The expression "Ah Jayus"

gormdubhgorm

I would not consider myself to be a believer in God.

However I find myself using the expression "Ah Jayus" fairly often.

As a result I have a number of questions relating to this:

1) Do other non believers have this problem?

2) Should a non-believer be using this expression?

3) What are the viable alternatives to "Ah Jayus" that would not involve the mention of any deity but have the same catch all meaning of the expression?

magicbastarder

regarding question 2, a non-believer has a greater mandate to use it than a believer. believers have religious reasons for not using it that atheists don't worry about.

Nervous Wreck

Seriously who cares? It's just a stupid expression, it's not a character defining statement.

dibkins

1) I wouldn't classify it as a problem, no more than my frequent exclamations of "By Jupiter's Beard!"!
2) Sure
3) "Poppycock", "Geenie Mac!" (may be invoking mythical creatures), "Oh my stars and garters". Or you could make up your own: "Dawkins bonce, i got shellfish on my jeans" or "Oh Galileo, what did you do to my telescope?" (nice little ring to that one with the O sound).

TheChizler

Chrisht...

dibkins

Actually, the phrase "Christ on a bike" is impossible to offend anyone with as it is purely fictional. There were no bicycles in the ancient world.

robindch

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

I find myself using the expression "Ah Jayus" fairly often

I'm more of a "Ah, Jaysus" kind of guy myself.

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

What are the viable alternatives to "Ah Jayus" that would not involve the mention of any deity but have the same catch all meaning of the expression?

"Bollocks" and technically, you should be fine saying "Oh, Buddha" as well, since Buddha was more of a guy than a deity.

It's a habit / tick for me at this stage.

Just like saying "bless you" when I hear someone sneeze and then instantly cringing. Some things take a long time to iron out of your habit systems!

Nodin

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

I would not consider myself to be a believer in God.

However I find myself using the expression "Ah Jayus" fairly often.

As a result I have a number of questions relating to this:

1) Do other non believers have this problem?

2) Should a non-believer be using this expression?

3) What are the viable alternatives to "Ah Jayus" that would not involve the mention of any deity but have the same catch all meaning of the expression?

Though I've left religion behind, I reserve the right to continue blaspheming.

JaseBelleVie

I always find myself saying it. And all other forms of "blasphemy".

"Mother of Christ", "Jesus f*cking Christ", "F*cking Jaysus", "F*cking Christ", etc. I'm a fairly profane person in certain settings. But I don't tend to swear as much IRL as I would online, and it really depends on the setting, to be honest. Amongst close friends, fire away. Around family, in work, etc. no-no. I never do.

Brian Shanahan

I personally prefer the term "primitive and outmoded concept on a crutch!" myself, or PAOCOAC (pron: POW-co-AC) if I'm in a hurry.

I still say bless you if somebody sneezes though.

wretcheddomain

Much prefer using the profanity 'Ah Mohammed'...

ElChe32

Jesus Titty-Fúckin' Christ is my preferred adaptation.

Nodin

JaseHeath wrote: »

I always find myself saying it. And all other forms of "blasphemy".

"Mother of Christ", "Jesus f*cking Christ", "F*cking Jaysus", "F*cking Christ", etc. I'm a fairly profane person in certain settings. But I don't tend to swear as much IRL as I would online, and it really depends on the setting, to be honest. Amongst close friends, fire away. Around family, in work, etc. no-no. I never do.

I'm rather the opposite.

gormdubhgorm

wretcheddomain wrote: »

Much prefer using the profanity 'Ah Mohammed'...

I used to work with a Muslim who moved to Ireland and lived here for years. She said "ah jayus" a lot too!

recedite

dibkins wrote: »

Actually, the phrase "Christ on a bike" is impossible to offend anyone with as it is purely fictional. There were no bicycles in the ancient world.

Belief in the presence of Bikes and Christs in the ancient world is a matter of faith.
But in the modern world, not so much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g0ZxxXGNYQ

Shrap

I've had a problem with saying "Christ on a bike" or "Jaysus wept" and similar since I caught it off my Dad as a small child. I have a vivid memory of him thoroughly threatening me on the way to the Grandparent's house, age approx 8, with "Will you for Christ'sake make sure you don't say Jesus in front of them!".

I used to help him fix the car (directing a torch and handing in spanners) as a young wan and admired greatly his ability to string religious invectives together. He doesn't do it any more and I regret not writing them down. "Holy Mother of crucified Christ on a bike!" was a favourite, as was "Sufferin' lamb of Jaysus!"

Staunch atheists, the lot of us. It's an Irish thing - part of our language at this stage really - it's the only part of "Ireland being a Catholic country" that I don't want to see die out

gozunda

Well there's

AhJaysus

BeJaysus

ChristonaBike

D ....

You get the idea

Canis Lupus

Jesus but in Spanish so heyzeus

Mr. CooL ICE

Jesus tap dancing Christ is mine. Think I stole it from south park

Akrasia

Whats the official church position on 'Holy Sh1t!'?

robindch

Nicolas Cage wrote: »

Jesus tap dancing Christ is mine.

A work colleague of mine was using that I'd say twenty years ago. No idea where he got it from

recedite

Akrasia wrote: »

Whats the official church position on 'Holy Sh1t!'?

Flush it down the jax like any other Sh1t.
I remember as a kid we used to mess around on bikes in a car park at the back of a church. There was a tap on the wall (or was it a water tank, I can't remember exactly) labelled "Holy Water" where we used to get a drink.
Tasted like any other water.

shruikan2553

I say it often too. That and "ah science" or "ah Dawkins"

Richard tity ****ing Dawkins anyone?

Hotblack Desiato

Akrasia wrote: »

Whats the official church position on 'Holy Sh1t!'?

It's not holy until at least one miracle has been attributed to it.

recedite wrote: »

I remember as a kid we used to mess around on bikes in a car park at the back of a church. There was a tap on the wall (or was it a water tank, I can't remember exactly) labelled "Holy Water" where we used to get a drink.
Tasted like any other water.

Mmmm, massive bacterial contamination... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_water#Hygiene

Sheldons Brain

You can "Ay Jaysus" away, but don't be doing doodles of Muhammad.

Falcon L

It's only words. Say what you need to say to express yourself. But, it does show the amount of brainwashing that sticks.

Kidchameleon

Na its just a word, like any other popular meme. Nothing got to do with religion. The RCC didn't copyright the chap.

Pat Mustard

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

What are the viable alternatives to "Ah Jayus" that would not involve the mention of any deity but have the same catch all meaning of the expression?

I don't think that any other phrase quite captures the casual disappointment expressed by 'Ah Jaysus.'

riffmongous

I always liked 'be (by) the thunderin jaysus' from Finnegans wake

challengemaster

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

2) Should a non-believer be using this expression?

As it falls under "taking the lords name in vain" I'd imagine if anything, non-believers are the only ones that should be using it.

So say it all you want, it's all the believers that should be worried!

gozunda

Some interesting non Jaysus alternatives

Holy Jumping Jehoshaphat
Holy Cow
Holy smoke
Holy moley
Holy mackerel

...

Insect Overlord

My late grandmother had a stroke 12 years before she died and lost her ability to speak or communicate in writing. She still exclaimed "Oh God" or "God help us" when things shocked her. It was a total reflex for her. Fascinating to think about.

iguana

gozunda wrote: »

Some interesting non Jaysus alternatives

Holy Jumping Jehoshaphat
Holy Cow
Holy smoke
Holy moley
Holy mackerel

...

Holey rusted metal, Batman.

Chuckieawrlaw

The Mustard wrote: »

I don't think that any other phrase quite captures the casual disappointment expressed by 'Ah Jaysus.'

your so witty....lol

riffmongous

An File wrote: »

My late grandmother had a stroke 12 years before she died and lost her ability to speak or communicate in writing. She still exclaimed "Oh God" or "God help us" when things shocked her. It was a total reflex for her. Fascinating to think about.

Sorry to hear that, it must have been some shock the first time it happened?

magicbastarder

if i remember my oliver sacks correctly, some stroke victims who lose the power of speech are still able to sing.

gozunda

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

I would not consider myself to be a believer in God.

However I find myself using the expression "Ah Jayus" fairly often.

As a result I have a number of questions relating to this:

1) Do other non believers have this problem?

2) Should a non-believer be using this expression?

3) What are the viable alternatives to "Ah Jayus" that would not involve the mention of any deity but have the same catch all meaning of the expression?

One thing - better be careful and not be done under Ireland's enlightened Blasphemy laws ...

The Life of Brian ...
The Stoning of Mattias:

Mattias: 'Look, I had a lovely supper, and I all I said to my wife was that that piece of halibut was good enough for Jehovah.'
Angry mob: 'Ooooh!'
Official: 'Blasphemy! He said it again!'

Brian Shanahan

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

It's not holy until at least one miracle has been attributed to it.

Actually one of the threads here a couple of months ago (I'm not digging tonight) pointed out that to become a (3rd class) relic all that needs to be done is to touch the object in question with a first or second class relic.

So I'm sure if somebody really wanted to, they could make a Holy Sh1t.

robindch

Brian Shanahan wrote: »

[...] if somebody really wanted to, they could make a Holy Sh1t.

And it would be a first class relic too :rolleyes:

gormdubhgorm

gozunda wrote: »

Some interesting non Jaysus alternatives

Holy Jumping Jehoshaphat
Holy Cow
Holy smoke
Holy moley
Holy mackerel

...

When the Americans dropped 10 million bibles on the Japanese during its occupation. The Japanese used the bible to roll smokes as it was cheaper then cigarette paper.

They used the "holy smoke" phrase a lot as a result...:D