If you don't believe in Jesus and God, why would you use His name as a curse? Is there power in the Name? (yes) Why doesn't anyone say, Buddha Damnit? Or Krishna Damnit or something similar? What is it about this particular name that makes you want to curse with it? Do you feel those words make a big imact? I am very serious. I have my idea, but I have never asked anyone about this before. I cringe when I hear people say this. Where did this come from? I'm not saying that all non-Christians say this, but so many people do that I can't help but wonder why? I have even heard a couple of "Christians" say it. If they knew what it means to say that, they wouldn't. But I am serious, it seems like saying "whatever" to so many people. Why do you say this??

Because growing up eveyone hears it..

And its a nice alternative to ...M*****F*****!

It pisses quite a few people off (my cousin, whos like a christian pastor or something, its a hardcore born-again)..

But frankly..I dont give a flying buddah what anyone thinks of it..

'HOLY MOSES'

America grew up with God as the dominating religious expression....Buddah, Hinduism, etc. were relatively unknown until just the past few decades actually.

I say it a bit. After I get done having a Rome marathron, you'll hear me curse Juno's *bleep* and talk about Hades as well. God's beneath us! >_< ha!

i say it a bit... but honestly, i don't think jesus or god would really care either way

Actually I don't.. I'll say gods damned.. or whatever.. or jesum.. jeshyus... mix up the spelling abit.

THough Jumping Jesus on a pogostick has always been fun to say.

I have to thank all of you for your replies. I didn't think anyone would be serious. I really do appreciate it. It's just difficult for me to understand how anyone could use it with no real thought to it. But that is my upbringing I guess. You have given me another way to think about it and I am understanding better now. Thanks again! (But I still hate it! )

Honestly, if I experience sudden excruciating pain....there will be a string of paint stripping, sailor blushing, tattoo melting words that I have no control over or take any thought in...it just happens. And GD is unfortunately one of them but by far the mildest.

It is like when I say sh** I am not really thinking poo or anything.

Sometimes in different contexts words lose the original meaning. This is one of those instances.

Although I do try not to do it.

i think non believers use the term not to be mean and offend anybody but because the phrase is so commenly used in america that they automaticly say it when upset. it's not just non believers, the believers in my experience say it just as much. it's like saying "oh my god" or "god bless you" and "god help us". those phrases have always been apart of american culture that we all say them without thinking about what they mean. me myself i never used gods name in a curse but growing up i heard my dad say it a hundred times a day.

Simple. Like most other people said... it's just a popular saying.

I never use those words when I swear. My vocabulary is far worse than that when angered or in pain.



Now that sounds more like me.

When people say JC or GD they feel an honest retreat from all that is holy. It gives people a sence of rebelling against God. The one who's letting this happen to them. And for spite.

My main exclamation when angered, injured or hugely surprised is "F*ck*ng Hell". I don't believe in hell but it's just part of my social conditioning. My dad always said the same so I suppose I learned it from him. Swearing has never been frowned upon in my dad's house and subsequently mine. More emphasis was placed on swearing in the right time and place rather than banning it altogether. I would not swear at a job interview but I will at home or in the pub.

I occaisionally say "Jesus" or "Christ!" as an exclamation too. It's been in popular culture for many years, I've heard it said a lot in films, war films in particular, and it's just got into the language and culture.

It comes out without thinking in the same way somebody might shout "OW!" if they hurt themselves. It's social conditioning.

Hahahahaaha LOL The poo is a good metaphor !!

it's from hearing others say it. it's become habit just like saying 'god bless you ' when one sneezes or the countless other terms we use.

I'm used to saying 'Jesus H. Chist ' from a kindergarden teacher I had ! she would say it in polish. I sometimes add 'on a raft' to the end of it.

now I'd like to know where ' heaven's to Betsy' comes from.

I asked my husband the same thng, Why do they say G... damn I don't think it makes the persons statement any better but considerably worse. To use God's name in such a manner is so very very wrong, I don't see the point of saying it. If you need to curse God to get your veiws heard, Then you have a serious serious problem, No one should take the lords name in vain. Always a pleasure

No, no it's not. It's not for rebelling or for spite. The majority of people who say it aren't Christian because Christians are too afraid to say their God's name in vain incase they get struck by lightning or hit by a car.

It's generally due to habit or when they don't want to shout ***SNIP*** in public. And it allows for creativity like "Jesus H Christ in a bloody hammock".

I don't discriminate at all, I think it's just wrong.
The other day I hit my thumb with a hammer and shouted out!
Mohammmmmed praise BE his name!

Ohh for the love of Abraham lol

I grew up with christianity..it is a common thing to say Jesus H CHRIST when you feel like swearing..or if you see something that shocks you LOL

I dont believe in Jesus but I still say his name like....

When i hear gossip lol ie - Geri did you hear about sam two timing his woman? my response would be JESUS !!...NOOO WAYYY REALLY??? you are sh*tting me... christ..thats a shock!! <---very comon over here!!

I used to say - God bless you..if someone sneezed...i dont do that anymore..no..I now just say -- "Cover your mouth when you sneeze thanks" OR if they sneeze in my direction I say - " turn the other way next time grrr CHRIST!!!! "

So why not say - Allah ...NOO WAY.. prolly cuz I grew up around christianity and man already made it into a swearing session

Ohhh good Gandhi would you look at the time?? ive work in the morning lol good night and may Allah be with you!!

Why do parents call their kid pumpkin, when the child is clearly not a pumpkin? Popular culture!

a friend of mine says 'cheese n rice ' ( jesus christ) lol

Im sure years ago it was much more of a tabboo to use christs name in the wrong circumstance, and society has now become desensiticed to it much the same as every other swear word, its just a more mild swear word.
and one i find much satisfaction in saying, its just one of those words that rolls well off the tongue.
and i cant deny that there is a part of me which hopes to offend someone who would rather not hear their lords name in vain. lolocaust

Its just another curse word....curse words are never used in their literral meaning.

When is the last time someone called someone else a M***** F***** and meant it as someone who sleeps with mothers? Someone saying "Oh S**T'' and be talking about poopy? Or the last time you used the A word and be referring to a donkey? The B and be referring to a female dog?

Nobody uses swear words for their intended purposes...their all used to mean basically whatever they need to at the time.

Don't be offended when I say G.D. i'm not even thinking about the guy when I say it...and for all you know I may not even be referring to your god but one of the other hundred different ones.

I wouldn't doubt that the "GD" came into popular use because of people using it as a curse on other people...not a curse against "God".Who knows? It may have started off by someone saying "May God d**n you!"...then over time it degenerated into what is used now.

The same goes with "JC".Someone may not have wanted to say a normal expletive in a certain situation,and so replaced it with something else.

So...if these two possibilities are the more likely scenarios...we'd probably have to blame those that would do something like this...i.e. Christians.They would be the more likely suspects.After all,back in the day it would've been someone who was a devout believer that would curse someone in the name of God...or who would more than likely cry out JC in place of an expletive.

I think your right. Usually we say "G.D. you" or "G.D. it" and I think was original meant to be asking god to like throw a lightning bolt at something or someone. I would assume plain 'G.D.' just came into being as an offshoot of those two.

Are G.D. and the like actually curse words? I mean like are they forbidden to use by forum rules? Just wondering why where not just saying it.

ill be honest, i do say j.c. or g.d. in vain, but if anything, id be thinking that god (if it exist) would be happy im at least acknowledging them, despite the fact i dont believe in it. you think theyd be happy and flattered im using it!!! lol
IMO

I do believe that at least GD is filtered,therefore considered cursing.I could be wrong...I haven't posted much in a while,so I don't really remember.

I've never actually read the rules to any message board...I just always figured it was common sense type of things(never bin banned or disciplined anywhere).

Well I'm going to test it now anyways for the sake of experimentation...god damn.

I think your luck is about to change, You should respect the fact that some people find what you said very offensive and I think you should apoligize to anyone who found your remark uncalled for and very insensitive. I am one of the people here who is offended that you have so little respect for your fellow members that you would say such a terrible thing. Why?

Wait, what is so terrible? Experimental use of god damn, what's the problem really? It would only be considered an insult if it was directed at someone.

A bit sarcastic hopefully?

Either way I don't see how the use of the phrase can be taken as offensive. By saying G.D. and the like one is personally asking God to Damn something. Now If I were damning God or asking God to damn you then there is a problem...they don't mean anything on their own and isn't even using God's name in vain really.

The insult is that I find it very isulting to me and God. I don't understand why you have to use God to curse, Isn't there enough curse words for you to use instead of taking God's name in Vein, I think by even saying it its an insult. God gave us everything including life, Why do you want to damn that? What has God done to you to deserve such blastfmy. Nothing but love you, Thats all. It also says alot about what kind of person you are, and honestly its not good.

Truly, for "God" is the name of many Gods, and even taken by some people.
It's just a word. Doesn't the Christian "God" have other, more personal names such as Jehova or Yahweh?

How can you possibly say that you are not damning god by saying that? I must have missed something, Its pretty obvious when you say it what the meaning is. I would never insult God that way, You have a right to your own opinoin but try to respect others while you do post your opinions.

I am not sure about the other names so I will just say I don't really know, But I respect everyone and try my best to respect their beliefs. I don't really see taking God's name in vein as a religion I just ask that some respect be shown.

Why would a omnipotent and omnipresent being be insulted? Only meek humans are offended and insulted. Any omnipotent god would in itself be responsible for the insult, and thusly most likely be completely indifferent to it. Plus, "God damn" is indeed derived from "God damn you/it", that is an old english insult, which is essentially a prayer asking God to strike down upon something uncomfortable/annoying/etc. God does not love, God is death and all things evil if God is all things and omnipotent; then God is also responsible for all pain and misery, all things wrong and awry, God is Hate and God is love, all the same, indifferent to the omnipotent, indifferent to the universe and to the Creator of All Things.

I do not believe in God, but if there is a God, he better not be plagued by such silly human emotions, imagine what an unstable world we'd have-- oh wait, I guess that's exactly why the world is so messed up-- proof of a loving God indeed is all war, all deformed children and all the starving, dying people, God gave life, God'll take it away, by way of the armies under God's command? Either way, that doesn't say anything about me as a person. This post says a lot more about me as a person, but hardly does me justice. A few words that would fit me would be crazy, deranged, hateful, bigoted-- well, the list could be made very long. I don't feel offended that you perceive me as a "not good" kind of person, I hardly value the opinion of the religous, but if I was more of an ordinary person, I might just have been offended at that and brought to tears.

Now I'm insulted.

Let me lay it out. No curse word is insulting unless it has context. Saying the A, B, S, F, word etc. don't hurt anybody until you apply a word like you, him, it, etc. to it.

Ironic thing is that the term 'God Damn' would have had to originate from the religious crowd. The phrase was no doubt originally intended to be said like "God could you damn this person/thing".

In my post I did not once damn God, damn you or anything. I was merely stating how the phrase is used and how it may have originated...and a simple experiment to test the forums profanity filters.

I like how you judged me here...you jump on the chance to defend his name but fail to follow one of his simplest teaching. He's the judge not you.

Don't pretend your god isn't against a little damnation...ten plaques, the great flood, pillars of salt, and oh yeah...hell.

Nothing but love? Tell that my devout christian father...your god saw fit to give him an incureable brain problems that puts him in the hospital for brain surgery four times a year, constant migrains, bowel problems, and memory less among other things. God of mercy and love indeed.

I didn't damn anything in this thread nor did I even speak a blasphemy.

God doesn't need you to judge for him nor does he need you to defend him...if there was a real problem I'm sure he would have replied to this thread.

I'm not sure but isn't it the way it works is if you capitalize it as in 'God' it refers to the Christian god but if you use as in 'god' its just in general? Just like how we refer to Earth's moon as The Moon.

That's how people do things, God is Christian and god is Pagan, but I don't think it's right. It's pretty biased really. I think all Gods are equally deserving of capitalized G's. But regardless, I think sandee missed my point... There's more than one entity that is called "God", so maybe she should stop feeling all the "god damn"s are referring in anyway to her own god.

I don't think its necessarily God=Christian and god=Pagan. Its just that christians don't have a personal name for their god...just we don't have a personal name for our moon(or sun). Since they don't have a personal name and Christianity is the majority when the word god or God is used it automatically means the Christian one(no capitalization is speech lol).

Its just like naming your dog 'Dog'.

The way I see it God is a god....Zeus is a god...Odin is a god...etc, etc.

I agree to disagree, We obviously see this issue differenly. I respect your right to your opinion even though I may disagree. I apoligize for my statement that saying ----- makes you a bad person, I did not make my point very well. I am truly sorry that your father is ill, I sincerly hope he gets better. I have people ask me alot why does God allow my loved one, my freind to be ill. And the answer is "I don't know", Could be any reason or none. I think everything happens for a reason though You or your father may gain something from his illness, God does not punish, He may have a reason why he does not heal your father or Maybe he will. If there is a reason to it, God will show you when the time comes, Always a pleasure

I know there are other beliefs and religions and while I respect that , I only know one God, Only God. I respect other peoples beliefs but I don't agree that there is more than one God, There are God's that people worship and they are very real to the people who worship them. I have no other God's before me, Only one true God exsist, Always a pleasure

Apology accepted. I do not make a habit of insulting anybody or anything.

Back on topic.

I think these terms are used mostly out of a type of tradition as in people just got used to saying them and like every other curse words they lost their original usage.

When an Atheist or the like say these things its not in a religious context...its just a different way of saying things like "I don't like you" or they say it when they are suprised(like get hurt and spit out profanities) and why they choose these words is mostly because they heard it a million times. They heard it a million times because Christianity is the majority and these phrases originate with christians.

So the real question isn't why Atheist use them...its why Christians use them.

I wasn't aware of christians using these words, Certainly not anyone I know for the bible says thou shall not take the lords name in vein. It does not matter how you use the words its still taking the lords name in vein, Always a pleasure

That's right ,it's the INTENT that is the key

It seems to me as though we are constantly looking for things to be offended about. Jojo says something stupid, let's get him fired. John makes a stupid joke, let's lynch him.

Have we become so overly sensitive that every little thing is offensive to us ? Where does this need to complain, b*itch, moan and argue come from ?

Sometimes I see some of the complaints that come up on this forum, and I wonder if these people woke up, got their coffee, and sat down on the computer to search out phrases and sayings that they can complain about.

And because of how easily offended people are, the rest of us are stuck walking on eggshells forced into a state of perpetual phoniness & the mind/spirit crushing prison that is called political correctness


Can we through stem cell research develop some extra thick skin & market it ?



(I do have a need to argue however........shhh -don't tell anybody)

Everyone is to stuck up and insecure. People become politically correct because it makes them think they are right...and if they are right they can make other people look bad which intern makes them feel better about themselves. Its not really about right or wrong...its about being better.

We hide behind meaningless and insignificant things because we are afraid to face the real problems.

Our Fear and Ego has always and will always hold us back.

I try not to use those terms too often in a derogatory way, not because I fear a deity but because of tradition. I won't say them around people mostly out of respect. I'll just say "Dag Nabbitt!" or "Cheese 'n Crackers!"

Jesus Christ who cares what people say anyway.