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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wish people would stop saying 'Jesus' all the bloody time

810 replies

Sortyourlifeout · 25/04/2023 20:19

I can't read a thread on here without someone saying "Jesus Christ" or "Jesus wept" or similar.

I'm not a prude AT all and I have no issue with people swearing but as a Christian I find it highly offensive when people throw Jesus' name round in a negative way, without a thought for others' feelings and religions.

Most people wouldn't dream of using words that were offensive to other religions so why is it acceptable when it's 'Jesus?'.

This is a genuine message to ask people to PLEASE think before they post/speak.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
21
Seas164 · 25/04/2023 21:25

@Moneymismatch
The nonsense words have the same first sound as "the swearwords" they're a polite alternative for when you've already begun the word but rerealise you don't want to swear after all.

Ponoka7 · 25/04/2023 21:25

Xenia · 25/04/2023 21:20

I am Christian and don't mind as long as we can be just as abusive about all other faiths.

Can you be deliberately abusive and a Christian?

Jesus was very unconventional and liked to stir things up, so I'm not sure that he'd mind his name being used in that way.

Original poster
Sortyourlifeout · 25/04/2023 21:26

HeadbandOverMyEyes · 25/04/2023 21:22

Thing is, it seems likely that it's not technically from a religious reference, originally, but the true origin isn't actually very important in this context.

I was trying to draw out from OP what she thought the origin was, because for a really long time, a fuck of a lot of English-speaking Christians have been told it's some kind of religious reference or other, making it as upsetting/offensive/taboo/whatever to them as any other religious reference. It lent the word a lot more power (and staying-power) as a swear word than it would've had if it had stayed an entirely non-religious epithet.

Somehow OP seems to have managed to entirely sidestep this specific aspect of English-speaking Christian culture, but if she had previously come across and believed a religious definition of "bloody", it would've been a bit rich to use it in a post complaining about language that upsets some Christians for religious reasons.

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I can quite honestly say that I've never, ever thought about the origins of the word. My bad.

OP posts:
Silentbarking · 25/04/2023 21:26

I’m actually trying to sweeten my potty mouth. Has anyone got any suggestions?

Takemehome7 · 25/04/2023 21:27

It hurts my ears when people say this.

Choconut · 25/04/2023 21:27

Once you go Vatican you can't go back again - one of my fave Simpsons quotes.

I say oh my god all the time, I'm not referring to a specifically Christian god though, I'm not bothered what religion they're from. I do have a soft spot for Ganesh though.

I have a very Christian friend who doesn't like people saying OMG so I try to remember around her.

Flaskfan · 25/04/2023 21:27

Is it better in Welsh?
My nain (methodist, I think) liked a good 'iesu Mawr' or 'diw'.

Moonmelodies · 25/04/2023 21:28

Why not simply forgive them?

RunAwayTurnAwayRunAwayTurnAway · 25/04/2023 21:28

Jesus ... in the Cabbage Van.

CovetedAsFuck · 25/04/2023 21:31

Silentbarking · 25/04/2023 21:18

I suggested it was popularised by Friends. Someone came along and put me right on that and I put my hands up. Are you still frothing at the mouth oh thread detective.

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I haven't read the whole thread, so kind of the opposite of a frothing detective actually?

Mild amusement doesn't make people froth at the mouth, fwiw

Birdsmakingnests · 25/04/2023 21:31

I say it a number of times in a day….

are you needing out for a pee Jesus
Jesus go and lie down
get down Jesus….
Jeeeee sus, NO 🐾

NannyGythaOgg · 25/04/2023 21:32

I was brought up catholic. My mother was devoutly Catholic.

My mother never, ever swore. ... BUT surely swearing is about the intent rather than the combination of letters that becomes a word.

Whilst she never 'swore', I remember 'You are enough to make a saint swear'.

Huh, So although she didn't swear, she .... well, I don't really need to say any more. The implication was - I was awful ... she was wonderful because .... my awful behaviour (as an unconforming child) didn't make her swear BUT would have made a Saint swear.

Is it any (fucking) wonder - I don't have any respect for religion any more (I respect faith but not religion)

Novynu · 25/04/2023 21:33

Go tell that to the many men named Jesus in Mexico

Silentbarking · 25/04/2023 21:33

CovetedAsFuck · 25/04/2023 21:31

I haven't read the whole thread, so kind of the opposite of a frothing detective actually?

Mild amusement doesn't make people froth at the mouth, fwiw

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Ahh, if you hadn’t read the whole thread you would be poor at summarising it then. Fair enough.

HyacinthBookay · 25/04/2023 21:34

I voted YABU by mistake but I think you are right to highlight this if it offends you. I really try not to use those phrases, although they are so embedded in the language that I probably miss sometimes.

Moidershewrote · 25/04/2023 21:34

Being offended by random typed words that are part of the culture of everyday language just seems pointless and says more about you than them tbh.

Why not expend your energy on something that brings you more joy? Like your actual religion / beliefs etc

GraysPapaya · 25/04/2023 21:34

I’m a Christian, a church going one, and I often catch myself saying ‘Jesus Christ’.
I think it’s far more a cultural thing. Given we’ve always been a Christian country. People aren’t saying it to be offensive and other religions aren’t ‘targeted’ as they’ve traditionally not been as wide spread in this country and are therefore not as embedded in culture and the way we speak.
So I do understand it’s frustrating but no one is trying to offend you, and that Jesus fella is all about forgiveness and love 😃

Choconut · 25/04/2023 21:35

Sortyourlifeout · 25/04/2023 20:22

Right?
I'm guilty of that sometimes when I'm actually 'speaking' and it just pops out. I feel bad when I say it though.

But to actually type it. Thought (or lack of) has gone into that.

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So people aren't allowed to say Jesus around you but it's ok for you to say OMG 'because it just pops out'? Don't you think Jesus might just pop out for other people?
I can't believe you then say you're not the language police. You know that lies make baby Jesus cry right?

NumberTheory · 25/04/2023 21:36

No.

I guess YANBU to wish it. But YABU to ask.

This language, the power of these words to convey our disappointment, annoyance, and frustration was created by the way it and much other Christian paraphernalia was forced on us by a powerful Christian minority who abused (and still abuse) their position. You don't have a unique or more justified claim to these words, the meaning some imbue in them when they use them negatively is born from a life long cultural association that was imposed on them by Christians that abused their power.

Biscuitsneeded · 25/04/2023 21:36

Excited101 · 25/04/2023 20:26

If I had it my way, I’d have absolutely nothing to do with any form of religion but here we are with religious schooling and local churches 🤷‍♀️ I say it, I type it, it doesn’t mean anything. How you choose to interpret it is not up to me.

This.

HeadbandOverMyEyes · 25/04/2023 21:37

Sortyourlifeout · 25/04/2023 21:26

I can quite honestly say that I've never, ever thought about the origins of the word. My bad.

Show quote history

It's fine, it's not bad in any way that you happen to have missed that particular meme… I was just surprised, that's all (and explaining to another poster why I was pretty much expecting you to have been told at some point that it was a religious oath). It is/was an incredibly common understanding of the word among Christians — if that hadn't been the general understanding, it probably wouldn't have stuck around as a rude word.

Thindog · 25/04/2023 21:37

Glory be to Peter!

jackstini · 25/04/2023 21:37

CaptainCorriganIsFlying · 25/04/2023 20:38

For the love of Christ up on the crucifix enjoying the view, you need to realise you don’t get to censor people, OP.

Now this one is just too far for me - not a short expletive - but incredibly disrespectful

Enjoying the view - wtaf??!!
This has actually really upset me

StormInaDcup99 · 25/04/2023 21:39

TemporaryNaming · 25/04/2023 21:23

I use it instead of swearing, but if I thought I would offended someone I wouldn't. I will try to be more mindful in future, it is a bad habit & I don't say it when collecting DD from her club held in a church hall so I know I can stop myself. I think it's nice to be nice so will absolutely try to be more mindful in future.

That is really thoughtful and gracious of you.

Personally I hate blasphemy and I find it really awful to hear especially things like jesus, jesus christ or jc on a bike etc.....I hate even having to type that, but need to make clear what I mean.

i tend to just pretend I haven't heard it if I'm in earshot or if a colleague at work is speaking directly to me. If I'm asked though.......I will mention that I hate blasphemy and find it upsetting.....and some people have said they'll try to bear it in mind and try not to do it around me, which I really appreciate.

I just don't understand why so many are so ungracious on this thread. If I knew something genuinely upset others I'd try my best not to do it anymore, or at least not in front of them......even if I didn't agree with their sentiment.

blackpearwhitelilies · 25/04/2023 21:40

I'm Christian and swear and blaspheme a lot, which I probably shouldn't. I try not to in front of people I know are Christian and think might be offended.
Personally I don't mind blasphemy. What I do hate, though, and I only ever see it on social media is people referring to the 'sky fairy'. It is so unnecessarily dismissive and just seems so childish and stupid. Fine, if you don't believe, but do you need to be so deliberately inflammatory and rude towards those who do?

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