The expression "Ah Jayus"

gormdubhgorm · 06-01-2015 03:51PM #1

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 · 06-01-2015 03:54PM

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 · 06-01-2015 03:58PM

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

dibkins · 06-01-2015 03:58PM

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 · 06-01-2015 04:01PM

Chrisht...

dibkins · 06-01-2015 04:06PM

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 · 06-01-2015 04:43PM

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.

06-01-2015 05:16PM

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 · 06-01-2015 05:31PM

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 · 06-01-2015 05:33PM

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 · 06-01-2015 05:47PM

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 · 06-01-2015 06:29PM

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

ElChe32 · 06-01-2015 06:31PM

Jesus Titty-Fúckin' Christ is my preferred adaptation.

Nodin · 06-01-2015 07:01PM

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 · 06-01-2015 07:31PM

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 · 06-01-2015 09:52PM

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 · 07-01-2015 09:42AM

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 · 07-01-2015 09:46AM

Well there's

AhJaysus

BeJaysus

ChristonaBike

D ....

You get the idea

Canis Lupus · 07-01-2015 10:41AM

Jesus but in Spanish so heyzeus

Mr. CooL ICE · 07-01-2015 02:33PM

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

Akrasia · 07-01-2015 02:40PM

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

robindch · 07-01-2015 02:44PM

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 · 07-01-2015 04:03PM

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 · 07-01-2015 04:14PM

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

Richard tity ****ing Dawkins anyone?

Hotblack Desiato · 07-01-2015 10:38PM

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 · 07-01-2015 10:43PM

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

Falcon L · 07-01-2015 10:48PM

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

Kidchameleon · 08-01-2015 12:34AM

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 · 08-01-2015 02:34AM

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.'

08-01-2015 02:44AM

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

challengemaster · 08-01-2015 02:54AM

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!

The expression "Ah Jayus"

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