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 🙁

God doesn’t necessarily mean your god.
I agree with this. In fact I think you're quite self centred to take offence and think it's all about you. Plenty of people when saying 'oh my god' will be referring to their own god or lack of.*
*
People deserve respect. Beliefs do not.

This is the fundamental reason it's not comparable to racism homophobia.

*Religious people do love policing everyone else’s thought, speech and behaviour.
*
It may not be all religious people but you're definitely proving yourself to be one of them OP.

I just don’t see the need when there are so many other ways of expressing things.

Because (thankfully) we have freedom of expression in this country and you have no right to police how other people speak or express themselves. I don't see the need to believe in some higher power, but I don't stop you doing so.

I just wondered if some posters just didn’t realise it could be a bit uncomfortable for others

Do you know what I find really uncomfortable and actually offensive? When people try to compare things to racism that are actually nothing like racism as some kind of 'gotcha' to make them sound like they're correct and virtuous. People using common language to express themselves is not at all comparable to the systematic and ongoing oppression, that's been happening for hundreds of years, of a group of people simply for being born a different colour. And funnily enough this false equivalence is always made by whites people

I've met lots of lovely Christians who I like very much.

I've never met a likeable evangelist who'd be offended at me saying omg though.

I'm a Christian but don't really get offended by 'For God's sake'
but we say 'Oh my gosh' in my family.

I get really offended when I hear teenagers exclaiming 'Jesus!'
Or 'Jesus Christ' and when I ask them to not say it, they ask why. I tell them that it isn't appropriate and their response is either "my parents say it all the time. They don't mind me saying it" or "I'm not a Christian so I don't believe I'm being blasphemous "

I don't like it, but I'm unable to give an adequate explanation as to why it's not appropriate for them to say it.

@Alittlenonsensenowandthen

TeddingtonTrashbag

Religion is just superstition anyway - would you be offended by someone using the same term about any other fictional character eg‘Mickey F**g Mouse!’

That's just a really silly comment Whether you believe in a Christian God or not, historians across the globe accept jesus lived and breathed So not a fictional character

No more silly than insisting a character existed when there is absolutely NO empirical evidence that he did, and furthermore, you are v silly for categorically stating that historians are of the opinion that Jesus existed when this is simply not true, see below for just a few easily googled links to historians refuting Jesus' existence

www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/12/18/did-historical-jesus-exist-the-traditional-evidence-doesnt-hold-up

www.cambridge.org/core/journals/think/article/abs/its-official-we-can-now-doubt-jesus-historical-existence

www.metro.co.uk/2015/04/03/jesus-christ-never-existed-at-all-historian-claims

Yes, that's how i feel Alys. Why use Jesus's name, why not another deity.

Jesus definitely existed. It was documented by the Romans

@CandyLeBonBon

I don't believe in any god. Therefore I feel free to use it as a mild expletive in the same way I would any other emphatic word.

You cannot compel me to believe that your religion is real and therefore you cannot compel my speech either.

If you want to believe in god that's your choice but I will not have my language policed by you or anyone else.

V well put.

@woodhill

Jesus definitely existed. It was documented by the Romans

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 was on that thread and was (am) of the opinion that it should never be against the law to insult Mohammed and that Muslims need to just deal with people doing it*. The same thing as applies to Christians in this discussion.
My logic is consistent, and I'd imagine a lot of the posters on that thread would take the same stance as me.

*words to that effect but not as blunt

I don't like it, but I'm unable to give an adequate explanation as to why it's not appropriate for them to say it.
And yet you keep asking them to not say it?

We have a colourful expletive in Scotland.
"Jesus Suffering" , now considered a little old fashioned, has quite a nostalgic ring to it.

www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/14/what-is-the-historical-evidence-that-jesus-christ-lived-and-died

As a historical figure

*I get really offended when I hear teenagers exclaiming 'Jesus!'
*Or 'Jesus Christ' and when I ask them to not say it, they ask why. I tell them that it isn't appropriate and their response is either "my parents say it all the time. They don't mind me saying it" or "I'm not a Christian so I don't believe I'm being blasphemous "

I don't like it, but I'm unable to give an adequate explanation as to why it's not appropriate for them to say it.

Because there is no adequate reason at all! Just because you don't like it doesn't mean you get to police other peoples language and expressions. Take your delicate sensibilities elsewhere stop trying to impose you views on other people.

They don’t compare, give your head a wobble.

I imagine those teenagers are wondering why you feel entitled to attempt to police their speech, if they are not yours? Unless you're a teacher - but then again, their responses seem valid. Having said that, I don't like my teens doing it, and pull them up on it. They just get a little too free.

I think one of the funniest things I've ever seen, was DH's face (rabid atheist), when he said 'for God's sake!' about something, and his born again, evangelical feminist friend, corrected him, 'goddess'.

Jesus definitely existed. It was documented by the Romans*

It really isn't, the first mentioned Is at least 30 years after his death, there is no evidence during his lifetime, and if you look at Herod and the census, they both happened but not at same time.

@woodhill

Yes, that's how i feel Alys. Why use Jesus's name, why not another deity.

You're asking why people growing up in a country where Christianity is the most prominent religion, is taught in schools and has been influential in the shaping of the laws, language, values and culture for a millennium, refer to a Christian character?

You can't police the language of people that have a different faith to you. I use the language you mention... I am an atheist. To me, they are just words. If your faith is strong enough, what does it matter what language other people use? Being offended is not a criminal matter.

@woodhill

Jesus definitely existed. It was documented by the Romans

So were the Gods Jupiter and Mars, if we want to play pick'n'mix history.

And you aren't a Christian because you accept or believe Jesus existed. You are a Christian because you have chosen to believe that he is he only son of a God you made up.

So were the Gods Jupiter and Mars, if we want to play pick'n'mix history.

The virgin birth is another one, it was surprising common in story's back then, also has the same Jesus story going back to other myths. The Bible is full of plagerism.

@Againstmachine

So were the Gods Jupiter and Mars, if we want to play pick'n'mix history.

The virgin birth is another one, it was surprising common in story's back then, also has the same Jesus story going back to other myths. The Bible is full of plagerism.

Plagiarism , forgery/late additions, misattributions...

I think people need to stop trying to police other people's language. And also stop thinking that just because you are offended that necessarily means other people need to change their behaviour. There is always someone out there that will be offended by something others view as perfectly normal. The line needs to be drawn somewhere.

I'm not religious and think that language is perfectly fine. I also don't have any problem with swearing (although lots of people find that offensive). So I will carry on with my sweary language and you carry on with what you are doing. And stop trying to push your religious views onto other people.

@boredbuttercup

*I get really offended when I hear teenagers exclaiming 'Jesus!' *Or 'Jesus Christ' and when I ask them to not say it, they ask why. I tell them that it isn't appropriate and their response is either "my parents say it all the time. They don't mind me saying it" or "I'm not a Christian so I don't believe I'm being blasphemous "

I don't like it, but I'm unable to give an adequate explanation as to why it's not appropriate for them to say it.

Because there is no adequate reason at all! Just because you don't like it doesn't mean you get to police other peoples language and expressions. Take your delicate sensibilities elsewhere stop trying to impose you views on other people.

Delicate sensibilities. 🤣 That's quite a leap!

I was just making my contribution, as are you. Judging by your mini-froth, I think you feel rather more passionate about it than I do 🤣

Well considering you find normal dialect inappropriate to the point where you try to tell off random teenagers, and then can't even justify youre reasoning for it, I'd say you do have very delicate sensibilities.

And I do feel passionately about freedom of expression and I'm honestly quite sick of any religion trying to police people speech and also actions/dress/ect. Is there something wrong with that? After all, we are meant to be a secular country.

Judging by your mini-froth, I think you feel rather more passionate about it than I do

A truly lazy ad hominem response.

It’s not appropriate for you to push your beliefs onto teenagers, because it is the freedom of belief that we have that allows you the right to continue believing whatever you do. You are threatening your own freedom in doing so.

It is as illogical as me ordering you to say ‘Jesus’ when you don’t want to.

@ClaudiaWankleman funny how you ignore all the ad homs and venom directed to religious people.