poor little donkey

I do like Line of Duty but admit I don't like that particular line

Lots of people don’t realise that people may find it offensive
I had to ask a new member of staff to stop saying “oh my god”
We work with children and it’s not acceptable for staff to be saying it
She didn’t realise there was anything wrong with it- she is Muslim and from Bangladesh

I'm a Christian- it's not even close to racist or homophobic language. It's shockingly offensive you've compared the two.

Totally with you @Tigertalk

Is 'good lord' allowed?

@SprayedWithDettol

God doesn’t necessarily mean your god. It could mean Thor for example. When I say god, it is nondenominational. 😈

You do know that god isn't exclusive to the Christian religion, don't you, OP?

Is fucking hell allowed?

Do you want mumsnet to stop using those words then?

Does it bother 'recent Christians' more than those of us brought up from babyhood as Christians, I wonder?

I had a religious upbringing, focused very much around church, faith and good deeds, and I haven't got a problem with people expostulating 'god' & 'jesus'.

I've got more of a problem with any attempts to curtail freedom of expression, and with the chilling effect of deeming things that offend one to be 'phobic' or 'non-crime hate incidents'.

There's too much censorship and thought-policing, especially of women. Personally I think we don't need more, on a website mainly for women.

@wildeverose

I'm a Christian- it's not even close to racist or homophobic language. It's shockingly offensive you've compared the two.

Totally agree.