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Original poster

Using God/Christ in negative threads

680 replies

Tigertalk · 30/05/2021 09:00

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 🙁

OP posts:
speakout · 31/05/2021 15:41

MrsMaizel

So christianity is not about accepting jesus as a saviour in order to get a ticket for heaven?

stackemhigh · 31/05/2021 15:43

@PiccalilliChilli

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 Christian but I don’t get why you would do this? Why associate fucking with someone revered by people? It’s arrogance, ‘neh neh ne ne neh, I can say what I like’... so childish.
PaperbackRider · 31/05/2021 15:55

@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 🙁
If christians have a problem with the population as a whole using "their" words in negative ways, they shouldn't have spent millenia shoe-horning their religion into everyones life, language and legal system.

Too late to complain about it now, you guys literally forced us to talk this way, no reason you get any say in stopping it now.

Flipflops85 · 31/05/2021 16:09

if christians have a problem with the population as a whole

The thread was one person’s opinion not the opinion of ‘Christians’

So christianity is not about accepting jesus as a saviour in order to get a ticket for heaven?

In short, no, it’s not.

MissMaple82 · 31/05/2021 16:18

Oh lordy 🙄

speakout · 31/05/2021 16:21

*So christianity is not about accepting jesus as a saviour in order to get a ticket for heaven?

In short, no, it’s not.*

So you can get into heaven with out accepting jesus as saviour?

Flipflops85 · 31/05/2021 16:31

If you want to find out more there are plenty of places you can go. I won’t be writing any of my beliefs here, I don’t want to get accused of evangelising Smile

DonnieDark · 31/05/2021 16:52

@IRelateToViewpointsNotPeople

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.

Some of us had it shoved down our throats as small children that our non-believer parent was going to hell. As I'm now an atheist, why shouldn't I speak up against something that was so harmful to me and that has harmed others in much worse ways?

I don't respect something I don't believe in, that would be disingenuous.

ErrolTheDragon · 31/05/2021 17:11

If christians have a problem with the population as a whole using "their" words in negative ways, they shouldn't have spent millenia shoe-horning their religion into everyones life, language and legal system.

Too late to complain about it now, you guys literally forced us to talk this way, no reason you get any say in stopping it now.

Maybe lead by example and equally decry people attributing all good things to their deity? Do you always thank farmers, truckers and shopkeepers for your food or just god if you say grace? Maybe avoid phrases like 'that's a godsend' to something that's actually a scientist-and-engineer-send? (That one in particular is pretty disrespectful!)

speakout · 31/05/2021 17:40

If you want to find out more there are plenty of places you can go.

No thanks- I have had a belly full of indoctrination.

Flipflops85 · 31/05/2021 17:51

No thanks- I have had a belly full of indoctrination.

So why ask?

Butteredtoast55 · 31/05/2021 19:21

Personally hearing people say ‘Jesus Christ’ (especially with ‘fucking’ inserted somewhere) does grate and, yes, it offends me. I’m not shoving my views down people’ s throats but I don’t like it.

DogOverlord · 31/05/2021 20:04

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

TurquoiseLemur · 31/05/2021 20:13

@LibertyMole

I can’t believe people need evidence that the U.K. has an official established church.
That's not the issue, though.

England (not Scotland or Wales or Northern Ireland) has an established church. It was established by Henry VIII for reasons that were purely political and, in many people's eyes entirely, selfish. (He wanted to marry Anne Boleyn but was already married.)

I think the current figure for people regularly attending an Anglican church in England is 7% of the population as a whole. Some attend other churches and some are Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, etc.

When asked on recent censuses to state religion, 50% of people in England stated "No religion."

Conclusion: England is officially Christian. Significantly fewer than 50% identify as Christian. And far fewer of THOSE regularly attend any church.

LibertyMole · 31/05/2021 20:15

What has that got to do with having an established church?

I didn’t say it was a popular church.I expect it won’t be around that much longer. It has served its purpose.

TurquoiseLemur · 31/05/2021 20:19

@LibertyMole

What has that got to do with having an established church?

I didn’t say it was a popular church.I expect it won’t be around that much longer. It has served its purpose.

You mentioned the established church. I took your comment to mean: we have an established church, therefore we are a Christian country. Which is false logic for the reasons I've given.
LibertyMole · 31/05/2021 20:22

But my comment was in response to someone asking for evidence that we have an established church, which is ludicrous.

It is like asking for evidence that we have a parliament.

You have taken my comment completely out of context.

mummypie17 · 01/06/2021 07:54

I'm a Christian and I don't like people using Jesus f* Christ. The phrase 'Oh god' they can be referring to their 'god' and not specifically my God.

speakout · 01/06/2021 07:57

mummypie17

You don't have ownership on the word jesus.
I was indoctriated as a child, and although I have chosen to reject faith ( not so easy for some) a lot of it has stuck. Having to use the words jesus and god on a daily basis, these things are part of my fabric.
The church pushed them on to me and I reserve the right t use them as I wish.

Wiredforsound · 01/06/2021 08:08

It doesn’t really matter whether you like it or not, OP. You don’t get to police how other people use language.

sharksarecool · 01/06/2021 08:27

A few weeks ago there was a thread about the teacher who showed the offensive Mohammed cartoon. Lots of posters were of the opinion that, whilst it is should never be against the law to insult Mohammed, it is pretty insensitive to do it in front of Muslims since you know it causes great offense. I dont understand why the same thing doesn't apply to Christians.

I think the OP could have maybe worded her post differently, because some people have interpreted as Christians telling people what they can and can't say. What I think the OP was actually intending is point out that using the name of Jesus as a swear word is upsetting and offensive to people who are Christian.

Obviously we have the right to freedom of speech, but we often curtail that to avoid offending people we care about. I have bit of a potty mouth generally, but I would never swear in front of my granny because I know it would upset her. I think the same applies to blasphemy: if you wouldn't knowingly misuse the name of Mohammed or Allah in front if a Muslim then you shouldn't misuse the name of Jesus Christ in front of a Christian.

Obviously you don't know the OP personally, but if you DO know people in RL who are Christian, and if you respect them and care about their feelings, be aware that they will probably find it upsetting if you use casual blasphemy in front of them. And do with that knowledge as you see fit.

stackemhigh · 01/06/2021 08:49

Your awful comment to Flowers500 was just about the most patronising thing I've read on MN.

er, below is the awful thing OP said. Funny how people throw around 'Jesus Fucking Christ' but are easily offended themselves.

Flowers500 you seem really angry, I hope you’re okay Flowers

stackemhigh · 01/06/2021 08:50

@Wiredforsound

It doesn’t really matter whether you like it or not, OP. You don’t get to police how other people use language.
She's not policing, she expressed an opinion. It seems only atheists are allowed opinions!
speakout · 01/06/2021 08:57

I know several christians who say " Oh jesus" or "oh god" regularly.

Shouldn;t christians be trying to get their own house in order before trying to police the words of atheists.
After all us heathens have much lower standards and morals anyway.

Penistoe · 01/06/2021 09:06

Comparing these terms to racist language is probably the most deluded self absorbed post Iv read on here.