Jesus! Thank god!

**JuliusCaesar** · 27-07-2009, 23:09

As an atheist do you ever try to rid your speech (assuming you are Irish) of pious ejaculations? (Well, that's what my granny called them.) I found myself just about to say 'it's not raining thank god' and veered off into 'thank heavens' instead.

It made me realise just how often I say these things. Does it matter if a born-and-bred atheist says 'Christ!' when they get a fright? (I don't think so, but I draw the line at Thank god.) Is it offensive to Christians? Is it technically blasphemy? Or only to the listener? Will I be prosecuted?

Anyone else ponder these matters?

rccaulfield · 27-07-2009, 23:39

Yea -i cant stop-given up trying-sure no harm!

the_syco · 27-07-2009, 23:42

An old manager in a cinema near Clondalkin

was a born-again christain of the hypocritical type once threatened me with a sacking of he ever heard me take "the lords name in vain" again. T'was only a "Jeaaasus", but meh.

If I ever see him again, I'll be obliged to go "Jeaasus f**king Christ, a tree"

Apart from that, it depends who I'm around. I don't swear around my granddad (another one who "found" Christ again in the last few decades), but that's about it.

"Jeaasus f**king Christ" and also "holy mutha-f**king cow/christ/bast**d/sh|t".

It started off as a "new phrase word", but now gets used in my general speech.

Zillah · 28-07-2009, 00:27

I use it like any other curse words. There's few other ways to express yourself effectively when someone does something incredibly stupid than by saying "Jesus Fucking Christ!"

yoursaviour1989 · 28-07-2009, 00:33

its part of the culture that we live in to say it, i dont really read too much into it. quick point though, aren't 'thank god' and 'thank heavens' pretty much the same thing?

**Rev Hellfire** · 28-07-2009, 06:07

Its just another way of saying an exclamation mark at this stage to most people (assuming it was ever anything else).
The only people who get hung up on the 'lords' name are the very religious and the very non-religious

Genghiz Cohen · 28-07-2009, 11:02

I say, ".....Christ...." whenever I witness some form of stupidity or some such.
But I have replaced "Thank God." with "Thank Science/Thor/Odin/etc."
"Oh my Science..." is another good one.
"Oh your God." In the presence of Theists is quite funny to watch.

**Galvasean** · 28-07-2009, 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuliusCaesar

pious ejaculations

That shall be my new 'curse' phrase.

equivariant · 28-07-2009, 17:14

I ejaculate piously all the time - depsite being a confirmed atheist. I have come to the conclusion that the alternatives are too wimpy sounding. 'thank goodness' or for 'goodness sake' just don't have the same impact as my pious ejaculate (or should that be pious ejaculations?)

Overblood · 28-07-2009, 17:48

Ah lads can ye have a bit more cop on, talking about pious ejaculation while the Ryan report is still in the news...

fisgon · 28-07-2009, 18:11

Was at a humanist meeting once where one guy was talking about his lack of religious belief, and about his, now deceased, mother's absolute faith. When he mentioned her he instinctively said "My mother, lord have mercy on her,...". He realised what he had just done, and was able to smile at it.

This language is in us, especially in this country, and cannot be eradicated. We could try replacing some expressions with acronyms, as some people have done with .........OMG!, though I suppose JC! doesn't have the same impact.

Overblood · 28-07-2009, 18:43

By the way this was discussed here last month:

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055583036

pg633 · 28-07-2009, 19:52

I generally don't curse. I never really said thank god or god willing (In šāʾ Allāh) or the like either.

It is a bit more difficult when speaking in Irish.

Dia duit.
Dia is Muire duit.

Poppy78 · 29-07-2009, 13:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by pg633

It is a bit more difficult when speaking in Irish.

Dia duit.
Dia is Muire duit.

Or in English - Goodbye = god be with you
Or Spainish - Adios = A dios = to god, I think it is short for I commend you to god

WesternNight · 29-07-2009, 13:48

I have found myself feeling uneasy when "Thank God" slips out. I generally say "thank goodness" now.

I have no problem with exclamations of "Jesus!" "Oh my god!" "Christ almighty!" etc etc. When I use them it's generally in fright or frustration. Those words mean nothing to me other than another way to say "f*ck sake!"

27-07-2009, 23:09	#1
JuliusCaesar Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: At a desk Posts: 1,116 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Psychology	Jesus! Thank god! As an atheist do you ever try to rid your speech (assuming you are Irish) of pious ejaculations? (Well, that's what my granny called them.) I found myself just about to say 'it's not raining thank god' and veered off into 'thank heavens' instead. It made me realise just how often I say these things. Does it matter if a born-and-bred atheist says 'Christ!' when they get a fright? (I don't think so, but I draw the line at Thank god.) Is it offensive to Christians? Is it technically blasphemy? Or only to the listener? Will I be prosecuted? Anyone else ponder these matters?

27-07-2009, 23:39	#2
rccaulfield Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dublin Posts: 522 Adverts \| Friends	Yea -i cant stop-given up trying-sure no harm! __________________ Thou shalt back up thy statements with evidence.

27-07-2009, 23:42	#3
the_syco Syco Kitteh Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Leixlip Posts: 13,081 Adverts \| Friends	An old manager in a cinema near Clondalkin was a born-again christain of the hypocritical type once threatened me with a sacking of he ever heard me take "the lords name in vain" again. T'was only a "Jeaaasus", but meh. If I ever see him again, I'll be obliged to go "Jeaasus fking Christ, a tree" Apart from that, it depends who I'm around. I don't swear around my granddad (another one who "found" Christ again in the last few decades), but that's about it. "Jeaasus fking Christ" and also "holy mutha-fking cow/christ/bastd/sh\|t". It started off as a "new phrase word", but now gets used in my general speech. __________________ (Case) Cooler Master Cosmos 1000 .:. (Mobo) Gigabyte GA-X48-DS5 .:. (CPU) 12MB 64bit Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 .:. (Heatsink) TRUE 120 .:. (RAM) 4GB Dominator PC2-8500 .:. (GFX) 1GB HD4870 [Factory Overclocked] .:. (SATA2 HDDs) 250GB 320GB 500GB 1TB 1TB .:. (Audio) Creative SB X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Fatal1ty Professional, 64MB .:. (Joystick) Saitek x52 .:. (Headphones) Sennheiser SK Gaming .:. (Mouse) Saitek GM3200. From a book of untruths for the weakest mind, I keep the bible in a pool of blood, so that none of its lies can affect me...

28-07-2009, 00:27	#4
Zillah Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Bed, whenever possible. Posts: 9,256 Adverts \| Friends	I use it like any other curse words. There's few other ways to express yourself effectively when someone does something incredibly stupid than by saying "Jesus Fucking Christ!" __________________ Nothing special will happen in 2012. Please think of me, shaking my head in pity and disdain, when you finally concede this.

28-07-2009, 06:07	#6
Rev Hellfire Moderator Join Date: Feb 1998 Posts: 5,673 Adverts \| Friends Mod: IGSA, Roleplaying	Its just another way of saying an exclamation mark at this stage to most people (assuming it was ever anything else). The only people who get hung up on the 'lords' name are the very religious and the very non-religious __________________ "one of the most horrible people on this board by far" since Feb 1998

28-07-2009, 00:33	#5
yoursaviour1989 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 84 Adverts \| Friends	its part of the culture that we live in to say it, i dont really read too much into it. quick point though, aren't 'thank god' and 'thank heavens' pretty much the same thing?

28-07-2009, 11:02	#7
Genghiz Cohen Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: A Room With a Moose Posts: 2,546 Adverts \| Friends	I say, ".....Christ...." whenever I witness some form of stupidity or some such. But I have replaced "Thank God." with "Thank Science/Thor/Odin/etc." "Oh my Science..." is another good one. "Oh your God." In the presence of Theists is quite funny to watch. __________________ I miss Turtle...

28-07-2009, 17:14	#9
equivariant Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mayo Posts: 106 Adverts \| Friends	I ejaculate piously all the time - depsite being a confirmed atheist. I have come to the conclusion that the alternatives are too wimpy sounding. 'thank goodness' or for 'goodness sake' just don't have the same impact as my pious ejaculate (or should that be pious ejaculations?)

28-07-2009, 17:48	#10
Overblood Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,331 Adverts \| Friends	Ah lads can ye have a bit more cop on, talking about pious ejaculation while the Ryan report is still in the news... __________________

28-07-2009, 18:11	#11
fisgon Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 115 Adverts \| Friends	Was at a humanist meeting once where one guy was talking about his lack of religious belief, and about his, now deceased, mother's absolute faith. When he mentioned her he instinctively said "My mother, lord have mercy on her,...". He realised what he had just done, and was able to smile at it. This language is in us, especially in this country, and cannot be eradicated. We could try replacing some expressions with acronyms, as some people have done with .........OMG!, though I suppose JC! doesn't have the same impact.

28-07-2009, 18:43	#12
Overblood Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,331 Adverts \| Friends	By the way this was discussed here last month: http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055583036 __________________

28-07-2009, 19:52	#13
pg633 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Galway Posts: 747 Adverts \| Friends	I generally don't curse. I never really said thank god or god willing (In šāʾ Allāh) or the like either. It is a bit more difficult when speaking in Irish. Dia duit. Dia is Muire duit.

29-07-2009, 13:48	#15
WesternNight Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 1,195 Adverts \| Friends	I have found myself feeling uneasy when "Thank God" slips out. I generally say "thank goodness" now. I have no problem with exclamations of "Jesus!" "Oh my god!" "Christ almighty!" etc etc. When I use them it's generally in fright or frustration. Those words mean nothing to me other than another way to say "f*ck sake!"

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