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.

Yes it’s unprofessional and potentially offensive. Just don’t do it again. You’ve apologised so let it go.

It's not unprofessional and I'd people are offended that is there own issue to deal with. OP shouldn't have apologised at all

"no-one would say anything about Allah, or Islam, but Christianity is seen as less worthy of respect"

As I've said before, that's because of which expressions are part of British English.
You say you're not imposing anything, but you seem to agree with her boss, who IS imposing his values on OP.

I’m sorry if I’m being stupid, but what is the R word? Can you give me a clue?

But plenty of people would argue exactly the same about the N word, the P word, the C word (for Chinese people), the R word (for those with learning difficulties) and many more.

It's not about somebody else policing your language - it's just you acknowledging basic decency when you know that a word or phrase offends a great many people. Nobody is forcing you; it's just whether you respect other people's feelings and sensitivities or not.

I’ve never liked when people do this. And I think it’s unprofessional in the workplace.

“As others have said, no-one would say anything about Allah, or Islam, but Christianity is seen as less worthy of respect.“

Except they do. That the more commonly used phrases refer to Christianity reflects the fact that it was an is the majority religion in the UK/ the majority of English speakers. Other countries and speakers of other languages have our own ones that reflect our own religious heritages.

I'm really surprised by the outrage on here. I don't know anyone who is even vaguely religious, let alone goes to church. It's a fairly common saying (along with bloody hell, oh my god etc). Just part of everyday language surely? I don't think someone finding something offensive automatically means other people have to change their behaviour?

If he found it offensive then surely he should say so ? Most people try to avoid causing offence. I don’t think it should be a big deal. Why use phrases in the work place that cause tension?

No one uses words from Islam in the same way because, unless you've been brought up as Muslim, those words are not part of your everyday language. So they're not there when your brain goes into exclamation mode. I'll bet Muslims do have curse words though.

At my work we are instructed not to say things like blindsided or blacklisted in case anyone blind or black is offended. It's a strange contrast with people here defending their right to say words that a lot of people of faith find blasphemous and offensive. Seems like two different extremes.

"Good Heavens!’ or ‘for Heaven’s sake!’ would have sounded slightly more restrained"

Good Heavens is something my (chapel-going) grandmother would have said. She'd be over 100 years old now. It would sound very twee coming from a 40 year old. Also, it's about the religious heaven so still blasphemous isn't it?

OP, are you under 18 and working in a part-time job?

If not, isn't it time you grew up and acted like an adult?

I think there’s a clue in the post below yours!

I exclaimed 'bloody hell' in a church. There was momentary silence but when people realised that the death trap of a folding table I was clearing away had snapped shut on my finger it was generally agreed it was quite a mild response.

Not quite the point of the thread, however they aren't all the same God. Why would the same God set out different rules and laws and ways to him for each religion? Like Jews have something like 600 odd rules they are meant to keep to make sure they get to God, where as Christians just need to believe in Jesus and repent of their sin! Weird the same God would make it so hard for some and so easy for others!

I would try and not use any God's name in vain - although we are all slip up and mistakes!

You think “Jesus Christ” is a swear?

Absolutely agree with this.
Once you know a phrase offends someone then most people would avoid using it ..

It's not something I'd intentionally say at work because it's a bit unprofessional (though I can't be certain I wouldn't blurt it out if I was startled) but outside of work is another matter. I don't care if other people are offended by it. I'm offended by many things that religious folk do so I guess that evens things up a bit.

Like I said, I googled it, so you can do the same. Apparently, it's a bad word, so I suppose it's better I don't write it here.

Don’t be silly. I’ve shouted ‘Christ on
a bike’ when I fell downstairs in front of the vicar.

In the grand scheme of things, it’s not a burning at the stake offence.

But what about;

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the wee donkey!"
😱

That was exclaimed by a policeman!
😱😱

on national television!
😱😱😱

It is the same God.
Those who are Jewish, Christian or Muslim are literally worshipping the same God.
It's all down to how they decide to interpret the "rules".

with Mary on the handlebars!

Ah no seriouly that's a bit OTT, sure it's said on the radio over here a bit & god knows (whoops!) I've said it in class.. well maybe not with the added "Christ" part in fairness but it's really not a big deal

I'm sure plenty of actually religious people in those countries find them offensive.

It may be that in a country that has a culturally religious heritage, the words/names/phrases are therefore commonly known and thus used by those who aren't especially (or at all) devout.