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 🙁

@CPsRus

Christians didn’t respect the cultures and religions that came before them - stealing and repressing the holy days and practices. Oh and the centuries of cruelty and oppression. The forced adoptions, the burning of witches, the slaughter of muslims, of heretics etc. Now it is all benevolent bake sales and happy clappy masking this past I am not supposed to offend them? Sod that!

Totally agree!

We’ve been cussing and blaspheming for centuries. We aren’t likely to stop.

I enjoy a good cuss, it’s cathartic.

Jesus fucking Christ. A common phrase in MANY highly religious countries, said by religious people. None of your goddamn business to try to regulate their language and impose your narrow minded views on them.

Also BTW trying to compare Christians using swears that involve Christianity to homophobia or racism just makes you look deeply unsympathetic.

@UhtredRagnarson

I have, there’s an independent gift shop in our city centre that sells them.

I love how you all totally ignore the fact that I’m saying just live and let live OP and jump on a thing about cards.

I agree it's so rude

I’m on about in the UK obviously. You'd be arrested for hate speech if you changed the word Jesus for Allah in that context. If you said it on here you'd be reported and banned. No doubt at all. It's double standards.

Perhaps because it isn’t an actual phrase used in U.K. culture and when it has been used its usually to intentionally offend Muslims.

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

If your religion/beliefs dont allow blaspheming them don’t do it. But other people don’t share your religion/beliefs so those rules aren’t applicable to them. Like abortion- if you don’t agree with it, then don’t have one. That’s as far as your right to disagree extends- to you. You don’t get to prevent anyone else from having one. Whether you’re comfortable with that thought or not.

People have been doing this for centuries. It's in the fabric of our language. Shakespeare has a lot of it, in forms like "Zounds!" (Christ's wounds). Bloody refers to Christ's blood.

Even gentler terms like Oh my word, oh my goodness refer to Goodness and Word ie of God.

I'm not a Christian but I love seeing the linguistic origins of words like holiday (holy day) and goodbye (God be with you).

It's just how it is.

You still chose to be a part of a church that is homophobic, racist and misogynistic amongst 100 different things though @Tigertalk. Language isn’t about your feelings as an individual. You can be offended all you like but seeing as you belong to and endorse an organisation that hasn’t exactly spread nothing but love and joy to the population of the world, I don’t think you can complain about how other people choose to express themselves.

@Lighttunnelahead

I’m Irish - line of duty language - say no more, that wee donkey line was in everyday use, I had no idea people found it offensive till I moved to england - still use it - I don’t tend to attract the Christian types as friends!🤣

I'm the same, I grew up in the west of Scotland, lots of Irish relatives and neighbours, and Ted's curses just give me an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia. I really liked "I didn't float up the Laggan in a bubble, son" - in Glasgow it's the Clyde, and a digestive biscuit, but the sentiment's the same

@wildeverose

I'm a Christian- it's not even close to racist or homophobic language. It's shockingly offensive you've compared the two.

This. (Also a Christian)

[quote Tigertalk]@Flowers500 you seem really angry, I hope you’re okay [/quote]
How very unchristian of you OP to be openly passive aggressive.

I’m sure people would be very careful in the use of Allah, but God, Jesus Christ etc are fair game and I just find it annoying.

Allah is the same as your God though? They’re the same being/ thing/ person. Saying ‘Oh God’ is as much blasphemy to Muslims as it is to you.

“you called my imaginary friend a nasty name, howl...”

@Tigertalk

Hey I’m not going around getting offended all day. I don’t find many people verbally saying this stuff anyway. It’s mainly on here. I was comparing it to racism and homophobia to just make a point that it isn’t tolerated, yet *@HoneyDragon can just write cnting apostles or Jesus f** Christ and no one bats an eyelid. I just don’t see the need when there are so many other ways of expressing things. I understand, as a Christian country, certain phrases seep in and people probably don’t even realise there could be any offence taken. I’m sure people would be very careful in the use of Allah, but God, Jesus Christ etc are fair game and I just find it annoying. Nothing will change I’m sure but I find it personally jarring to read so many posters using this and just wanted to raise it

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Jesus fucking Christ mate. If you’re so offended by a couple of goddamn commonplace swears how do you go to the shops? Oh my god I can’t believe people like this can exist in the 21st century.

It's richly ironic that Christians use Allah's name every day too, although I tend to find many have no idea where "Hallelujah" comes from ...

@Tigertalk
As a Christian could you not excersise some understanding and forgiveness.
It takes all sorts to make a world.
If you dismiss a person in the first instance that they speak, you may miss out on something important they have to say.

Attempts to be the language police on here never go well. Especially when people start preachy threads about it.

Elizabeth I apparently used to say "God's death!" as an oath and was infamous for her bad language. Apparently, when you're a woman in a man's world, you need a good swear sometimes. Amen to that!

I'm afraid that if your religion gets the perks of state sponsored schooling, widespread effects on national culture and traditions etc, it also ought to take the incredibly mild hit of accepting that some of this overexposure in a now significantly atheist culture will bleed into language.

And your equivalences are false. We can mostly see skin colour. We can test for sex. Sexuality is self-proven. Not all of us believe that God exists, and conveniently it's faith, not proof based. I have a lot of beliefs that I have no right nor wish to impose a sensitivity barrier on other people for.

You retain the right - as everyone does - to judge other people by their choices and choose what you think about them accordingly.

(Or perhaps judge not lest ye be judged? )

How very unchristian of you OP to be openly passive aggressive

That was, indeed,
passive aggression level 8000

[quote Tigertalk]@Flowers500 you seem really angry, I hope you’re okay [/quote]
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Unlike you I’m able to walk down a street without feeling my imaginary friend is being assaulted. So thanks for the passive agressive sympathy of a racism and homophobia denier, means a lot dear

I don’t believe in any god and think religion has generally been a bad thing for people. You may disagree with my position but I really don’t see that as a comparison with being a racist or homophobe. I mean I’m for religious freedom I just wish people weren’t religious. So people should be free to be disrespectful or respectful to religion.

A worrying recent trend has been for people to demand others have the same view point on them on issues and call those who disagree bigots etc. Please don’t go into that territory.

That said I and most people are just using blasphemous words as it’s part of normal speech rather than trying to wilfully offend.

I've just done that this morning, OP. Wondering if it was my post that sparked your thread.

Sorry if I offended. It's a throwaway phrase to me, but in the interests of tolerance and respect I'll be aware in the future.