Do you say Oh, my God

[LoveTulips]

I take many art courses online and one artist instructor , is very nice, but a bit of a holy roller. And he doesn't get into an argument with you if you disagree with him, he just calmly discusses it. Others in the group can be vehement. He teaches portrait painting but he also quotes the bible online, etc. Anyways, there was something he posted about if you say, "Oh, my God", you are disrespecting God. I didn't get into it with him and others online, but I thought I'm sure God could not care less about this as long as you are not hurting anyone mentally/physically with your behaviour.

 

[Rakaia]

I do say it, but try to say oh my goodness.
As an atheist it feels wrong to say it but it's such a common term and often the result of a reflex reaction, as is the F bomb.

 

[Paco Dennis]

I take many art courses online and one artist instructor , is very nice, but a bit of a holy roller. And he doesn't get into an argument with you if you disagree with him, he just calmly discusses it. Others in the group can be vehement. He teaches portrait painting but he also quotes the bible online, etc. Anyways, there was something he posted about if you say, "Oh, my God", you are disrespecting God. I didn't get into it with him and others online, but I thought I'm sure God could not care less about this as long as you are not hurting anyone mentally/physically with your behaviour.

Instead of "Oh my God"...I wonder if "Holy mackerel would be ok?

 

[caramel]

I'm not religious, but I attended a church for a while where "oh my God" wasn't OK.

I didn't say it to anyone then out of respect. I do say it a lot now.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

I say Oh my gawd all the time. It has nothing to do with God and she knows that

 

[MarkD]

My work around has been:

“holy moly!”

But if I’m really feeling it ..

“holy moly, mother of pearl!”

 

[Gary O']

Anyways, there was something he posted about if you say, "Oh, my God", you are disrespecting God. I didn't get into it with him and others online, but I thought I'm sure God could not care less about this as long as you are not hurting anyone mentally/physically with your behaviour.

Read the third commandment in Exodus 20

It's pretty explicit

 

[Pepper]

Read the third commandment in Exodus 20

It's pretty explicit

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
My question: How is this taking the name in vain? Please explain.

 

[dilettante]

I'm guilty, but in most uses it's just a colloquial exclamation to me. I'm more likely to say something like "Good Gourd" in text, attempting to soften the offense in the eyes of readers without fooling anyone.

But isn't the important thing less in the literal spoken words than what is in the mind and heart of the utterer each use? If the words are magic than any euphemism should serve to deflate the offense. If not, aren't we back to the intentions of the utterer again?

I'm a far cry from any sort of theologian. But is suffering in silence after whacking your thumb with the hammer enough unless you can truly blank your mind or picture yourself with the head of a donkey as well in such an instance?

 

[MarkD]

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
My question: How is this taking the name in vain? Please explain.

I’m guessing it means without need. Even so if you can thank God out of an abundance of gratitude, I wouldn’t think anyone would be too bothered if you invoked Him out of exasperation once in a while.

 

[Pepper]

I’m guessing it means without need.

Without further input, sounds right, but weak.

 

[Fyrefox]

I’ve encountered many work-arounds to religious exclamations and expletives in my day. My mother would simply say, “Oh, crow!” I don’t know the origin of that one. My father would say, “Well, I’ll be!” I once knew a kid who said, “By Jupiter!” Remember when Perry White in the Superman universe would say, “Great Caesar’s ghost!”

I simply ask myself, “WWSD”…what would Sylvester do? That’s Sylvester the cat, BTW. He’d say, “Sufferin’ Succotash!” If you work at it, you can even get the right note of disgust in your voice…

 

[oldaunt]

Can't say it matters. There area lot of worse things being said.

 

[Gary O']

My question: How is this taking the name in vain? Please explain.

Using His name loosely

Consider the Lord's prayer;
'Hallowed be Thy name'

 

[George1959]

I don't say it. It is used so often by teens meanwhile that it means nothing anymore.

 

[jujube]

My 4th-grade teacher would get on us if we said "gee"or "gosh" because she said "gee" is just like saying "Jesus" and "gosh" is too close to "God".

That's carrying it a bit far......

 

[TheOtherRick]

Nah, I want to be respectful of people even though I am a non-believer. Besides which my cursing runs much bluer.

 

[Pepper]

My 4th-grade teacher would get on us if we said "gee"or "gosh" because she said "gee" is just like saying "Jesus" and "gosh" is too close to "God".

That's carrying it a bit far......

Hope this was Not a public school!

 

[Tommy]

I cringe a bit whenever I hear this, but it is not for me to judge. I sometimes say a brief prayer for the speaker.

 

[Rose65]

I take many art courses online and one artist instructor , is very nice, but a bit of a holy roller. And he doesn't get into an argument with you if you disagree with him, he just calmly discusses it. Others in the group can be vehement. He teaches portrait painting but he also quotes the bible online, etc. Anyways, there was something he posted about if you say, "Oh, my God", you are disrespecting God. I didn't get into it with him and others online, but I thought I'm sure God could not care less about this as long as you are not hurting anyone mentally/physically with your behaviour.

I am a Christian and I do think it's not good to use God's name in vain. I wouldn't argue with anyone about it though, I just stay quiet for peace sake. I also definitely do not like hearing Jesus's name being used as a swear word, that is extremely disrespectful. I doubt anyone would use the important names of other religions as curse words.

 

[Capt Lightning]

I usually use Jeeezusss. I remember way back, the Irish comedian Dave Allen referred the holy trinity as 'Big daddy, the kid and spooky'. We just called the head man, Big G.

 

[oldaunt]

I am a Christian and I do think it's not good to use God's name in vain. I wouldn't argue with anyone about it though, I just stay quiet for peace sake. I also definitely do not like hearing Jesus's name being used as a swear word, that is extremely disrespectful. I doubt anyone would use the important names of other religions as curse words.

Had a friend once whose favorite swear was "Mohammad on a cracker". Interestingly, he was from Egypt.

 

[fuzzybuddy]

I find it ironic that, me, an atheist says, "Oh My God" constantly. For me, it is merely an expression, which happens to be an extremely common expression. If you have religious qualms about saying it, nobody is forcing you to say it. And since it is so common, I think the saying has lost all religious meaning.

 

[Pinky]

I sometimes say "Oh, My Guard!" or "Jeebus!" .. is that bad?

 

[officerripley]

My 4th-grade teacher would get on us if we said "gee"or "gosh" because she said "gee" is just like saying "Jesus" and "gosh" is too close to "God".

That's carrying it a bit far......

Maybe you could've told her you weren't saying "gee" but rather "jee"?