Something among SOME non-Christians I find strange...?

Question

Hello, everyone. I'm not trying to attack anyone. Let me begin with that. It's just that someone pointed it out and I find the same thing very strange among atheists and others who don't believe in the Christian God.
Of course, those who do not believe in God behave that way. Sometimes, they'll make a point of their nonbelief, expressing it freely (which, of course, is no problem). Same thing for other religious people, such as Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, etc. Yet, have you ever noticed that, in times of crisis, these same people will exclaim, "Oh, my God!"? There was also something on Discovery Times with American soldiers about to pass through Afghanistan. Before, they were smoking and cursing as they usually did. After hearing about the dangers in Afghanistan, the same began to pray to God for protection.
What do you think? Why would some nonbelievers fall back on God in desperate times, and why would atheists exclaim "Oh, my God!" when their lives are threatened?
I'm serious.

Megami of Nekro: Very nice reply. At least, through that, everyone else would know that you're a true pagan and not an uncertain person trying to push the idea of monotheism to the back of your mind.

Frodo: The phrase "Oh my God!" is different from "blind as a bat." The latter is a simile. The person would be comparing someone's vision to that of a bat without calling the person a bat. The former, however, implies that the person acknowledges the existence of one, all-powerful, supernatural being.

IamSofaKing...: I wasn't trying to say that. I know that there are atheists who don't smoke or curse and have morals. I'm just saying that their behavior wouldn't indicate that they are Christians, which would mean that they most likely wouldn't believe in monotheism, or one, all-powerful God as described in the Bible.

Answer 1

Because we are influenced by western culture and media from a babe on up.

"Oh my God,Gosh,Goodness! take your pick is pounded into us as an expression from the very first cartoon.

Jesus Christ you people make a big deal out of little things!

hehe

Answer 2

"Oh my God" is a phrase, not a religious utterance. Saying it is just like saying "Blind as a bat" people know bats aren't blind, that they have very acute senses, but continue to use the phrase none the less. Ones vocabulary is a reflection of their society and nothing more.


**Edit: I think you're missing my point...regardless of what kind of statements they are "Oh my God" and "Blind as a Bat" are both culturally based. People in other countries don't necessarily use those phrases. When someone uses a phrase like that, which has been widely used in their culture for a long time, there is not even a correlation between the phrase and their beliefs. Human beings pick up language from other people. That's how babies learn to talk and how adults expand their vocabulary. Kind of like when your friend will start saying something and fairly soon after you start saying it too. Phrases are just part of a cultural identity, and America happens to have a lot of Christian things embedded in its culture. Mainly because it is a country that was founded by extremely religious Christians. Consequently, America's people walk around blurting out Christian based sayings a lot....even if they don't want to. On a side note there are in fact some Christians I know who won't even say "Oh my God" because they think its offensive.

Also, though people tend to forget, Muslims and Jewish people are monotheistic too. Therefore saying "Oh my God" works just as well religiously for them as it does for Christians.

Answer 3

"Oh my god" is a popular phrase. It is said by Christians an non-believers the world over (mostly Western). Don't read too much into it's use by anyone.

The phenomenon you mention is called being a "Foxhole Christian". I know very few true atheists, two of them to be exact. They have taken the time to think seriously on the matter and actually believe in the NON-existence of a god. Most every one else is just too lazy, or knows in their heart, but doesn't want to admit the existence of a supreme being because it would mean that they owe an allegiance to something other than themselves. In times of crisis, when all bets are off, they tend to call on god to make it go away.
I wonder what kind of results they expect to get from that last minute invocation? Ignoring and insulting God and then calling to him in desperate times is kind of like, not taking the time to get to know your neighbor, but then asking him for a huge favor when times get tough. You would probably get better results by establishing a relationship with some one before asking for favors out of the blue.

Answer 4

In a book about Atheism, William T. Cummings said "There are no atheists in foxholes.

Some people are true atheists and others are more agnostic, and when real danger happens, such as in wartime, people will pray. Before death there are more conversions of atheists to believing in God than at any other time.

In the second web site listed below are a lot of quotes by famous people; even Plato about atheism that you might be interested in reading. It was very interesting. I hope I have been of some help to you.

The above quote from William T. Cummings is oh so true.

Answer 5

You know, that's an interesting question. As someone who has found much to dislike about the actual practice of faith that many "believers" have engaged in (hatemongering among them), I think one element is that there are people who have not so much moved away from believing as moved away from hypocritical believers. But that's the price of ego.

The second element to it is that there are some people who make such exclamations as a matter of cultural indoctrination. I know many Hindus who "aren't really that Hindu", and many churchgoers who visit the church more as a tradition, because their Moms and Dads did it and they WISH to believe but really don't. For those people, it's more of a habit than outright conscious hypocrisy.

Personally, I was raised Christian and find the old habits comfortable. Like many, in times of crisis, I do search for a spiritual center. But long ago, I decided that if I believed in anything, it would be not out of desperation, not out of fear, but out of choice. And for any "buying" choice as serious as that, one must hold a certain amount of suspicion for what others are "selling".

Peace

Answer 6

Silly person, "Oh my God" is way of swearing. It's just an exclamation, it doesn't mean anything. I am told that among Christians it is, in fact, a sin! So it's Christians who shouldn't say it.

I personally say "Oh my Dogma!" cause I think it's funny and when I say "Oh my God" my mother gets all upset because it's a sin and she knows I'm going to hell anyway, and it reminds her.

I personally have lots of Gods, so if I say "Oh my God", you'd never know who I was talking about! But I'm not talking about anyone. It's just like saying "Holy ****!" Or "What the ****" But it doesn't get blanked out and I wasn't allowed to say those things in school when I was a kid. I always wondered how **** got holy anyway.

Answer 7

Just because someone says "Oh my god" doesn't mean they believe in god, they are just so use to people saying it so they are using it too. It's a figure of speech. There are people that believe in god that say "god damn" all the time, does that mean that they are actually angry at god? No.

What does smoking and cursing have to do with it? There are many Christians that smoke and curse all the time.

I don't see what your point is

Answer 8

The athiests I know do not use that exclaimation.

When people who are in horrible danger and have no choice but to face it often turn to prayer for consolation it doesn't necessarily prove there is anybody listening.

As we have noted... over 2000 American soldiers in Iraq are now dead. It would seem God hasn't managed to answer those prayers. ( or the prayers of the family members who they left behind.)

PS I believe in God, but have upmost respect for those who do not. I know God does not REQUIRE belief of anybody, anywhere to remain whoever and whatever God is.

Answer 9

"Oh, my God" is today's answer to "Oh, man" or "No way" - just a figure of speech that I try to keep my kids from saying. There is no god but God. The Christian God is the same as the Buddist God or the Hindu God. God opens many doors to all who seek him with faith. God exists in the hearts of most humans (excepting psycopaths) and we seek Him on our own path, whether we are in China, Russia, India, or Alabama.

Answer 10

That is just a term used for expression. Would it be any different if I said "Sufferin Sucatash? Although that might be more fun. When I'm mad my more colorful language still includes Jesus F'in Christ. That doesn't mean Im Christian.

When I say "Oh my God!" I am referring to MY GOD who would be the Horned God. I also say OH My Goddess. I also say Oh my god during sex, but then I am usually referring to my husband.