Is it wrong to say, "Oh my God!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Catholics say "Jesus Mary Joseph" all the time.

I don't know many Catholics who say that. Occasionally, I'll say it. Hadn't really thought about it as an equivalent to "Oh, my God," which I avoid saying. You're right, though, it's the same thing, so I'll work on crossing that off my list!

[Anonymous]

Every year our school sings Christmas songs and once in a while some of these are not secular type songs. Should nonChristians complain that its blasphemy in their own religion to hear those songs? If we're going to ask kids in school to censor their words so as not to offend another child's religion, then be ready to put an end to Christmas songs, Christmas shows, etc in public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every year our school sings Christmas songs and once in a while some of these are not secular type songs. Should nonChristians complain that its blasphemy in their own religion to hear those songs? If we're going to ask kids in school to censor their words so as not to offend another child's religion, then be ready to put an end to Christmas songs, Christmas shows, etc in public schools.

No one is talking about censoring anyone. We are talking about whether or not is it offensive to say, not whether or not it is legal to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every year our school sings Christmas songs and once in a while some of these are not secular type songs. Should nonChristians complain that its blasphemy in their own religion to hear those songs? If we're going to ask kids in school to censor their words so as not to offend another child's religion, then be ready to put an end to Christmas songs, Christmas shows, etc in public schools.

No one is talking about censoring anyone. We are talking about whether or not is it offensive to say, not whether or not it is legal to say.

Ok, so if you personally see it as a sin to take the lord's name in vain, why would you be offended if someone else did? You're offended by sin that you see? Are you offended when you see someone covet something else? If you see two unmarried people kiss? If you see someone disrespect their parents? You may be unhappy, but would you see it as insulting to you, personally?

If you think that it is "offensive" to say, then your problem is that it bothers you. But that makes no sense if you're opposed because it's a sin, which means it bothers god. You are not god.

[Anonymous]

^^ Great points, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ Great points, PP.

Yes, great points except that they are all based on incorrect assumptions. I don't personally find it offensive. I love saying OMG. But I have stopped saying it because I came to realize it is offensive to many other people. I also try to teach my children not to say it for the same reason.

You sound like you have a hard time understanding social rules. No big deal -- live your way. I'm just explaining why many people do it differently than you do. If you want to blunder on offending people because it is your right, then i don't really see the point but enjoy and good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Catholics say "Jesus Mary Joseph" all the time.

I don't know many Catholics who say that. Occasionally, I'll say it. Hadn't really thought about it as an equivalent to "Oh, my God," which I avoid saying. You're right, though, it's the same thing, so I'll work on crossing that off my list!

+1 from this Cradle Catholic. People say it, but sort of as a joke, b/c it's sort of "old-timey," like say, 1950s-ish. So you'd say it as sort of a funny exaggeration when you are startled by something, or like when you are trying to imitate super-serious and/or old Catholics or maybe someone from Ireland (I descend from old-time Irish Catholics, so I feel it is ok to mimic this). For example:

Person 1: "I missed Mass last week."
Person 2: "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! You better get thee to Confession!"

Like that.

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of things I don't let my children say that their friends are allowed to say. "Oh my God" is one of them. We're Christian, but it has more to do with being strict about language and manners than strict about theology. My children aren't even allowed to say "yeah."

It's not my business what your child says, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ Great points, PP.

Yes, great points except that they are all based on incorrect assumptions. I don't personally find it offensive. I love saying OMG. But I have stopped saying it because I came to realize it is offensive to many other people. I also try to teach my children not to say it for the same reason.

You sound like you have a hard time understanding social rules. No big deal -- live your way. I'm just explaining why many people do it differently than you do. If you want to blunder on offending people because it is your right, then i don't really see the point but enjoy and good luck.

I don't actually say it much, but I think it's useful for those who are offended to maybe try to unpack a little bit why they are offended. Mostly because it must be exhausting to walk around offended all the time at something that you might hear dozens of times in a day.

But it is interesting to wonder, do these people all become offended that others don't rest on the Sabbath? That they wish they had a new swimming pool like the neighbors? What's so special about "Oh my god"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ Great points, PP.

Yes, great points except that they are all based on incorrect assumptions. I don't personally find it offensive. I love saying OMG. But I have stopped saying it because I came to realize it is offensive to many other people. I also try to teach my children not to say it for the same reason.

You sound like you have a hard time understanding social rules. No big deal -- live your way. I'm just explaining why many people do it differently than you do. If you want to blunder on offending people because it is your right, then i don't really see the point but enjoy and good luck.

I don't actually say it much, but I think it's useful for those who are offended to maybe try to unpack a little bit why they are offended. Mostly because it must be exhausting to walk around offended all the time at something that you might hear dozens of times in a day.

But it is interesting to wonder, do these people all become offended that others don't rest on the Sabbath? That they wish they had a new swimming pool like the neighbors? What's so special about "Oh my god"?

Well, they know why they are offended -- because it's taking the Lord's name in vain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ Great points, PP.

Yes, great points except that they are all based on incorrect assumptions. I don't personally find it offensive. I love saying OMG. But I have stopped saying it because I came to realize it is offensive to many other people. I also try to teach my children not to say it for the same reason.

You sound like you have a hard time understanding social rules. No big deal -- live your way. I'm just explaining why many people do it differently than you do. If you want to blunder on offending people because it is your right, then i don't really see the point but enjoy and good luck.

I don't actually say it much, but I think it's useful for those who are offended to maybe try to unpack a little bit why they are offended. Mostly because it must be exhausting to walk around offended all the time at something that you might hear dozens of times in a day.

But it is interesting to wonder, do these people all become offended that others don't rest on the Sabbath? That they wish they had a new swimming pool like the neighbors? What's so special about "Oh my god"?

Well, they know why they are offended -- because it's taking the Lord's name in vain.

11:25 here-- But why would that "offend" them? Would it make sense for them to be "offended" when unmarried people make out? What's the difference?

They think taking the lord's name in vain is wrong because it's a sin. Which makes it a sin against god, not them. So why are they offended?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of things I don't let my children say that their friends are allowed to say. "Oh my God" is one of them. We're Christian, but it has more to do with being strict about language and manners than strict about theology. My children aren't even allowed to say "yeah."

It's not my business what your child says, of course.

PP, this intrigues me. I don't know of any family where children are not allowed to say "yeah." I heard of such families in the south, but not around here. Where were you raised?

[Anonymous]

11:25 here-- But why would that "offend" them? Would it make sense for them to be "offended" when unmarried people make out? What's the difference?

They think taking the lord's name in vain is wrong because it's a sin. Which makes it a sin against god, not them. So why are they offended?

It is not that they feel that others are personally offending or insulting them, it is that they feel it is disrespectful to God. They love God, so they don't use His name used in a trivial or disrespectful manner and may find it a bit sad or upsetting when others do.If you heard someone speaking of someone you loved in a disrespectful way, wouldn't you feel sad or upset, or even offended, even though the remark was not directed at you personally?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Catholics say "Jesus Mary Joseph" all the time.

I don't know many Catholics who say that. Occasionally, I'll say it. Hadn't really thought about it as an equivalent to "Oh, my God," which I avoid saying. You're right, though, it's the same thing, so I'll work on crossing that off my list!

+1 from this Cradle Catholic. People say it, but sort of as a joke, b/c it's sort of "old-timey," like say, 1950s-ish. So you'd say it as sort of a funny exaggeration when you are startled by something, or like when you are trying to imitate super-serious and/or old Catholics or maybe someone from Ireland (I descend from old-time Irish Catholics, so I feel it is ok to mimic this). For example:

Person 1: "I missed Mass last week."
Person 2: "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! You better get thee to Confession!"

Like that. [/quote

+1. My mom, who is a very religious Episcopalian, says "Jesus, Mary and Joseph" as a sort of old-timey thing. She doesn't mean it disrespectfully in the least.

Also, the few times my kids have said "Jesus" in front of her, she's asked, "where?!"

[Anonymous]

Reposting because I messed up the formatting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Catholics say "Jesus Mary Joseph" all the time.

I don't know many Catholics who say that. Occasionally, I'll say it. Hadn't really thought about it as an equivalent to "Oh, my God," which I avoid saying. You're right, though, it's the same thing, so I'll work on crossing that off my list!

+1 from this Cradle Catholic. People say it, but sort of as a joke, b/c it's sort of "old-timey," like say, 1950s-ish. So you'd say it as sort of a funny exaggeration when you are startled by something, or like when you are trying to imitate super-serious and/or old Catholics or maybe someone from Ireland (I descend from old-time Irish Catholics, so I feel it is ok to mimic this). For example:

Person 1: "I missed Mass last week."
Person 2: "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! You better get thee to Confession!"

Like that. [/quote


+1. My mom, who is a very religious Episcopalian, says "Jesus, Mary and Joseph" as a sort of old-timey thing. She doesn't mean it disrespectfully in the least.

Also, the few times my kids have said "Jesus" in front of her, she's asked, "where?!"