All who dont believe in God? - Answer this!?

Question

Why do non-christian / those who say there's no God or Jesus / atheists in times of trouble or difficulty say things like

1. Oh God
2. Oh God help
3. God forbid
4. Dear God
5. God have mercy
6. No God, noooooo
7. Oh please God


If you dont believe in him why call on him when you are in need?

Answer 1

I don't...I say Oh My Science, Oh Science or Science be Praised or even with a little twist...like for example when my computer freezes. OH TECHNOLOGY!

Answer 2

Because they are empty words that are relegated to being figures of speech, or expletives, such as saying "oh s**t, or crap or BS or other words. Surely, everytime you say crap, you don't intend to defecate.

Therefore, God has simply become a word, sans actual belief in a deity. Those who use the somewhat arcane "By Jove" are certainly not praying to Jupiter. Too, if one says "God", how can one assume that it's the God of the Christian religion? Certainly, he is only one of many, and there are a great number of religions that believe in at least one god (or goddess), and could use the word without any christian intent.

I'm not a Christian, and God or Goddess have a vastly different meaning for me than they likely do for you. Typically, though, I'd ask the Goddess first, when in trouble; the phrase "Oh God" being used not to express need or want, but incredulity, again as a figure of speech rather than any reliance on a higher power.

In the end, if one doesn't believe, they are not calling on him; they are voicing a figure of speech that has no real intent to express some need to some god.

Answer 3

I've been known to say 'bye' before as well. And as any fule knows this is an abbreviation of 'goodbye', which in turn is a shortened version of 'god be with you'.

So what? The phrases have religious origins, but that's not the only meaning they have in common speech.

Actually, looking at your list again, I don't think I use those phrases very often at all. And never when 'in need' as you put it.

Answer 4

*sigh* This has been asked many times. Check the history. I don't believe in God and I have never said #2-7. I have never called upon a deity I believed in for help since I really don't believe in a personal god. I have said at times, "Oh, god or oh, my god I can't believe that". I think I was watching Jackass 2 and laughing soda out my nose. It doesn't mean anything, its culturally ingrained like swearing. When someone say F*#4! you, you don't think they literally want to right?

Answer 5

Well if they dont believe in him then they probably arn't calling for him either. Like anything else those words are passed down from friends and film and life. People use words all the time and dont realy always think of the true meaning. It is used as an exclamation mostly.

Answer 6

I only say it during really great sex, and then just the first one. Probably has something to do with the fact that I was a practicing Catholic when I started.

When I'm in need, I'm much more likely to say oh, f---. Wee difference there.

It's just habit. Don't read too much into it, you'll just get stressed.

Answer 7

Habbit, social influence. I am an atheist but its just words that we associate with such situation simply because of societies influences. Why say f*ck at a situation if we are not talking about sex. why say sh*t if we are not on the toilet etc etc etc Its just words and often those words have no relation the the text book mearning.

Answer 8

~~~Classico,,,, It is simple,,, Psychology 101,,,,"A Conditioned Response Influenced by Social Acceptance and Common Usage",,,,It is Precisely the same situation when we get hurt, we immediately vocalize an "OUCH!" or "OW!",,,, in Japan they say "EE-TAI",,, It is a Learned Custom that stems from Religious AND Spiritual Influences,,,,and by the way, contrary to what you've been taught,, There ARE atheists in foxholes(combat), too,,,

Answer 9

Typical godbot. You assume to know what atheists do.

Any non-christians who do say godbot slogans do so unconsciously, just as you unconsciously say, "FKCU!" when you hit your thumb with a hammer. I have divested myself of such behaviours and stick to "What on Earth...?", "Aw, man!", "Fer cryin' out loud...", and similar sayings, especially since I work around kids. Unlike godbots who spew their "oh my gawd!" crap and offend listeners, I can censor myself depending on the audience.

Whenever I _do_ say godbot slogans out of anger, it's deliberate: "JEEZUS H PIGFGNIKCU CHRIST!"

I reserve that for when I'm solely in the presence of godbots who don't keep their religion to themselves. Around those who _do_ have the decency not to blather about religion, I stifle myself.


"OH ME! OH, DEAR SWEET ME!"
- heard during the 'immaculate conception'


.

Answer 10

because it was drummed into us as children. we might say 'oh god..please let me win the lottery' - or something like that...sort of tongue in cheek comments.

an example of why i can not believe: starving people in africa are religious...and they pray to their God for rain to feed the crops...and God doesnt send the rain - so they starve. SO... i ask you back...why doesnt God send a simple thing like rain and i bet you do not have an answer to this!!...and as for you ... playing on your computer - why dont you sell it and send the money from the sale...to people who need to eat!! i cant stand religious dick-heads!!

Answer 11

Besides being a waste of time, calling on "him" is just a figure of speech for chrissake. I also say oh ****, but I don't expect a load of elephant manure to drop out of the sky when I say it.