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.

I am atheist and have serious misgivings re organised religion but recognise that it's offensive to some and inappropriate in a workplace. I teach secondary and very politely and kindly remind my students that it's not appropriate to blaspheme.

My v good friend is a practising Christian and finds it offensive and upsetting. I know this. I understand this. I can do a small thing to ensure she is not upset. Why wouldn't I? There are a hundred exclamations I can use that won't hurt somebody.

I hate the whole be kind movement and the idea that you must never give offence. Some things need to be said. But as long as I can exclaim without offence, I choose that.

You think no religious people ever break any of their religion's rules? You must be incredibly naive to think that. Phrases like 'Oh My God' are extremely common, including among Christians and including practising Christians.

No it's a normal vernacular usage in English

Your boss doesn't sound very bright

I grew up in a very religious environment and I feel very uncomfortable hearing people say this kind of thing. I hate to hear youtubers screaming OMG every two seconds as well. I have a friend who grew up in a similar way and she doesn't like it either. I think it depends on your background, if you were always told that that language is disgusting, wrong, sinful etc you will probably never fully shake off your unease at hearing it. For anyone who can't identify think how you'd feel hearing words that you have been conditioned to find offensive eg racist or misogynistic language. Because conditioning is what it comes down to. So anyone could well be working with people who while they might not openly "take offence" could feel quite out of sorts hearing language that was traditionally considered blasphemy.

I’m not religious (atheist) but I wouldn't say that in front of people in a professional setting.

I'm not asking Christians to change their beliefs?! I'm asking them not to impose them on others regardless of whether they share them. Like I don't. Christianity was never supposed to be about sideways management of other people it was supposed to be about your own personal relationship with Jesus and God. Imposing rules on others is frankly silly and not in the spirit of Christianity and I'd like to think we've moved on from that sort of nonsense in this day and age.

I sincerely hope you also never say "bloody" (a contraction of by Our Lady). 🤷‍♀️

But he was a child. Can't you see the difference?

I say it a lot, and Christ on a bike even more.

There's nothing offensive about saying the name of a made up character.

Tell him you were praying for support with staying awake in his meeting

No it isn't. By a country mile.

I personally would find it offensive.

It's not important to me. It's not important to anyone I know. I live in one of the most Christian countries there is and Jesus Christ is used as an exclamation by everyone, from priests to toddlers. It's not swearing and nobody cares.

You find it offensive? So what? Be offended. That's not my problem.

We aren’t a religious family but I warned my kids that some people don’t like blasphemy so to use other swear words.
I wouldn’t swear at all in some workplaces though.

"I wouldn't use the name of Allah in a way which would be offensive to Muslims so why would I think it ok to use the words Jesus Christ in a way that might be offensive to some Christians."

Because the Christian blasphemes are normal and usual parts of British English. Almost everyone uses God's name in vain, including some religious people.

Just say "fucking hell" in the next meeting then ask him if that's better.

Or ask him why Christians get to impose their religious beliefs on others.

No one has the right not to be offended.

I wouldn't be offended, but I would think you were unprofessional.

People are much more easily offended these days. I'm glad to no longer be working as I'd be told off every day! 🤐

I think some awareness of the context might be useful. If it's a meeting with clients, exclaiming any words ('blasphemous' or otherwise) in a shocked or angry way may be inappropriate, but at your desk or in a meeting with people you know is another matter, and shouldn't lead to a telling off IMO.

I do love the expression 'Christ on a Bike' - very satisfying 😂.

You would have died of shock at my Catholic boarding school. Every second phrase was 'Jesus fucking Christ'.

Some religions more than others.

It may be a fairly common expletive but it's not right for a work meeting. It's also jarring on here especially when paired with f or other swear words.

Does he though? Why?

I’m not religious and say it a lot myself, though not in a meeting. I would be self aware enough to know it’s not appropriate to bandy it about regardless of the company you're keeping (lapsed Catholic so something I was brought up not to say).

I’m an atheist and I would find it inappropriate but for obvious reasons it wouldn’t offend me .

Why is that other people's problem though?

If you were a Christian, surely you wouldn't "take the Lord's name in vain"?

Do people seriously think atheists invented blasphemy? Seriously? It is very very clearly Christians who started taking the Lord's name in vain. And early on otherwise they wouldn't have needed a commandment. I mean #3 isn't "don't stick a fish up your nose into your brain" because no one did it. You only need a commandment if people are already doing it.

I say, "sweet baby Jebus" a lot. Including at work. But then my boss doesn't care when I say "fuck" either.

In countries where Islam/Hinduism/Sikhism/etc are either the majority religion or have had significant influence, there absolutely are phrases derived from religion that are used sarcastically, or to express frustration.

My home country isn’t Islamic, but it was part of the Ottoman Empire, and ‘Mashallah’ is still part of the vernacular.