Atheists...do you use the expression "Oh my God" or other similar God or Jesus exclamations? If so, WHY?

Question

This is a sincere question on my part and something I am curious about.

I am a devout Catholic, and I NEVER use that expression. I found it very easy to drop from my vocabulary.

I can't understand why atheists don't do the same.

I grew up in a household where curse words were often used by the adults. I am 42 right now and I don't use those words. So I don't buy the whole business about it being the way your grew up or that it's part of common vocabulary.

Answer 1

Excellent Question! Very Clever. I am a Christian, and I am guilty of saying that phrase. I believe it shouldn't be said. After reading some of the posts, I surprised to see many atheists admitting they do say it.

Answer 2

Why not? It is an expression. I am sure you leave a tip at a restaurant but you are not expecting the server to cut off your head in a clean manner because of it. There are lots of expressions and terms that have meanings that we do not use them for today.


Ok, you went from a sincere question to pushing your opinion with the "I don't buy the whole business" added detail. Yes, people can learn language growing up and use that language even if it offends other people. That is pretty plain and simple. Ask a behaviorist about it. You chose not to. Ok, great, but you cannot expect others to not use it.

Also, wondering why atheists use a phrase that you do not use because of your religion is kind of silly. The atheists do not subscribe to your religion. They do not follow the same rules as your religion. Do you get angry at people for not observing other parts of your religion?

I have a feeling what you are fishing for is trying to argue that atheists believe in god because they use terms like "oh my god" or something like that. Like I have already pointed out, certain phrases can be used but do reflect their original purpose. If you use the phrase, "it is time to pay the piper", does that mean you believe that there once was a piper who was paid to remove mice from a city with a magical song?

Answer 3

Yes I do, and I have thought about that before. I think it has to do with 2 things for me.

1) I was raised christian and it backe a part of my vocabulary at that time. Now it is just second nature to say things like that.

2) Why don't I stop now that I don't believe in god? Because It is still an ingrained part of my vocabulary and I feel that its useage has left the religious realm and entered the mainstream. It is a readily recognised expression that is used by most people.

Answer 4

I was going to answer your question, and then I saw all of your added details. I can't help but think you aren't looking for an answer as you have been provided many, and you are combative toward the answers you've received.

I could drop it from my vocabulary, but why? What harm is it causing?

Are you telling me that every single expression from the English language that you employ, you mean literally? Just think about that for a second . . . .

Answer 5

We may use such expressions because we are in the grips of our habits. We have learned our habits from our environment and we may use them bluntly whenever anybody else would use them. Oftenmost our culture and language drives us on as robots. "Oh, my God!", we say it without even perceiving that we are saying it or have said it, it may just be an unconscious exclamation.

Some people become really conscious about this, and not only those who academically engage themselves at it. But even they may say such expressions and not think that they are saying them.

Some people who do NOT want to use such expressions may have to go thru a training about avoiding using them, just in the same way as those who use to smoke may have to enroll to a course about learning how to stop smoking tobacco.

It may even be necessary for some to use pills (medicine) to unlearn the use of such a habit.

Answer 6

how approximately "Jah bless you" that considered one of my favorites. i might say that confident some atheists use those expressions. and that's all they're to atheists- expressions. they carry no weight with us, so it incredibly is no longer blasphemous. it incredibly is in simple terms the comparable as calling something "gay" even however you do no longer propose it to be unavoidably gay. fairly of "jesus christ" i regularly say "cheese and rice". i even have this extremely mind-blowing portray of the final supper different than all the apostles and jesus are african american. there is likewise a distinction of "god" in accordance with who's asserting it. if i say oh my god, i'm no longer thinking as in capital G-o-d. it incredibly is extra like "gawd" or "god" which could be something incredibly. If a polytheist stated "oh my god" it must be in connection with numerous gods. it incredibly is nevertheless contextual fairly simply by fact it incredibly is grow to be a worry-loose exclamation.

Answer 7

It seems to be more of an American thing. Last time I returned from a trip across I had reverted to saying 'Oh my God' again. It sounded incredibly weird here in Scotland.

Other than that, I only say it during sex. Something to do with my Catholic childhood, I suppose. ;-)

My favourite though is egads. Comes from ye gods. Plural and pagan. I like the anachronism of it.

Answer 8

Expressions such as "Oh, My God," and the like are considered "norma loquendi," or a part of the everyday speech of the culture.

It is quite true, by the way that "athiests" don't have "hart."

They do, however, know how to spell.

Answer 9

For the same reason you use words like Thursday, and you will never think for a second you actually celebrated Thor with using that word.

I use "God" in a lot of expressions. I never even realize I mention God.

Answer 10

Not often. I'm sure I do occasionally, because it's such a common expression in the society I live in.