I see that this question has come up a few times in the past, though not for a while. Still, my apologies if you've answered this before.
I'm curious as to everybody's answers though - if I'm surprised or startled and I say "Oh my god" or "Jesus!" does that mean that:
A) I actually do believe in god somewhere deep down inside (possibly around the spleen area)
b) I'm blaspheming on purpose
c) They're pervasive expressions of surprise in our culture, it would be more surprising if I *didn't* say them
Conversely, if a Christian says something like that in a similar situation, does it mean anything or does it just indicate belief?
2007-10-25 11:31:04 · 13 answers · asked by senor_oso 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
punch: I always assume that any time some says "F you" that yes, they want to. This means that, in my mind, I'm getting propositioned all the time. It makes me feel so PRETTY!
2007-10-25 11:40:45 · update #1
If we both take out the obvious times when it would be appropriate to say "Oh my God" ... such as when calling out to God under extreme situations ... then no matter who is saying it, they shouldn't.
For Atheists and Christians alike, it's habit to say it. It's just a saying. If you asked them "are you literally calling out to God?" they'd look at you funny. Of course they aren't, that's just something that you say.
I wish that we would all try to use our beautiful language to appropriately express ourselves. This is something that seems to be lacking nowadays, words don't seem to have the power they once did.
2007-10-25 11:37:22 · answer #1 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hey, kid; I say Bless you, when someone sneezes - it's an automatic response from the culture I am in - it's the same as saying Merry Xmas.
I don't care what people may suppose from that acquiescence - it in no way points to the fact that I believe in your awful god or anyone else’s.
BUT I must admit I do like doing blasphemy; it seems to have a power all of its own. LOLz
.
2007-10-25 18:45:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't think so. It's an expression. I've said "oh my god" before, and does this prove that I'm not in fact a polytheist? Hell no. And saying "hell no" doesn't mean that I believe in hell either.
2007-10-25 18:58:06 · answer #3 · answered by xx. 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cultural expressions.
2007-10-25 18:34:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
C. It isn't an atheist's choice where the common expletives in his or her native language come from. If you say "holy ****!" do you have religious belief in ****?
In that usage they are merely expletives, and they carry zero semantic meaning.
2007-10-25 18:37:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
A tie between b+c, all though atheists can't blaspheme,because we don't believe.
2007-10-25 18:37:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Does your observation of the names of the days of the week (Moon-day, Tyr's-day, Woden's-day, Thor's-day, Freyja's-day, Saturn's-day and Sun-day) mean you have an innate belief in the Roman/Norse gods?
2007-10-25 18:54:09 · answer #7 · answered by Bad Liberal 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I love quizzes!!!
The answer is C, but if Christians do it, then they are blaspheming, and cognitive dissonance may ensue.
2007-10-25 20:26:12 · answer #8 · answered by noname 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cultural expressions. I also say, "for Quetzalcoatl's sake." Doesn't mean I think he's there.
Though it would be awesome of he was.
2007-10-25 18:37:27 · answer #9 · answered by 雅威的烤面包机 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
c). One would expect that saying 'Oh my God' would be more pervasive among atheists, since we don't have A COMMANDMENT prohibiting it.
2007-10-25 18:37:11 · answer #10 · answered by Doc Occam 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋