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 🙁

Atheists don't shove their lack of religious beliefs down other people's throats wherever they find the chance.

That’s hilarious. I never see religious people forcing their views in people here but atheists are constantly droning on with the same lines ‘God doesn’t exist, flying spaghetti monster’ etc, it’s never ending.

@stackemhigh

Atheists don't shove their lack of religious beliefs down other people's throats wherever they find the chance.

That’s hilarious. I never see religious people forcing their views in people here but atheists are constantly droning on with the same lines ‘God doesn’t exist, flying spaghetti monster’ etc, it’s never ending.

Ahem, please refer to OP who is absolutely forcing their views on people who couldn't care less.

You don't like me blaspheming? So, forgive me.

I don't knowingly socialise with christians.
Anyone who thinks I am deserving of eternal hell isn't on my friend list.

Religious people do love policing everyone else’s thought, speech and behaviour.

I dont. This is more the kind of comment that I find offensive, lumping all religious people together.

OP I can't let it bother me. I'm no good at policing my own language let alone worrying about others!

I find myself saying oh God like punctuation and I don't know how to stop. My priest says it's like a verbal tick. It's good that you are much more aware of this for yourself.

Christianity gets a bashing on MN. No one would dare pile in on any other religion because they know its offensive.

@stackemhigh
You obviously didn't read my post properly. Fair enough. It was ALL about the difference between airing your opinions on an Internet forum and real life. Ah well.

I much prefer saying “for fuck’s sake”, but can’t say that around my DC, which is when “for god’s sake” is more appropriate. There’s no religious connotation when saying this. As far as my DC are concerned, it’s a story.

Christianity gets a bashing on MN. No one would dare pile in on any other religion because they know its offensive.

I'm an equal opportunist when it comes to religion, I think they're all a load of nonsense mostly designed to keep women in line and make the leaders rich.

OP I agree but am not sure what you can do about it if anything. Seems that OMG has taken over a bit though.

You get that Christians dont have a monopoly on the word "God" right?

@ZenNudist I think you'll finds that's down to the demographics of the site. The religion that most westerners have been oppressed by is Christianity. I'm sure if mumsnet were hosted in the far east Buddism would get more of a panning.

@stackemhigh

Atheists don't shove their lack of religious beliefs down other people's throats wherever they find the chance.

That’s hilarious. I never see religious people forcing their views in people here but atheists are constantly droning on with the same lines ‘God doesn’t exist, flying spaghetti monster’ etc, it’s never ending.

The OP is attempting to force their religious views on people. What about the threads at christmas full of people moaning about people not celebrating jesus and personally attacking them. What about posters like xenia who believes her religion makes her superior and actively uses it as a tool to put others down.

I don't discriminate, I bash all religions where you worship a deity. It's insanity

I feel you have to accept people using 'taboo' words - usually words around sex or religion either alone or combined into phrases - in certain situations at least, such as stubbing your toe etc.

These words seem to perform a useful function of emotional release and are part of an automatic response to danger, or sometimes even exhilaration. It’s a primitive reaction and the taboo nature of the words is absolutely necessary in those situations.

The question for me is whether such words and phrases have utility in an exchange over the Internet, which involves more considered conscious thought. If used habitually, these sorts of words might lose their potency in situations of strong emotion in real life, situations in which blurting them out could be of physiological use.

Maybe, in an increasingly secular world, we have already got to that point where the original potency of the phrases has been compromised for many people.

The OP is attempting to force their religious views on people.

I can see her explaining how she feels, but can’t find her views being forced on anyone. I can’t find her religious views on the thread, other than the fact she feels uncomfortable around certain language. I can’t even tell what denomination she is.

Some atheists can be as loopy as their religious opponents. I've read a few posts from arsehole atheists who have taken mortal offence at being invited to a christening when if they are devout atheists, they'd just treat it as the pantomime it is.

I wonder if it's a way for religious folk to get their own back (although I thought Vengeance was the Lords business ?) by teasing people who are clearly (as mentioned upthread) terrified of "catching god". Or God. (Vaguely drifts off into a reverie about when the trans lobby decide that God needs pronouns too ...)

I don't agree with people forcing their views on anyone - but MN (and the internet in general) is rife with people doing that on many issues anyway. So why give OP such a hard time here?

I haven't seen OP forcing their views on anyone, just talking about how they feel regarding certain phrases and hoping some people will take note. If you don't want to, that's fine. But for some people, once they see the words 'religion' or 'religious' mentioned anywhere, like bees to nectar, they swarm right in and shout down anyone who dares believe, talking about "God is not real", "sky daddy", "imaginary friend", "stupid belief", "you're shoving your beliefs down my throat", "I'M AN ATHEIST - IM CLEVERER THAN YOU".

Just weird. Sometimes funny to be honest but tedious. Regular ol' atheists just live their lives, not try to show everyone how much they don't believe or tell others how shit their belief is. Others seem to like to 'perform' their atheism and where else can you showcase this performance but on threads about religion.

OP, I think this thread has said more about you than about the people who use words and phrases you choose to find offensive. Your awful comment to Flowers500 was just about the most patronising thing I've read on MN.
You need to learn some tolerance and I say this as a fellow Christian, but one who accepts that people have free choice and free speech.
Actions speak louder than words.

Anyone religious/with a faith who wants to be part of the vocal Christian majority, come and live in NI (or maybe not ...) God and Jesus are inescapable. Belief in God is the default here. And it's shoved down all our gullets on a daily basis. Hopefully we'll catch up with the secular world some time before the turn of the next millennium. It's a cold house for atheists.

Atheist here. I think it's fine to mock religion but not people. So I will say Jesus F*king Christ but I won't say a person with faith is delusional in their beliefs for example.

I think if the UK has around 50% of the population with no strong faith (according to successive social attitudes surveys) then 50% of people have the right to take Jesus' name in vain.

I'm not religious, but I can see how, to a Christian, it can seem as upsetting as racism for example. I won't do it in future posts. I can't see the point in deliberately upsetting people when there are other phrases that can be used.

@Tigertalk

I’m actually Irish ( born there but now live here haha) . I’m hardly judgemental either. I had dc before marriage ! Hardly a model Christian. I just find the words jarring when followed by expletives etc this is a site where I can raise that for discussion. I just wondered if people realised it was offensive to some . Pp have said they didn’t and will try to be mindful, others say they don’t care, some have been pretty angry. It’s been interesting to read all the viewpoints and I’ll keep them in mind when I come across these jarring phrases in future!

How did you get through the day in Ireland, we use for Gods sake jesus fucking christ more than anyone

I just wondered if people realised it was offensive to some . Pp have said they didn’t and will try to be mindful, others say they don’t care, some have been pretty angry
That is understandable and I'll be more mindful in the future.
"Beyond the pale" irritates me on here, I ignore it.
Although there is lots of blasphemy in Ireland it's knowing your audience too.
My Nanna would clip your ear, she got the rosary beads out when fairytale in New york got released.

@Chamonixshoopshoop

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.

My friend is Muslim and she says 'ya Allah' which is like 'my dear God!' used in frustration

@speakout

I don't knowingly socialise with christians. Anyone who thinks I am deserving of eternal hell isn't on my friend list.

That shows you don't know much about Christianity !