In the light of the Carol Thatcher issue....

[DumbledoresGirl]

....is the exclamation "golly!" offensive?

Just heard on Radio 4, the word derives from the Negro word god. So I suppose it has always been blasphemous, but that aside, is it now offensive?

Religion, sex and scatology surely DG?

Other languages do have a much wider range of insults with particular focus on different kinds of animals. 'Son of an owl' is considered v. v. rude in Hindi, and variants on donkey in polish and german.

Shit - neither sex or religion.

And Piss

That's what I said: sex, religion and scatology. Neatly summing up the british mindset.

Ah sorry - missed that. .

Believer, please tell me you're joking!

I think bloody does refer to the blood of Christ. Seem to remember in my dimmest memories of convent school being told off by a nun for saying it.

Blimey I missed that post by believer... I'm going to echo spongebrain, please tell me you're joking.

totally with believer on this one. god botherers untie unite

blummin' is bloody gummin' a reference to when jesus lost his teeth

Huh?

I think believer's suggestion is admirable. Provided, of course, that anyone who implies that nonbelievers are likely to go to Hell is also done for a religious hate crime. Although given that most people who use "Jesus" as a swear word are Christian (albeit not perfect sinless Christians, but then who is?) the process of "doing" them for a religious hate crime against their own religion should involve some interesting legal arguments.

a portmanteau!

believers are allowed to use jesus - its like the 'n' word ownership - we are taking back what heathens have abused for years

and nonbelievers go to hell - so theres not a lot we can really do about that - we don't make the Rules up

But surely, even if you're a believer you shouldn't take the Lord's name in vain?

no its fine if we do it - god said we can - anyoine else goes to hell

And did God tell you you could judge others for their beliefs? Isn't that his job?

Sinner!!!!

"we don't make the Rules up"

I believe that's exactly what we do do.

I am loving the way this thread is progressing btw. A real stream of conciousness isn't it?

well non believers make rules up thats true.

i'm not judging - am just saying its ok for us to say 'jesus' but not heathens

You so are judging... let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Personally I never take the Lord's name in vain

All I said was, this fish was good enough for Jehovah........

So do you actually think that anyone who uses "Jesus" as a swearword should be "done" for a religious hate crime? Or do you think that anyone who uses it as a swearword should be interrogated as to their personal belief system and anyone whose beliefs don't tally with yours should then be "done" even though their actions and intention were exactly the same as the Christian sweary person? Because if so then I think I can detect religious hatred somewhere else other than in casual swearing...

As it happens, I do think that you (well, not you personally, unless you are Really Old, but people) made the Rules up. While I can see it would be convenient for you if there were global legislation saying "lisaofpalatine's beliefs are Right, and anyone who disagrees is Wrong" that's not likely to happen. And the various factors that mean it's not likely to happen are also what protects you against global legislation saying "lisaofpalatine's beliefs are Wrong, and these other beliefs are Right".

All religion is made up isn't? God didn't speak from the heavens to say "You must go to mass once a week, on a sunday, though you can go on a Saturday evening so long as it's after 5pm cos it doesn't count before that". As far as I know the only time God has ever given any direct instructions it was of the "Thou shalt not kill" type. Everything else has been made up by us.

By HeadFairy on Sat 07-Feb-09 16:57:29 - pmsl