Does it irk you when Athiests?

Question

use Gods name in vain? Im a believer but I respect the rights of others who don't believe or have any other faith than my own which is Lutheran.But it bothers me when my uncle who is an athiest will use terms such as God damn it or Jesus fing Christ. I feel that if he wants me to respect his right not to believe than he should not use these words which is blastfamy. Do you agree or not & why?

Answer 1

Theoretically, if they are saying the phrases you describe then they are not actually atheists. how can someone you don't believe in damn anything? Seriously I don't get especially annoyed by this one thing that atheists do but there are other things such as being illogical and pigheaded which usually bother me more!!

Answer 2

Unfortunately there are many believers who take the name of their own God in vain. This has happened so much that the name of the Christian God has been belittled to the point where it is simply another explitive.

The phrase "God damn it" was a request for God to damn a thing or person. The other phrase was just expounded upon when someone thought the name of Christ wasn't enough of an utterance.

For an athiest, who does not believe in any god, these phrases are simply meaningless utterances to express frustration or other emotions. Your uncle probably thinks nothing about it simply because he doesn't believe.

I'm a Pagan, but I do understand your frustration. The Goddess Freya, or Frigg is a name of deity which has been maligned as well. People think that the word frig is a euphemism for copulation, but that's only because the Goddess Frigg was the goddess of love.

An ancient blessing went Flags, flax, fodder and frigg, which meant "May you have a home in which to live (flags refer to flagstones making the walkway to the home), clothes to wear, (clothing was made from flax), food to eat (fodder) and somebody to love (Freya, aka frigg, the goddess of love)". As you can see, Jesus, or God the father were not the only deities to have their names taken in a bad fashion.

I'll have to admit, that having grown up with the name of Jesus taken as such (Usually when alone), I find myself so using it, but always feel bad for doing so. I hope that I can purge myself from doing that. Simple respect for who Jesus was demands better.

Thanks for the question.

Answer 3

First, you mean "blasphemy." Spelling isn't everything, but it keeps you from looking like a moron right out of the gate.

This is a tough one. On the one hand, since I assume you have to be around your uncle sometimes, I think it's important that you mutually respect each other. On the other, I think he has every right to say god damn it, etc. If you insist he doesn't, all you're saying is that you think your own opinions are more important.

On balance, I think you should get over yourself. Maybe say an Our Father every time he lets one fly. I have to think truly devout people understand that their own purity isn't defiled by the callousness (as it appears) of others.

Answer 4

Yes, and I'm agnostic. I also find the common usage of the word "pissed" on television and radio thoughtless. There are much better synonyms that convey more meaning. Angry, frosted, peeved, furious, etc., are more subtle and meaningful that a blanket "pissed".

Don't get me wrong. I don't think I'm a blue nose, and I think there is a time and place for "bad" language. It's just that it's over used.

Answer 5

No, I don't get "irked." Taking God's name is vain is a cultural thing in America, just as cussing is. For instance, in the USA, you can say "shag" in public and noone gets offended, but in the UK, "shag" is censored in the public media. Although Christians and others may be offended by the taking of their creator's name in vain, it is also a cultural utterance by non-believers.

Answer 6

i agree. it bugs me too and sometimes i want to say something, but it's not really my place to, so i just leave it alone.
i'm Christian, and I will admit that I have used God's name in vein as well, saying stuff like "God dammit", but I try to stop myself by saying "Gosh dammit" instead, which really doesnt make it any better because i'm still cussing.
anyways, yea, I agree with you. i know some people on here are going to be very offended by your question, though. so be ready for anything

Answer 7

Lmao at Sleestack 3's answer!!

No, I'm not bothered by anyone, even atheists, using God's name in vain.

Answer 8

It's not blasphemy to a non-believer, but it is bad language. I must admit that I use these expletives too often and would like to stop precisely because it isn't respectful.

Answer 9

No, but it does annoy me when a preacher like Rev. Ted Haggard gets up and condemns gay people and incites intolerance and bigotry, all the while having gay sex with a prostitute and paying for illegal drugs -- talk about blasphemy, and from an evangelical preacher! Now, that irks me -- and everybody else who is sick of self-righteous hypocrisy. Thanks for asking.

Answer 10

i dont say gods name in vain for the sake of people around me. i dont want to offend anyone. im not christian, i keep an open mind about where people came from. i do respect the people around me though.

Answer 11

I'm afraid not everyone care or hold to refraining using God's name in vain. What you may believe, another doesn't and if they don't care then they don't care what they say. In an imperfect world we can't cocoon ourselves into thinking everyone can be Pius.