Freethought & Rationalism Archive

TomboyMom · 04-28-2003, 09:26 AM

I've been an atheist less than a year. During moments of particular delight, if you catch my drift, I still find myself yelling, "Oh God," and even "Oh my God," which provoked the question, "Who are you talking to?" Other atheists share this experience? Doing anything about it, or accepting that lifelong habits are hard to break?

Rene, could have worse problems

Enai · 04-28-2003, 09:51 AM

Hehe, if I say something like that, my boyfriend usually responds: "Shhh! I'm incognito." So, the answer to the question "Who are you talking to?" is of course, your partner! You found him out. Don't let anybody else know, those pesky requests to provide some bum with a fortune, or health, or whathaveyou are very annoying. If you love your god, don't spoil his inkognito.

Enai

southernhybrid · 04-28-2003, 09:55 AM

I say oh my god all the time. It means nothing. I just like saying it for the therapeutic effect of using the harsh consonant sounds. Actually I never said it when I was a Xian because I was taught that it was wrong to use the lawd's name like that. So maybe that's why I like saying oh my god. You could try using oh my fucking god. That might help you feel less religious.

Bumble Bee Tuna · 04-28-2003, 10:34 AM

I have to say I use religious blasphemy all the time, and I don't really care. Doesn't seem like a big deal to me, it's somethin theists are supposed to refrain from so it's not like it's a theistic habit. If anything it further exaggerates your heathen status.

-B

Walross · 04-28-2003, 11:53 AM

I say "oh god" all the time. And my favorite blasphemy is "Sweet Jesus!" Just don't yell that one during sex

.

beth · 04-28-2003, 12:28 PM

Well, I've told my husband that he is my God and that I worship him. Didn't know how to take it, but I think he knows I am crying out to him in the throws....

Bree · 04-28-2003, 12:50 PM

Must be a "girl" thing - I yell "holy Mary mother of FUCKING GOD" sometimes.

Jamie_L · 04-28-2003, 12:50 PM

I say all kinds of religiously oriented profanity. Somehow, the blasphemous implications make it a more satisfying swear. I also say "Bless You" when people sneeze. It's not about religion, usually even for religious folks. It's just a part of our common language.

It's like someone said: when people say "Knock on Wood", no one actually means, "You'd better knock on wood to prevent the evil spirits inside from hearing you and messing up your plans." No. People just like the saying and know that you will know what it means.

Jamie

Soyin Milka · 04-28-2003, 01:00 PM

I don't have my orgasms in english

Aren't italian males said to be calling for their mothers during orgasm? (The whole "Mammamia!" stereotype). That would freak me out much much more than an atheist calling to gawd

Soyin

*katie · 04-28-2003, 01:09 PM

I consider phrases that I utter automatically, like "Oh my god," to be semantically null. I'd put phrases like "you know," "knock on wood," and "heaven forbid" in the same category. I use those expressions kind of like universally-understood tokens that represent some idea rather than actually expressing it. That's how I think, anyway -- maybe you linguists out there can correct me.

On the other hand, I wouldn't put really creative blasphemies in that category. Those take conscious thought and actually express the idea you're trying to get across, albeit usually not literally.

04-28-2003, 09:26 AM	#1
TomboyMom Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,931	Xxx I've been an atheist less than a year. During moments of particular delight, if you catch my drift, I still find myself yelling, "Oh God," and even "Oh my God," which provoked the question, "Who are you talking to?" Other atheists share this experience? Doing anything about it, or accepting that lifelong habits are hard to break? Rene, could have worse problems

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04-28-2003, 09:51 AM	#2
Enai Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Germany Posts: 1,479	Hehe, if I say something like that, my boyfriend usually responds: "Shhh! I'm incognito." So, the answer to the question "Who are you talking to?" is of course, your partner! You found him out. Don't let anybody else know, those pesky requests to provide some bum with a fortune, or health, or whathaveyou are very annoying. If you love your god, don't spoil his inkognito. Enai

04-28-2003, 09:55 AM	#3
southernhybrid Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: heavenly Georgia Posts: 3,862	I say oh my god all the time. It means nothing. I just like saying it for the therapeutic effect of using the harsh consonant sounds. Actually I never said it when I was a Xian because I was taught that it was wrong to use the lawd's name like that. So maybe that's why I like saying oh my god. You could try using oh my fucking god. That might help you feel less religious.

04-28-2003, 10:34 AM	#4
Bumble Bee Tuna Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Middletown, CT Posts: 7,333	I have to say I use religious blasphemy all the time, and I don't really care. Doesn't seem like a big deal to me, it's somethin theists are supposed to refrain from so it's not like it's a theistic habit. If anything it further exaggerates your heathen status. -B

04-28-2003, 11:53 AM	#5
Walross Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada Posts: 1,569	I say "oh god" all the time. And my favorite blasphemy is "Sweet Jesus!" Just don't yell that one during sex .

04-28-2003, 12:28 PM	#6
beth Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: where orange blossoms bloom... Posts: 1,802	Well, I've told my husband that he is my God and that I worship him. Didn't know how to take it, but I think he knows I am crying out to him in the throws....

04-28-2003, 12:50 PM	#7
Bree Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Twin Cities, USA Posts: 3,197	Must be a "girl" thing - I yell "holy Mary mother of FUCKING GOD" sometimes.

04-28-2003, 12:50 PM	#8
Jamie_L Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: U.S. Posts: 2,565	I say all kinds of religiously oriented profanity. Somehow, the blasphemous implications make it a more satisfying swear. I also say "Bless You" when people sneeze. It's not about religion, usually even for religious folks. It's just a part of our common language. It's like someone said: when people say "Knock on Wood", no one actually means, "You'd better knock on wood to prevent the evil spirits inside from hearing you and messing up your plans." No. People just like the saying and know that you will know what it means. Jamie

04-28-2003, 01:00 PM	#9
Soyin Milka Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Absurdistan Posts: 299	I don't have my orgasms in english Aren't italian males said to be calling for their mothers during orgasm? (The whole "Mammamia!" stereotype). That would freak me out much much more than an atheist calling to gawd Soyin

04-28-2003, 01:09 PM	#10
*katie Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 7	I consider phrases that I utter automatically, like "Oh my god," to be semantically null. I'd put phrases like "you know," "knock on wood," and "heaven forbid" in the same category. I use those expressions kind of like universally-understood tokens that represent some idea rather than actually expressing it. That's how I think, anyway -- maybe you linguists out there can correct me. On the other hand, I wouldn't put really creative blasphemies in that category. Those take conscious thought and actually express the idea you're trying to get across, albeit usually not literally.

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