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 🙁

When people saying insulting christian god, you wouldnt do that to other you are by default, as Christians Muslims and Jews believe in the same god it's the Abrahamic faith.

Posters wouldn’t dare offend Muslims but Christians are fair game

People aren't offending Christians. They are using figures of speech that are common in a culturally Christian country, and that were invented by Christians at a time when this country was 100% Christian.

Going into a church service and shouting "Jesus f*&ing Christ would be offensive but that isn't happening, is it?

All the Christians getting on their high horse should bear in mind that there is only one group of people that has ever systematically persecuted and discriminated against Christians in the UK - and that's other Christians.

It’s not culturally acceptable to curse in many environments though.

I used to work in retail. We didn’t have to serve customers who curse.

Posters wouldn’t dare offend Muslims but Christians are fair game

Have you just forgotten about racism?

@Talkwhilstyouwalk

Unfortunately I accidentally say "oh god" all the time, especially when I'm in the presence of religious people.

I prefer 'oh fuck'. I use 'goddammit' a lot, too. And cunt.

@LibertyMole

It’s not culturally acceptable to curse in many environments though.

I used to work in retail. We didn’t have to serve customers who curse.

Which shop was this?

After reading this thread this morning I’ve found myself being more drawn to using ‘for gods sake’ and ‘Jesus fucking Christ’!!!

I’m sure I’ve said it more today waaaaaayyy more than I normally would!

A very large well known chain. It’s a pretty common retail that you can walk away from customers who curse.

I am now in an office and people don’t curse around colleagues there either.

@LibertyMole
I think there is a difference between swearing at someone and just swearing. If I was working in retail and someone said "oh you fucking cunt", I would not be inclined to serve them of course. However, someone saying "oh shit" or "oh my god" in conversation or when dropping something etc... I think it would be ridiculous to refuse to serve them and I don't know any retail company who implements such a strange policy. I am sure they prefer profits over some weird moral high ground, and if you as a worker frequently refused sale to people saying oh my god, for god's sake in conversation, the company would probably be unhappy with the money down the drain.

I do like how some posters are using their own islamophobia in an attempt to prove that saying for god sake is offensive.

I do like irony on a sunny afternoon

*Posters wouldn’t dare offend Muslims but Christians are fair game

Have you just forgotten about racism?*

Muslim isn’t a race

Cuthbert, yes definitely. I think that is pretty well understood.

If, for example, someone slipped and broke their leg, pretty much nobody cares how many oh Jesus Christ’s or cunting hells they let out.

People are generally okay with a slipped out oh shit or for God’s sake if they drop a purse.

But if you are in any kind of complaint or negotiation and you curse, you’ve moved into some kind of territory with offence at one end and abuse at the other.

So there’s a lot of nuance to it. It’s certainly not as clear cut as running into a church and yelling it equals offensive and every other context is absolutely fine.

I would never use Jesus as a swearword but I use 'God' all the time - I'm referring to my own personal unique individual God, nobody elses, so there's nothing for them to take offence at!

@OhGodNotThisAgain

*Posters wouldn’t dare offend Muslims but Christians are fair game

Have you just forgotten about racism?*

Muslim isn’t a race

All isms of this sort are under the greaterl umbrella of racism aren't they? Antisemitism is a form of racism. Islamophobia is under the same umbrella label too isn't it?

@LibertyMole

Of course abuse isn't tolerated. But you said you're allowed to walk away from customers who curse or refuse to serve them. So in what situation would you refuse to serve someone who says oh my god or whatever? How would that even be aimed at you?

Religion doesn’t fall under racial discrimination. There are separate laws for discrimination against religious groups.

Jews are largely considered an ethnic group not just a religious one, so that sometimes falls under racial discrimination in some countries.

I am guilty of a "oh my God" or something ike that occasionally. Not really in a very negative way but still. Will have to rethink that if it offends people.

I wouldn't use Jesus or other religion words. Actually not sure why I use god come to think of it.

Cuthbert, in any situation where a customer is being confrontational. It can be very difficult to provide evidence that a customer was or was not being confrontational, so cursing is used as evidence of it. It’s not subjective; the customer factually did or did not curse.

So that’s why it is used by managers as a point at which staff can justify walking away.

Reminds me of a conversation the god squad at college were having about whether to flat share with a non-christian and were worried they'd be 'dragged down to their level'.
JFHC

Strangly Jesus even exists in Muslim faith

My nephew swears constantly. He is six. It offends most of my family. It is considered a problem at school.

His mum says when he was older he will just ‘find his tribe.’ Which is presumably true in that there are people who are totally fine with swearing.

But in most workplaces it really isn’t okay to swear very much. So it’s not preparing him for interacting with other people to teach him swearing is generally okay.

@Againstmachine

Strangly Jesus even exists in Muslim faith

Not really all christians and muslims descend from the Jewish faith. All three have a lot of similarities because of this. Moses, Jesus, certain stories etc.

There’s no Jesus in Judaism.

@LibertyMole

Raised voices, clenched fists, entering personal space and so on... there are lots of things that indicate aggression. "Oh my god" is not one of them. And many people including myself do not consider this to be a curse or offensive. I have written and evaluated hundreds of incident reports, and use of the lord's name of vain has not been used to prove aggression. How ridiculous.

I just think if people point out they find something offensive we might as well think about adjusting our behaviour. Unless you have a massive moral reason of sort. What is the harm in allowing others to feel comfortable.