Should I not have said this?

[DottyG]

I would find this offensive.  It's considered cursing.  Public cursing really turns me off.

I would as well.  I abhor people taking my Savior's name in vain.  Yes, I know it's "the norm" now.  But, that doesn't make it right.

Does it offend you more than if someone fell and got hurt and yelled the F-word, for example?  I'm not trying to invalidate your feelings on the matter, I just always wondered if taking God or Jesus' name in vain was as bad as actually swearing.

Don't think someone should curse, period.  There are too many other words to use.  And, in my opinion, people who curse appear to be lower class and not quite as intelligent, because they don't know enough words to substitute.  They have to resort to cursing instead (sorry, but it's the impression given).

But, if I had to rank them (which I've never been asked to do - this is a first), I'd say that taking the Lord's name in vain would rank higher on the scale.  An occasional slip-up with a curse word is one thing.  But, I don't ever want to hear God's name taken in vain.

[Adah]

I usually go with:

Surprise: Holy Frijoles, Holy Guacamole

Frustration: Friggidy Frack, What the Frigg?

[snowball's chance]

I was raised Catholic, and went to Catholic grade school & high school.  In my family, taking the Lord's name in vain was worse than saying sh-- or f----. 

In high school, I was in a play and in the script G-d-dam was changed to dingdangity.

Personally, i wouldn't be offended, but my mom & a lot of religious people would.  I can still hear my mom saying, "Don't say God unless you're praying!"

[goblue2539]

Having my brother and sister nearby again and living with Gran has most definitely taught me to create new words to avoid swearing.  However, I'll still resort to a sonofa...  if I hurt myself.  And I've let loose an "CRUD MONKEYS!" or two if I'm really shocked. 

That being said, while I understand the impulse and realize to most people they are just words, Jesus Christ does leave a bad taste for me.  But, I would consider my reaction mine to deal with, and leave you alone. 

Does it offend you more than if someone fell and got hurt and yelled the F-word, for example?  I'm not trying to invalidate your feelings on the matter, I just always wondered if taking God or Jesus' name in vain was as bad as actually swearing.

I think the major point is that using God or Jesus to a lot of people IS actually swearing.  There is no difference. 

[gadget--gal]

Does it offend you more than if someone fell and got hurt and yelled the F-word, for example?  I'm not trying to invalidate your feelings on the matter, I just always wondered if taking God or Jesus' name in vain was as bad as actually swearing.

I hate to hear cursing in public anyway but hearing God's or Jesus's name is a bit more offensive that the other four letter words.

[NEDESAPIO]

I don't like to hear the names "God" or "Jesus" used as swear words, and I'm also offended by many other swear words.  To my mind, this is just an unnecessary way to talk.

[JeanFromBNA]

It's considered blasphemy, and can produce a strong reaction, especially by people who are members of some of the more fundamentalist Christian faiths.

My husband and I were staying at a hotel in Louisville, KY one weekend at the same time as a 200-or-so-member Christian youth group.  The teens were racing up and down the hall, yelling, laughing loudly, pounding on doors, and generally making nuisances of themselves.  Late the second night, we got in the elevator at the lobby to go to our hotel room on a high floor, when one of the kids came in and pushed all of the floor buttons on the elevator, with a smirk on his face.  My husband, who had enough at this point, loudly said, "Jesus Christ!"

The whole elevator became completely silent as the kids stared at my husband in horror  .

[Ko-Ko]

Thanks for all the responses. I never thought of this as cursing, much less worse than the four letter words. I'll try to watch myself in the future. But I'm afraid the not tripping thing just isn't happening. My friends will be glad to tell you. And they'll tell you again. And again. And again, as they laugh hysterically. I think I need new friends. 

Ko-Ko

[goblue2539]

I'll try to watch myself in the future. Ko-Ko

That's really all that anyone fair-minded would ask of you.  You'll never be able to please everyone all the time.  Just be aware and do your best.  Like we do too.  As I said, even being a regular church-goer I still manage to slip sometimes.  If nothing else, I'm sure there are a lot of people like me out there who understand when it happens.

[Scritzy]

My mother did not want me to say the following:

Gosh (or worse, Oh my gosh!)

Gee (or jeepers)

Golly

I swear …

Fool (saying so puts you in danger of hellfire, according to Mother's literal translation)

Holy cow (my cows were always good, though)

Good Lord or Lordy (which Nanny always said, and I never heard Mother yell at her)

And …

Flunk. Don't ask me why she forbade that one.

Every once in a while I will let an O. M. G. out, but I reserve yelling Jesus Christ! for when I really need Him, like right now!

[amiboo]

I wouldn't take the name of anyone's diety in vain and would rather others did the same.  I think it's best to try to put this into your 'coarse language' filter with other language that is 'not for public consumption.'

ITA, it's not just the Christian beliefs that should be avoided. It's best to respect all religions by not dis-respecting their dieties.  I consider any of these to be far worse than the f-word or other swearing. 

[kherbert05]

I usually go with:

Surprise: Holy Frijoles, Holy Guacamole

Frustration: Friggidy Frack, What the Frigg?

[/size]

<sarcasm> But that is pretend swearing and is just as bad, I should be fired for doing it</sarcasm>

Our schools was renovated over the summer (yea they still are not finished). At the beginning of the year. I had computers (miracle there), kids (600 kids), IT working around me to set things up and boxes.  I put the boxes under the tables and told the kids just to put their feet on them until I could sort things out. (We had maybe 20 hours work time from "end of construction" (still not finished) till the kids came in the building). My computers line the walls so I tend to walk in a big square behind the kids checking what they are doing.

I'm explaining something about the AUP, making an important point about safety and personal information. And I turn slamming into a chair the IT person had moved to get under a counter, go backwards and trip backwards over a box they had also moved, and land flat on my rear end. It hurt and I let out a hissss through clinched teeth counted to something like 50. While the IT people were fussing to see if I was OK.

That afternoon an irate parent came up to complain that I shouldn't have said anything, because it was pretend swearing and I just stubbed my toe. I pulled up my pants legs and showed the two lines of bruises on my legs. When she stomped off, my Principal and AP just burst out laughing. (Sometimes that is all you can do). Then they sent me to the nurse to be checked out - I was OK.

The ironic part - her oh so sensitive kid that my pretend swearing damaged for life - will curse a blue streak at us. Of course when he gets in trouble for it  - we are racists violating his civil rights to use Ebonics as his cultural language.

Oh to construction before you started the TVs in each room were hooked to the stack in the library allowing us to show video's and DVDs to multiple classes. You ripped out the wiring even from the wing you didn't renovate - you are not finished.

[Ko-Ko]

I usually go with:

Surprise: Holy Frijoles, Holy Guacamole

Frustration: Friggidy Frack, What the Frigg?

[/size]

The ironic part - her oh so sensitive kid that my pretend swearing damaged for life - will curse a blue streak at us. Of course when he gets in trouble for it  - we are racists violating his civil rights to use Ebonics as his cultural language.

Wait? What? THe mother bit your head off for fake cursing, but her son is allowed to curse because it's in his culture? You could tell her that those fake curses you used are part of your culture. She probably won't believe you, but it would be amusing just the same. 

Ko-Ko

[kherbert05]

Ko-Ko,

With a small number of our parents/students this is normal behavior. Any criticism of their perfect child is because we are racists - unless you happen to be the same race then it is because you are a liberal sell out, or Uncle Tom (depending on race). The majority of our parents will defend the teacher if they see/hear this behavior. We have a large number of immigrant parents - so sometimes it is a communication problem. Not from language to language, but among the Native English speakers and ESL parents. The ESL parents/kids often don't understand idioms.

I use a mixture of Texas, Canadian, and British idioms that are just part of natural language in my family. One child went home and told his parents I threatened another child with a yard stick. I give the parent full credit for asking me what had happened instead of flying off the handle.

I was handing out meter sticks, and one of my more active kids nearly ran smack into a meter stick I was handing another child. Active child wasn't suppose to be out of his seat - he made a funny remark and I told him to sit down or I would be lowering the boom on him. ESL misunderstood the exchange. Parent and I explained and that was the end of the issue. After that she knew she could ask me anytime she didn't understand a term or phrase. Turns out later the parent said something to my principal about he appreciated that I didn't simplify my language, but would give other examples, or definitions.

We have a pretty good administration. Our Principal and AP back up teachers 100%, when we are in the right. They have come down on some teachers - who are in the wrong (screaming at students so loudly I can hear her through my new walls and door for example). Going up to admin building you get more politics.

Your Math teacher who objected to you checking your odd numbered problems, because you didn't understand the problems - wouldn't last long on our campus. If you as student making an effort to understand didn't understand - he wasn't doing his job teaching. Also our homework is to reinforce skills already mastered and keep them fresh - not learn new skills.

[Ko-Ko]

Ko-Ko,

With a small number of our parents/students this is normal behavior. Any criticism of their perfect child is because we are racists - unless you happen to be the same race then it is because you are a liberal sell out, or Uncle Tom (depending on race). The majority of our parents will defend the teacher if they see/hear this behavior. We have a large number of immigrant parents - so sometimes it is a communication problem. Not from language to language, but among the Native English speakers and ESL parents. The ESL parents/kids often don't understand idioms.

I use a mixture of Texas, Canadian, and British idioms that are just part of natural language in my family. One child went home and told his parents I threatened another child with a yard stick. I give the parent full credit for asking me what had happened instead of flying off the handle.

I was handing out meter sticks, and one of my more active kids nearly ran smack into a meter stick I was handing another child. Active child wasn't suppose to be out of his seat - he made a funny remark and I told him to sit down or I would be lowering the boom on him. ESL misunderstood the exchange. Parent and I explained and that was the end of the issue. After that she knew she could ask me anytime she didn't understand a term or phrase. Turns out later the parent said something to my principal about he appreciated that I didn't simplify my language, but would give other examples, or definitions.

We have a pretty good administration. Our Principal and AP back up teachers 100%, when we are in the right. They have come down on some teachers - who are in the wrong (screaming at students so loudly I can hear her through my new walls and door for example). Going up to admin building you get more politics.

Your Math teacher who objected to you checking your odd numbered problems, because you didn't understand the problems - wouldn't last long on our campus. If you as student making an effort to understand didn't understand - he wasn't doing his job teaching. Also our homework is to reinforce skills already mastered and keep them fresh - not learn new skills.

Wow, normal behavior? At least the administration knows what it's doing. And you're right about my math teacher. He gives us homework on things we barely went over in class. The next day, there are usually only a few kids who understand, so they basically have to teach the rest of us. Then, we spend so much time in class going over the previous night's homework because nobody understood it, that we barely have time to learn the next new concept, and the cycle begins again. I wish I had more teacher like you. You sound like one of the good ones. 

Ko-Ko