Boss told me off for exclaiming Jesus Christ

[GloMum]

The other day my boss told me off for exclaiming Jesus Christ when I was surprised during a work meeting. Boss told me it’s rude towards people from different religions and asked me if I’d done my DEI training. I have, and I enjoy friendships with colleagues from varied backgrounds. I feel really stressed now in case I slip again, and embarrassed I should be told off.

YABU - This is an inappropriate exclamation at work
YANBU - It’s just an exclamation and you shouldn’t be told off for that.

But they're not in an Islamic country.

Just say “cheese and rice” next time 😅

Ridiculous. Maybe you were quoting the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical? Or the 80s playground chant about a motorcycle and a pair of testicles? He'd probably love that...

The point is that their lack of belief in blasphemy doesn't mean it ceases to exist in reality.

This thread isn't about allah, or islamic countries, so I am not sure of your point.

There was a time when that would have been considered very offensive in this country. I'm not a devout Christian but I don't like sweary people at work. It makes them seem shovey and aggressive. It says something about your tone and personality. I'd take your boss's advice onboard.

Jesus, you’d truly be pearl clutching in my workplace. We’re all highly qualified professionals (chartered fellows in 80% of my team) so you can’t blame it on low intelligence, but our language is deliciously bawdy. There’s not a day where someone doesn’t say ‘cunt’ and I don’t even notice the so-called blasphemy 😂

I can’t put it any better than Stephen Fry - ‘Swearing is a really important part of one's life. It would be impossible to imagine going through life without swearing and without enjoying swearing... There used to be mad, silly, prissy people who used to say swearing was a sign of a poor vocabulary -such utter nonsense. The people I know who swear the most tend to have the widest vocabularies and the kind of person who says swearing is a sign of a poor vocabulary usually have a pretty poor vocabulary themselves... The sort of twee person who thinks swearing is in any way a sign of a lack of education or a lack of verbal interest or -is just a fucking lunatic... I haven't met anybody who's truly shocked at swearing, really, they're only shocked on behalf of other people. Well, you know, that's preposterous...’

I’m a Christian and often exclaim ‘oh God’ or ‘Jeez’ but I do flinch when I hear people say the whole ‘Jesus Christ’ in frustration. I don’t like it, and I tell my (adult) kids off if they say it, although I couldn’t care less about other swear words. It’s just a sensitivity because we are not supposed to take the Lord’s name in vain. Obviously if you’re not a believer it doesn’t matter to you, they’re just words, but it does create discomfort for those of us who believe Jesus Christ is Lord and saviour.

And do many Italian people have mothers whose actual names are 'Mamma Mia'?

I don't think the general word 'mother', when not directed at anybody else's mother in particular, is especially dear to most people, is it?

Yes - I know all that.
You absolutely have the right to offend.
But people also have the right to tell you when they find something offensive.
It’s up to you if you want to carry on doing it

Well, no, my belief would still be the same whether I was in England or an "islamic" country. The difference is that I would suffer for my belief in an islamic country. Is that preferable to you?

As a nation, the only thing we’ve nailed better than “your mum” jokes is your mum. I can’t say someone bellowing “Mrs Sausagefund” in anger would strike me as anything other than funny (or impressive, she had a notoriously unpronounceable name) – swearing and blasphemy can be gloriously creative uses of language, they shouldn’t be censored.

Tolerance isn’t your strong point then 🙄

Over-righteousness is so addictive, isn’t it?

Next it will be suggested the Batman movies will be banned because Robin said…holy buckets Batman!

You can take offence at anything innocuous in an attempt to control others or to signal your supposed moral superiority. People also do it in an attempt to introduce censorship.

OP, your boss is ridiculous. I’d look for another employer.

Not sure what that tells me- it doesn’t explain why it is insulting to someone? If you yourself believe something and find it insulting to do so and would affect your relationship with your god then don’t do it. How does someone else saying these words insult you? I can’t make the connection myself. Why do I care what other people say if they aren’t of my religion?

The cult of motherhood is still strong in Italian society, people do revere their mothers in particular and motherhood in general. Which is why they say it -- it's powerful.

But no one has explained why it is offensive? Specifically what is the exact reason why it is offensive.

I think its a bit sad to be offended on behalf of a man who has been dead for nearly 2000 years. I really don't think he'll mind. Being crucified I imagine is agony so he'll probably have done a fair bit of exclaiming himself.

We’re discussing religion…not the colour of
someone’s skin. How on earth do you get through life being so offended by everything?

How about someone who finds religion itself - any form of sky fairy worship - offensive ? Where are their rights in all this ?

One again: "Jesus wept"

I used to work in a newsroom and one of my colleagues (who became my 2nd husband) used to shout 'Cunt On A Cross!' when vexed. To this day I still say it and have to be very careful in public...

I have heard plenty of Italians say "Ma Donna !"

It is not appropriate language for a professional setting

It’s very offensive to Christians. It’s one of the 10 commandments. My RE teacher told us off for using the name of God as a swear word and it has stayed with me for years.

Personally I'd find it far more offensive how much evil has been done under that cross myself.

Reminds me of Kath and Kim when Kath wants a statue of little baby Jesus and Kim makes a statue with babybels, little baby cheeses.