Non-believers: what is your opinion on using religious terminology?

Question

I am atheist, and I have often been questioned as to why I use phrases such as "Oh my God!" Obviously I use them because of their cultural prevalence, and it doesn't reflect any belief in a god, but I would like to know whether you think I should consider not using such phrases so as to avoid criticism? I have already noticed myself editing my use of such phrases on Yahoo Answers so as people will not make this commonplace criticism. Also, certain religious greetings such as 'bless you' and 'may peace be with you' seem wonderful things to say, but I am concerned as to whether I should avoid them because of my personal beliefs. What are your opinions? Have you experienced this yourself?

Answer 1

I use them too and I am an atheist. And not only that, I capitalize God. What's up with that? I use whatever word I want and don't care about the criticism. I also sometimes say that my prayers are with someone who has experienced tragedy, but I just mean that I will be thinking about them.

Answer 2

To wish you good luck has nothing to do with religion. As far as a sneeze, the response is more cultural. There is an old myth in Navajo that believes that when you sneeze people are talking about you. I can't remember the exact phrase but it translates into "let them talk." I say what I say,"god bless you", and other things amount to the same thing as a greeting of "how are you." Do these people really want my medical history?

Don't worry about such trivialities. May peace be with you.

Answer 3

i am an atheist (of a sort (i believe in the universal mind and there is no religion for that and it is not a god)) and i don't use any religious terminology and keep away from even using words such as "god, soul, heaven, hell etc" unless being philosophical and have no better word for what i am trying to describe. when people say "bless you" to me i usually respond with "i'm an atheist" "i don't need a blessing" "how can i bless myself?" instead of saying "may peace be with you" i use "may the force be with you" lol

Answer 4

Most religious people don't even know where these sayings come from, or why we say them.

Even words like "blessed" have other connotations in other religions beyond Christianity and Judaism, so it's not just a matter of "believer" vs. "non-believer". For instance, Bhuddists do not believe in God, but don't consider themselves to be atheists either. Something can be blessed - or cursed - within their religion.

And what's 'may peace be with you' have to do with being an atheist? Did I miss the meeting where atheism now believes in never-ending war in addition to the lack of a (Christian) god or other controlling force in the universe?

Answer 5

It's part of our language and doesn't reflect anyone's personal beliefs. I normally don't say "Oh my God" anyway, but don't see a problem with anyone else using it. When someone sneezes I do say "bless you", but there is nothing in these phrases that actually mean you are expressing a belief in any Deity. If it's meant to reveal belief, then I wonder what "Holy S.hit" would reveal? I have never experienced someone else telling me I shouldn't say those things, just because I'm a Heathen. But I would have a fallback... if I were to say "Oh my God" all I would have say is "I mean Tyr" ;-)

Answer 6

Over the years I have consciously changed expressions like "dear God" to "dear gods" to reflect my beliefs, but if, for example, I accidently kick a wall, I'll still exclaim something like "God damn it!" because I'm not thinking. To be honest, the phrase really didn't mean anything even when I was a Christian. It wasn't like I really wanted God to damn the wall I had just kicked.

I see no reason why everyone can't say "may peace be with you." While we associate it with Christianity, there's nothing that says non-Christians can't want peace too!

As far as "bless you"... in my house it was always "gesundheit" which means "good health," which continues to be perfectly appropriate.

Certainly if the statement still means something to you, you shouldn't feel badly saying it.

Answer 7

Frankly, I think it's believers, not atheists, who should avoid saying "Oh my God." At the risk of sounding like a total prude, it's taking the Lord's name in vain. So I object to anyone saying it, on those grounds, but not atheists any more than anyone else. As far as things like "bless you," I don't think that's offensive at all. You can still wish for someone to have peace and good things happen to them, whatever your beliefs. I suppose if you don't believe in God, you should avoid saying "God bless," it might sound insincere. But for the most part I think you're fine.

Answer 8

Eh... why be criticized if it's just a common form of expression. And if it's so wrong, like it's such "blasphemy," then I must ask...who are the ones who made it a common expression...not us I'm sure.

I don't tend to say bless you... for a sneeze I've always said it more like bleshyou. Online I tend to write it as O[not]MG now. ; )

Answer 9

Say what you want, when you want.

I guess I must now say (for the concrete thinkers in here) that this right to say your mind should avoid gratuitous vulgarisms and the overthrow of an elected government (even one as dismal as our current excuse for government) by force of arms.

Having said that, colloquial expressions are in the public domain and are the property of everybody.

No religious sect, no matter how fundie in nature, has a lock on expressions.

All they own is their very tenuous position of things.

Say what you like; I do!

Answer 10

I don't think you should worry about it at all.
I use these phrases all the time. When I use them, they are figures of speach, cultural, or metaphorical references.
Actually, that is the intent when most 'believers' use them. Rarely does a religious person say "Oh my God", or "For God's sake", or even "God bless you" literally thinking of GOD. They're just using common figures of speach for them as well.