I see no end of people claiming that atheists and the like cry out to the Judeo-Christian god when they exclaim "Oh my god!" but what is it exactly that draws them to that conclusion?
The _my_ part of the exclamation obviously denotes that the person saying it is refering to their god, whoever that may be, and not necessarily the deity who claims monopoly on the use of the 'god' title.
Of course this is all completely ignoring the fact that it can be meant to be entirely exclamatory and not at all imply that the person saying it even believes in deities.
So can we please stop with the claims that "all cry out to God", as well as that lame bear 'joke' that keeps cropping up that isn't funny?
2007-11-14 01:14:48 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I see from the first two answers that some people don't understand that other people have different beliefs to them.
2007-11-14 01:23:00 · update #1
Eep, ignore the "first two" above, they've dropped to the bottom. I mean the obviously religiously blinded ones that state that only one god exists (despite other religions existing...)
2007-11-14 01:24:15 · update #2
The bear 'joke':
A atheist in the woods marveling at nature suddenly gets attacked by a bear. He exclaims "Oh my god" God appears and moans about not believing until his life was in danger, the atheist says it would be hypocritical to request mercy but make the bear a Christian, the bear bows down and says grace. The end. How unfunny was that?
2007-11-14 01:27:46 · update #3
there is only one God
His name is Jesus
2007-11-14 01:16:42 · answer #1 · answered by jesussaves 7 · 0⤊ 9⤋
Exactly! I use "Oh my god" and variations thereof, only because they've been part of my vocabulary since I was a kid -- before, during, AND after my Christian years. I also use "Oh f*ck" and "Oh sh!t", but I'm certainly not actually calling out to anyone by those names. It's JUST an expression -- sometimes used in place of an expletive when I'm in mixed company -- and does not indicate a belief in anyone or anything.
That, and quite frankly, during sex..."Oh Quetzalcoatl, Ra, Zeus, Osiris, Jehovah, Thor, Athena, and Krishna!" is more than a little bit of a tongue-twister. "Oh God!" sums it up quite nicely.
2007-11-14 01:21:24 · answer #2 · answered by War Games AM 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I really don't associate that expression to any god or whatever god. I don't believe that because you often say it, you believe in any deities at all or you are crying out to a god claimed by others as their god. It is simply an expression. No more, no less. Just respect their opinion though and smile.
2007-11-14 01:25:09 · answer #3 · answered by tabingilog 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because christianity has maintained an iron grip over western society for so many centuries that such exclamations have become commonplace to the degree that religious connection is effectively lost.... yet the origins of the phrase are blindingly obvious and some will attempt to exploit that.
2007-11-14 01:18:18 · answer #4 · answered by Lucid Interrogator 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's just an expression! Yes, when I say 'oh my God' I am referring to the Judeo-Christian god, because that expression was invented by believers in the Judeo-Christian god.
2007-11-14 01:18:27 · answer #5 · answered by bonshui 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm lost... What bear joke?
And that's the exact reason that I started replacing 'god' and 'jesus' with 'f*kk' when cursing.
Also, I once had to explain to someone that quoting Stone Sour lyrics ('Oh god, it feels like forever'), did not make me religious.
2007-11-14 01:18:48 · answer #6 · answered by skame 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Christians believe there is only One God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whose Son is Jesus the Christ.
Even God said, "I AM God and there is no other."
I thought atheists didn't believe in God...even false gods and goddesses.
2007-11-14 01:22:02 · answer #7 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's people like Fatima there, who like to dictate to others what to believe. They claim their deity is everyone's deity. Like they own us or something.
It's really beyond stupid, kind of like when my 3-year-old tries to tell me I can't have any dessert because I gave him a time-out for something. You just gotta laugh.
2007-11-14 01:27:44 · answer #8 · answered by KC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always say "good goddess". Cuts down on the confusion. Except when I am loosing patience with my kids. Then I say "For the sake of Frigga". Also hard to confuse.
2007-11-14 01:18:56 · answer #9 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
My thoughts exactly.
Lol exclaiming "Oh my god!" is the Chantonian (my) favorite pastime lol.
2007-11-14 01:20:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I dont know. I often say "Oh Sh*t" - and I'm not referring to mine or anyone elses in particular. However, when I yell "Oh f**k" - I am usually thinking about either Kate Beckinsale, or Evangeline Lilley.
2007-11-14 01:20:30 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋