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 🙁

@seashells11
You do realise that god is not just Christian right? They don't own the rights to the word god. Many religious have a god or gods. Oh my god, for god's sake etc is part of the English vernacular. I couldn't give two shits who takes offence to that. People might be offended by the word "fuck", so should I therefore stop using it? Ridiculous.

@Blankspace101

Mumsnet is a godless place. It’s all about science here.

1. I wish.
2. I wish with knobs on.

“Mumsnet is a godless place”.
I want that on a T-shirt.

Getting upset after all atrocities christians have committed in name of god, and getting upset is rather pathetic. In recent years it's been abuse against kids and the religion has condoned it.

An as for other religions, this was a predominantly christian country that's why it's used most here, why people don't insult other religions is it can get you murdered as a lot of there followers only like tolerance one way.

And yes I do think all religions are meaningless.

Because whether god is real or not is a matter of opinion. Racism is most definitely real. And to compare the two is way more offensive than someone saying ‘Jesus fucking Christ’

I'll buy one!

I think societally we have lost sight of the fact that words, in and of themselves, are not intrinsically offensive. Infliction, context and intention of the speaker/writer is vital to measure whether something is offensive or not

I agree, amusedtodeath; however that doesn't get beyond the point that some will be listened to if they declare something to be offensive and others will in effect be told to "get over it"

FWIW I don't think any religion should be protected, but the fact remains that they are ... so I just wonder why this difference is encouraged

There was a recent thread on style & beauty that expressed a similar sentiment. They found leggings worn with dresses fairly sacrilegious. It all depends on your belief system.

Why can’t people generally just have awareness that saying certain things offend a group of people and try not to do those things.
No one has a right to demand others don't offend them.
I would imagine God (whichever one) has better things to worry about than a bit of swearing.
I am fascinated by how some people seem to believe that their all-powerful and all-wise deity/ies bother themselves to be offended or upset by trivial earthly goings-on. I don't believe in any gods but if I did I'd like to believe in the kind that are either imperiously oblivious to, or superlatively forgiving of, what us little people say and do.

@Mumoblue

“Mumsnet is a godless place”. I want that on a T-shirt.

Sign me up!!!

@UhtredRagnarson already apologised upthread. Although no apology for what flowers said to me.

You’re a Christian, you don’t apologise for an apology in return. You apologise because you did the wrong thing and it’s the Christian thing to do. Have you asked for forgiveness? That’s a big part of Christianity. You must ask forgiveness.

All those terms of using God's name in vain or even jesus is wrong. And as for using Allah or Muhammed (pbuh) we wouldn't ever use it or be comfortable with others using it out of term, that's because of the respect we have for our religion. Now as a Muslim I would never say jesus f... Christ as he is our prophet too. So people saying they'd use Allah or Muhammad (pbuh) and wouldn't care know you are offending the Muslim community hugely. And yes if Simpsons didn't make references to Islam goes to show the respect we have for our religion that we wouldn't allow to be used for entertainment. Perhaps people need to have more respect for their religion and HD it in a higher status.

My words apply to everyone in all settings, I don't condone any bias or unfairness to anyone.

I went out of my way to specifically phrase that in a way that is universally applicable.

Oh I'm sure people do know using those words in this way is offensive to Christians. But maybe they just don't care to consider the feelings of people who support a reglion that is very dangerous, damagind and offensive to many people's way of life. Some of the most hateful, judgemental people I've ever met were Christians. Even the second post on this thread says:

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?

Which screams "these non-Christians are just too ignorant to understand". We understand perfectly. Maybe if you stopped judging people on how they speak you would be less offended by them. It's just words on a screen that has nothing to do with you.

@Mumoblue

“Mumsnet is a godless place”. I want that on a T-shirt.

Totally!! 😂

@Mumoblue

“Mumsnet is a godless place”. I want that on a T-shirt.

I'd pay good money for that!

Mumsnet is a godless place. It’s all about science here

I think that's meant as a insult but seems like a compliment.

My only god is money.

But "god" is a generic term for an idol etc and its common vernacular to use phrases like "for god's sake" or "good god". I think Christian's need to remember people aren't talking about their specific "God" etc.

I think that's being somewhat disingenuous! Most people who use phrases like that are, of course, referring to the God of Christianity. Church attendance and adherence to Christianity may be falling, but the UK is still largely 'culturally' Christian, in that many aspects of Christianity are woven into the fabric of ordinary life, commonly referenced and understood, by people like me who would not consider themselves particularly religious. I'd be very surprised if someone used the phrase 'for God's sake' not meaning the Christian God.

The "some that will be listened to"? You mean ethnic minority groups who have been subjected to racism and who as a consequence sometimes experience positive discrimination as a consequence?

We can discuss the rights and wrongs of positive discrimination if you wish, but this thread is about something entirely different.

Bacon is my god and there shall be no other.

@stclair

ThreeKneeRepeater

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

Yes, this is just awful. Makes me die a little inside whenever I read/hear it.

What makes ME die a little inside is when I hear vocal Christians talking about how "we" (other Christians) hold themselves to higher standards. . .when the history of Christianity, and its present, is littered with misogyny, homophobia, anti-Semitism, child abuse, cover-ups of child abuse, etc etc.

Aren't all of those way more offensive than someone using a coarse word? Aren't your concerns rather precious?

Sorry that was for puzzled.

@Againstmachine

Mumsnet is a godless place. It’s all about science here

I think that's meant as a insult but seems like a compliment.

I thought the same. And I'd buy the t-shirt.

Slightly off topic, and haven't rtft, so apologies if this has been mentioned...

There was a fantastic TV show in Ireland a few weeks ago called Holy F* with Ardal O'Hanlon. He looked at how/why people curse, and delved a bit into the meaning behind a lot of these religious expletives. Fascinating.

It doesn't seem to be available on the player, but watch out for it