In the past, people confronted me with the supposition that if I use expressions which use religious references, I am not agnostic. I disagree, and wrote a FB post about it at the time.
Which of these expressions do you hesitate to use, assuming they fit your dialect? Which do you use by accident?
Bless you, after a sneeze
Bless you, to indicate good will
Jesus Christ, as an expression of frustration
Jesus fucking Christ, if you swear in other circumstances
God damn you
Dammit
Go to Hell
God knows, as in no one knows
Heaven on earth, or seventh heaven
Heavens, as an expression of surprise
Thank God, as an expression of relief
Oh my God, as expression of surprise
Are there any other phrases in the dialect you share, which you avoid or try to avoid?
Oh yes. My take on it is that these phrases have been integrated into the vernacular and, therefore, have lost most of their religious meaning. I don't use them for religious purposes, but more to express frustration or simply out of habit. I don't they have any religious meaning anymore.
I only avoid "thank God", "God knows", and "Bless you". I use all the others, and take it as understood that it's not meant religiously. And get a blaspemous catharsis by saying "Sweet freakin' Jesus", usually from frustration, or "Sweet freaky Jesus" as an expression usually of lust.
Oh lort. I still use most of them... though typically I don't say bless you if someone sneezes. Frankly, I don't see a point in saying anything other than, "need a tissue?"
I have not put any real thought to it because they are just words. I don't want to put any meaning to it other than a phrase.
If I'm being honest.. I still use most of them..accept on AG...for two reasons.
It a force of habit which is deeply wired in through ingrained language and culture.
When communicating with Thiests..which I must do since they are family, friends, work colleagues..and the wider community..I need to communicate expressions like "go to he'll!" Like I really mean it.....
Not go to that place that in my opinion does not exist..finding am alternative..is just not an alternative for me..life is too short...
If I'm being honest.. I still use most of them..accept on AG...for two reasons.
It a force of habit which is deeply wired in through ingrained language and culture.
When communicating with Thiests..which I must do since they are family, friends, work colleagues..and the wider community..I need to communicate expressions like "go to he'll!" Like I really mean it.....
Not go to that place that in my opinion does not exist..finding an alternative..is just not an alternative for me..life is too short...
Yes, I use these terms all the time. Whether it is for swearing or just to be ironic or funny.
“Holy Mother Of God, that’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard”
“Jesus Fucking Christ you’re stupid”
Usually I do try to avid certain references like, “act of God”, “God Knows”...etc. Sometimes at work, however I will use those terminologies to get my point across to those who believe. I try to remain professional and respectful of other’s beliefs and will adapt to my surroundings.
I do say "bless you" when someone sneezes. I am not specific about from whom the person can expect the blessing to come. I use "goddammit" and "Jesus Christ" as expletives, and have been known to tell someone to "go to hell." I don't feel it is necessary to believe something literally if it appropriately expresses a thought or feeling I wish to convey.
Interesting point ... i can't think of an atheist equivalent ... perhaps all the vast rest of the language is a reference to normality.
My catholic college roommate used to say, "Judas Priest!"
Btw ... I use Islamic greetings with Muslims and Shalom with Jews and call my of my Chinese friends comrades. Neither affects my "commitment" to atheism.
I am fine with using religious terms in self- expression. Personal favorites include:
Christ on a crutch! - surprise and exhaustion
Fucking Hell! - variations on fuck
Good God! - exposure to a funky jam
Good Lord! - exposure to remnants of air from my vegetarian diet
I have others...
i say bless you, and often add that it is my own blessing, not god's, i am bestowing, and i have only two to spare.
i do not avoid any of the other expressions, although i usually add a middle initial to the jesus fucking christ. i've never been christian, by the way. somehow, oh richard dawkins doesn't work when you bang your toe or trip over the dog.
however, i do not say b.c. and a.d. i say b.c.e. and c.e. i do have my standards!
if i am for some reason actually speaking about jesus, i do not give him the title christians have given him. jesus wasn't even his real name, but at least it's just a name. christ is a title. i don't use it (except, as aforementioned, i am producing an excited utterance, in which case i am just using the expression as a sound).
i most certainly do not say stuff like "it's in god's hands," "it's god's will" or, other than a response to a sneeze, "bless you."
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