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It doesn't bother me, but it was embarrassing when we were in the courtyard of a mosque in Istanbul and DS, who was not quite 2, said for the first time, very loudly, "Oh my God!!"
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@JoJoGirl: Oh yeah. I definitely consider it cursing. I think it's really offensive to those who believe in a God.
I also don't really understand when people say they make no efforts not to say "oh my god," "Jesus Christ," etc. It's usually the same people who say that who are really open minded and politically correct about other things but they don't understand that it is offensive to people who do believe in that specific deity. I'm a Christian, so of course JC offends me when used in appropriately, but even if I weren't I wouldn't use it. I also wouldn't any other religion's god's names in this sort of context. I think it's just poor and unnecessary. (Also in the same vein as "that's so gay" -- as in, stupid -- or saying "retarded." Even if it doesn't offend the speaker it could offend someone around them!)
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My LO thinks that Jesus Christ is something you say when you get hurt. Yeah, so I obviously "take the Lord's name in vain" but this is not something that bothers me or DH. I also say "Oh my God" a lot and LO picked up on it. She said it once around her nanny and her nanny did not like it.
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@coopsmama: I literally had no idea it could be offensive. The whole "God's name in vain" thing was not part of my religious or cultural upbringing. Now that I know that, I would of course consider how often I throw that phrase around. It has nothing to do with my religious beliefs - I don't think believing in God and not being offended by the phrase "oh my god" are mutually exclusive. But I get others don't feel that way.
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@JoJoGirl: Oh I didn't even read you're earlier reply so I wasn't trying to single you out! Sorry if it seemed that way! I just meant in general.
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@JoJoGirl: I know some people who don't like it/are offended by it so I try not to say it in front of them--this doesn't mean I will stop saying it in my own home. I don't see it being the same as saying something is gay or using the word retarded, but that's me. I was raised in a religious environment and am not at all religious today but I personally never took the whole taking the lord's name in vain commandment literally--to me it meant people who say they are Christian and living that religious lifestyle but are doing it as a front while they sin left and right and do bad things while still praying and going to Church.
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I consider it cursing and offensive. Can you imagine if people starting using the name of other religions' gods so loosely and in vain? Yikes!
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I live in the Bible Belt and people often say religious toned things to me. For instance, every time I talk to someone at my dentist's office they tell me to "have a blessed day" and they make you take a bible verse out of a little basket after your appointment. I'm sure they would be horrified to hear me take the Lord's name in vain. But I feel like it's not fair for them to be offended by me saying "Jesus Christ" but at the same time to feel free to push blessings on me without checking my religious beliefs first. I'm a Christian who takes the Lord's name in vain so I'm not offended either way. But I do think that hard core Christians often fail to look at the other side's point of view.
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@Truth Bombs: Well, the Bible verse thing is just odd because I feel that is out of place at a dentist appointment of all things BUT I will say that saying "have a blessed day" to someone is really just a form of wishing someone well and I think should be taken as such and not as an attempt at proselytizing or disregarding your personal beliefs. When someone says Jesus Christ and shouts it out it's generally in a derogatory way. As with all things, intent is truly what is important. (Heck, I don't celebrate Halloween but I don't get offended when someone wishes me a Happy Halloween on the day of even though it offends my religious beliefs. I smile and wish them one back.)
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@JoJoGirl: I'm with you. I honestly had no idea this was a thing. I mean one of the most prolific acronyms is OMG. Is that "swearing" too?
This must be a regional thing.
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I don't swear, but when I get frustrated I say "arg!" (less like a pirate and more guttural I suppose). DS, who has very few words, thinks it is hilarious and always repeats it after me several times.
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I usually don't, but I'm guilty of saying, "Oh my God," at times.
That aside, I really wish I knew more of you in real life. I have a potty mouth and nobody else around me does, so I always feel guilty about it, haha.
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@ShootingStar: YES. It must be regional - both where I grew up and where I live now.... never heard a single thing about it. My mom used to try to say "Darn!" instead of "Damn!" ... but that's about it. Around here, calling something retarded will definitely be 100 times more offensive and lose you friends than saying Oh my God.
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@coopsmama: @mrsjazz: Got it! I guess having never met anyone to whom it is offensive, it never occurred to me to think about it!
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@agold: I see your point if people are using "Jesus Christ". But saying oh my god could refer to any God, not just the Christian one.
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@ShootingStar: Yes! Sort of by definition. And again I think "lord's name in vain" may be a Christian thing? ie I'm not sure if saying "Oh my Krishna" would offend? Just trying to wrap my mind around this, ha ha.
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@ShootingStar: @JoJoGirl: ditto. I live near Boston and there's no way you're not going to hear "oh my God" on a regular basis, at least where I'm from.
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@NurseDMB: Haha. @Shootingstar and I are both in Boston as well.
I just want to make the point too this is not a "religious vs. not" thing. I know plenty of religious people to whom "oh my god" is not offensive at all. It's really up to the specific culture of that geographic/demographic/etc slice of society I think. And different things ARE offensive to different religions. For example, Jews consider taking the lord's name in vain to be *writing* it... which is why you may see people write "G-d". So to religious Jews, this whole thread could be mortally offensive. I guess my point is you just never know what offends other people/other cultures/other religions/other parts of the country so we all just have to do our best and let it go
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@JoJoGirl: +1
I don't have the energy to worry about people clutching their pearls over every little thing I say. I try not to be a straight up douchebag, but...meh. You worry about you, I'll worry about me and mine, is how I feel about it
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@blackbird: Ditto!
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@blackbird: ha! I think I need a sticker that says "trying not to be a straight up douchebag." It's my new life mantra.
To answer the question, we say all of these things and don't feel it's inappropriate. I would probably not say them around people that it would make uncomfortable. I also don't think it's comparable to calling something gay or retarded.
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@jessibear: Totally. I think, like with pretty much anything in life, knowing your audience is absolutely KEY.
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@jessibear: @.twist.: Yes to "know your audience." My coworker recently said "Jesus Christ" about something in front of another coworker who is VERY religious. I will admit, I say that on occasion. But I would be sure to never say it in front of that particular person. He didn't say anything about it, but even I felt awkward...
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To me, it's all about intent. My MIL often says "GD" or "JC" in front of me and it makes me uncomfortable because I feel like she is equating the God I believe in with a curse word/ something negative (because it's said in a negative context.) The thing is, I know she doesn't mean to offend me, so I let it go. I just hope she can curb it around DS. I don't imagine for a second that I don't accidentally offend others, too, so I hope they would forgive me.
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I think knowing your audience is one of those things that is a good idea, in theory, but in practice, when certain things are part of your vocabulary, no matter how careful you are, you slip.
My brother has special needs. People in my life know this. I can not tell you how many times people have used retarded. People who are smart, know their audience, whatever. In my mind, it is better to find other phrases.
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@looch: I have had pretty good luck "know your audience" my entire life. I think even being conscious about it is better than nothing. Of course people screw up, but Christians "sin" all the time and if I say "Jesus Christ" in front of one, once, accidentally, I think they will survive it.
Also, I know it's been said before in the thread but there is definitely a difference between using "retard/ed" and "Jesus Christ".
You don't choose if you're gay or bisexual or trans, and you don't get to choose your disabilities or the degree of severity of your disability. However, you certainly do choose your religion and the degree in which you follow it.
ETA: what I'm trying to say is, instead of just "find a new phrase", maybe it's best if people learn to "know their audience" (because there are oblivious people out there) AND if you're so inclined and want to make a difference, work on finding a new phrase.
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So just because you choose something doesn't mean you can't be offended by it? Riiiiight. I don't see that play out at all in day to day life. Except, in the case of Christians which is so fascinating to me. Everyone else from any other religious group gets a pass but when a Christian is offended - nope, no big deal.
And clearly, the point of my example (about using retarded or gay or what have you) for those who are questioning it is that just because YOU are not necessarily aware or not offended by a phrase doesn't make it any less offensive. I don't know any one personally in my day to day life who is gay. No family members, etc. so it's not something I think about or honestly even really care about. But just because it's not something that doesn't personally affect me or those I love doesn't mean I would use the word as a slang phrase or in a potentially derogatory way. I'm just not going there. Same with any other religious or people group.
People matter. At the end of the day, they do. Regardless of sex, religious group, etc. and so when I can choose to not use a phrase that is potentially offensive I won't use it. It's pretty straightforward. And I think that people are usually on board with that until they get to something they just don't understand so they don't even make an effort - and in this case it's clearly Christianity and more specifically using JC as a curse word. I can't think of any other religious figure that is singled out as a curse word.
And yes, intent and knowing who you are around matters. Obviously if you're with a close friend say whatever you want because you're not going to offend them. But I've heard people scream out JC at the store and frankly found it very offensive.
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@coopsmama: You can be offended by whatever the hell you want to be offended by. No one is stopping you.
I used Christianity in my comment because it's what is being talked about widely in this thread and I relate to it more as I was born and raised Catholic.
People do matter, of course, but I'm not going to tip toe around every sensitive issue just because someone, somewhere, may be offended. I guess, at the end of the day, you are a better person than me.
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@.twist.: okay, so you're saying what, that if you and I worked together, you'd try to find out that my brother had disabilities before using retarded in a conversation?
I am not trying to start a fight, believe me, it's not my intention, but I am trying to understand how you'd go about it.
I also think we're in agreement that the best solution consists of both approaches.
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@.twist.: So should a Muslim not be offended if they are held at an airport to be searched without any cause because they *chose* to be and dress like a Muslim? Frankly, I just find your assertion that choice have anything to do whether someone should be offended to be illogical. And yes, I'll just go on being offended by whatever the "hell" I want to be? (Was that seriously necessary?)
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<< in this case it's clearly Christianity and more specifically using JC as a curse word. I can't think of any other religious figure that is singled out as a curse word. >>
@coopsmama: I am probably wrong about this, but I always thought it was Christians who started using "JC" as a curse word? Most of my Jewish and Muslim friends make it a point not to use that phrase... I hear it mostly from Christians, lapsed Christians and agonistic/atheists!
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@looch: And yes, that was another thought of mine, too. You can't know everything in advance so I think it's just best to err on the side of not being offensive as much as possible. And there are certain words which in America are considered to be more slangy or just rude so that's why I just don't use any of them.
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@mrbee: I don't know any professing Christians who use it. It's definitely something that is more common among those who are not part of that faith - among my friends it's mostly those who are atheist/agnostic. But I don't think it's really something that is group to group - just varies person to person. One of my lapsed Roman Catholic friends uses it all the time.
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Yeah, I say it. I try to remember around religious friends but I've slipped (a lot) before.
My friend spanked her daughter when she said "oh my God" at my house last week.
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Was anyone else brought that taking the Lord's name in vain really meant swearing by Him?
"Over Spring Break I went to a Madonna concert and swear to God she saw me in the crowd and invited me to chill backstage with her!"
That's what I was taught- don't evoke God into your BS.
I don't like GD and JC for the same reason as @simplyfelicity: because it's making curse words out of God and Jesus.
Eta: is OMG more of an awe/awesome thing anyway? I don't see this as swearing.
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I always read OMG as "oh my gosh"
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@mrbee: I know your comment was for @coopsmama, but I don't know any Christians (whether protestants, catholics, etc) who use the Lord's name in vain regularly. In my experience, they are non-practicing or those who identify with a religion for familial/ cultural vs spiritual reasons.
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@coopsmama: In this very thread you wrote the word "God", which can be offensive to devout Jewish people. I'm sure you had no intention of offending anyone, but it's quite possible you did. Don't hold others to higher standard than you hold yourself. Or assume that others should know and adjust to what might offend a Christian, but that there is no need for you to know and adjust to what might offend a Jewish person. And I really can't get on board with the idea of Christians playing the victim that they are the only ones who aren't allowed to be offended. Think of all the controversy surrounding cartoon depictions of Muhammad which is extremely offensive to Muslim people but most people support the free speech rights of journalists to choose to continue to create them. And being offended by someone saying OMG or JC is no where near the level of being singled out and searched by TSA for no reason other than your appearance or religion... there is obviously no comparison there.
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@looch: No. I said there was a difference between using retarded and jesus christ. I don't use the word retarded. Which is also not what this conversation is about. I merely mentioned, as others have, that they shouldn't be compared. Know your audience doesn't mean "find out everything about them before talking". It means, the more you learn about someone, the more you will be able to gauge their level of humour, their opinions on hot topics, etc.
@coopsmama: @Truth Bombs: already said exactly how I feel about your comparison between JC & Muslims being searched at an airport. I won't reiterate what she said. Also, I am an atheist and I rarely use the Lord's name in vain because it just isn't in my vernacular. (OOPS, forgot: BUT, most of the religious people I know use some for of OMG or JC!)
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I'm Christian, practicing and strive to live firmly in my faith, I don't find it offensive and I've definitely slipped and said oh my god. Not in vain but just a common "phrase" heard around here.
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