Oh my god...??

Question

how come when people say " oh my god " its considered saying the lords name in vein?...in the south. im just curious.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Because you are not directly talking about God, you are using this phrase as slang speech. Why not say Oh my goodness or Oh man?

Answer 2

It's not just in the South. Many Christians all over the world believe that saying the phrase is taking His name in vain. This belief is because it is using his name flippantly and in casual when his name is Holy and should be used with respect. Others, and this is individual not specific to any particular faith, Don't believe saying that phrase alone is taking his name in vain but rather attributing evil to him such as saying "in the name of God I do this" when the act is something God would disagree with. Basic rule of thumb is that when ever you address or envoke the name of God think about it as if you are Actually speaking to him. Would it be silly to say " OMG I hate that Guy" and actually be talking to God? How would God feel about your statment? or when you say " God Damn" this or that do you really want that object or person to be Damned? That's what your asking for. Think of it that way, and Use his name appropriately and you won't have a problem.

Answer 3

With all due respect to everyone's individual rules of etiquette in conversation... Oh, my God! Isn't it time that people learned how to just, plain ol' relax a little bit? I mean, really, has "political correctness" gotten to the point where a simple expression of surprise or dismay, or confusion HAS to imply that the person who utters that particular expression is somehow offending God and/or people who happen to have very strong religious convictions. In answering your question, I am mainly speaking to the people who will undoubtedly say that the expression "Oh my God" is considered to be one way of taking the Lords name in vain.
Here's another way of looking at the use of that term or, expression. What if it is simply a way of "trying to get the Lords attention" when something happens to prompt someone to actually use that expression. When a person says "Oh my God", usually they have just experienced something that "shocked" them or, took them by surprise. There is nothing in the use of those words that implies that the "user" has intentionally tried to offend God. For that matter, who can speak on behalf of God and say that "he" or "she" would be offended by an "innocent" expression with no harm or offense intended by the use of the words "Oh my God"?

I apologize for such a long winded answer to what you probably intended to be a very simple question. It's just that, it seems to me, people have their priorities a little out of whack and instead of worrying about trivial issues like whether "Oh my God" is taking the Lord's name in vain and offensive to God, perhaps they should be concentrating on acceptance and kindness towards their "fellow man". After all, wouldn't the world be a much nicer place to live if we all just adopted the life practices of "live and let live" and "do unto others" and so on? If there is no "intent" to offend, then the words themselves should not be considered offensive.

Answer 4

To get up a first up quick answer to begin with, I believe that we are taking Gods name in vain when we use phrases like: "oh my god" or "jesus christ", "christ what were u thinking", "god damn it" to name a few...

Think about the way these phrases are said above, in most cases, your going to say it like a swear word right?
What if one of your mates suddenly started using your name like a swearword? See the link here?

In the Bible, Exodus 20:7 states that:

"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God"

Using Gods name like a swearword, or in a careless manner that doesn't reflect his holy and pure nature, speaking like that definitely shows our lack of respect. I believe that saying these things is taking His name in vain.

Unfortunately, sometimes we can get a habit of using it like a swearword.

We can argue for ages over if it is blasphemy or not, and some people think different things. But what do you think God would think? If you carelessly used his Name for all types of associations etc... e.g. as a swearword..

Anyways, I believe the Bible says it plain as day.

Answer 5

Because we should consider the name of the Lord with great reverence. Just throwing it out there as an exclamation (expecially if it can be used in place of curse word!) is not very reverent and some people are offended by that.

Answer 6

Exodus 20:7 (10 commandments)

"you shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain."

The name of the Lord should not be misused, for His name and His character are inseperable. The name of God has been misused in magic, in substantiating truth through the use of oaths and in profane utterances. The third commandment deals not only with the use of God's name, but with controlling one's tongue as well.

Answer 7

just pretend your name is Stephanie, and someone says "Oh my what the Stephanie!" If they use it in a bad name it is considered taking the name "Stephanie" in vain. So when you take the lord's name and vain and everyone freaks, it is a sacred and holy religious belief to those who believe in the bible when the prophet Moses goes to the mountains where God gives him the ten commandments, one of them was " Thou shall not take the Lord's name in vain, thy God..." (something close to that) So do not say that to a bible believer, or a Mormon. Hope this helps!

Answer 8

In the Bible it tells us not to take the Lords name in vain. When you are not referring to him or praising him you are just using his name as a figure of speech for comment, that is in vain. It is very shameful thing to do to God.

Answer 9

It's the lord’s name in VAIN not vein. If you took the lord's name in vein you would have essentially injected the lords name into your circulatory system.

Answer 10

Because they don't understand what it means to "take the Lord's name in vain." One can only take the Lord's name in vain if one professes to be acting in His name, when in fact, they are not sincere and/or worthy to do so.

However, the usage you cited is disrespectful, and as such, is considered in poor taste by most people.

Answer 11

there are two ways to mean it. The first is that you are consciously using His name in vain. The second is that you are altering His attention to something. This is what I have been told, nearly all of my life, and I live in the South. Just what I've heard.