Why are NonAtheists/NonAgnostics puzzled when....?

Question

....an Atheist or Agnostic uses an expression that may be biblical in origin or contain the word god or jesus?

Or why do they think this is some sort of Freudian slip?

Answer 1

They're hoping it's a slip. It's just cultural background noise. Even a believer isn't invoking God when he casually swears. If we were in Saudi, we'd all say "inshallah" at the end of our farewells, Muslim or not. Believers are ALWAYS looking for props for their wobbly faith.

Answer 2

Y'know, the only people I ever spent much time with who said, "Jesus Christ!" as an exclamation were a sorta-atheist and a rather lapsed Jew.

I'm not exactly Christian, but I just can't bring myself to say, "Jesus Christ!" as an expletive or whatever. They didn't have much of a Christian background (I do, but I don't go to Christian church) and I guess they used the JC! as a term with power but not necessarily significance in their eyes. Jesus is a cool guy and I just can't invoke his name for cussing purposes. Though I do say, "Oh, my God!" and I don't necessarily invoke a deity.

It's more cultural than any religious thing. Christianity is fairly dominant in US society, and it's the religion many people turn to for cussing. It's not a Freudian slip--you say it because other people say it. The terms aren't necessarily just in religion--they've entered the realm of things you say when you experience sudden pain or a parking ticket or a shock...all those situations when something has to be said, and it has to convey a strong blurt of emotion.

As far as Biblical terms--same thing. Many proverbs and parables are a part of our collective experience. You don't just learn them in church; they're also in books, movies, TV, Yahoo Answers, everyday speech...you hear them around. Personally, I use terms from classical Greek religion and people don't assume I'm a Greek Pagan throwback.

Or do they? No, surely not. Just a classical studies student.

I don't think it's a bit puzzling. In fact, I'd think you were a cultural idiot if you had no idea what people were saying when they made Biblical/deity references. Y'know, like raised in a weird compound or something. It would be extremely difficult to escape every term based in religion in US society.

Answer 3

George Carlin said it best. It is easy to be an atheist/agnostic. But let one be in the middle of a great sexual episode or lay dying in a hospital bed and guess who they call on. It sure ain't the non-god or themselves!

Answer 4

I think I understand what you are saying. For instance, when I say "Oh my God!" people that know I'm angostic sometimes ask why I say that if I don't believe in God. Easy! It's a saying! It's something you hear and pick up as part of your vocabulary/catch-phrase data-bank. It doesn't mean I believe in God, it just means I'm shocked by something and "Oh my God" covers that reaction pretty well.

Answer 5

The shock that we might have actually sat down and read something, despite disagreeing with it, rather than dismissing it out of hand. I'm tempted to say "like they do", but that'd be unfair on many people with differing religious convictions who do actually bother to listen to someone else's point of view.

Answer 6

i don't think its a Freudian slip when i swear to god, its just something I've been conditioned to do since i was born. it comes out without thinking. its just a habit that's hard to break, kinda like cussing.

Answer 7

Well I'm not an ancient Greek so i never say like "oh my Zeus!" so when someone says (and I actually heard this one) "yeah, I'm an atheist... swear to God!" It just sounds funny.

Answer 8

They are referring to social perception of god and their effects towards society, not saying there is a god but knowing there are others that do.

Answer 9

Small minds have difficulty understanding vernacular and common usage of words. Everything is a conspiracy to a small mind.

Answer 10

And yet they don't care that they call their days of the week by the names of other gods.