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A Question for My Fellow Christians...

I use your savior's name in vain ALL the time. But in fairness, I don't yell "Jesus!" I yell "Jeeeezus!"

I will also sigh "Jesus Christ" when I am exasperated by ridiculous behavior.

I am an atheist but I used to be a pretty devout Christian. I even planned on becoming an Army Chaplain. In other words, I know first hand how people can take offenense to such utterances so I try not to use those words like that when I am around strangers or people I know to be Christians. It just seems like the courteous thing to do.

A couple of you may be thinking, "Hey, if you aren't a Christian then why are you calling out Christ's name?" Well, I'm not a Hindu either but I have uttered the phrase "Holy Cow!" more than once in my life as well. ;)
 
X Factor said:
Just out of curiosity, do comments like "Christ on a cracker", etc. bother you at all? I admit that it is something that feels like a little dig at my faith. I totally acknowledge that many times there is no ill will intended and often people are just trying to be funny (and goodness know that I've said offensive things just going for the laugh). I'm just saying that, while it's not something I dwell on, I personally don't care for it.

(and now that I've admitted that, I fully expect to see it a lot more in replies and responses to me :mrgreen:)
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I am not a Christian, and that phrase bothers me. I know a number of religious Catholics who are wonderful people, and this seems to disrespectful to them.
 
sangha said:
For me, I draw the line at govt support. I fully support an individual's right to say "Christ on a cracker" but if the govt ever put it on a flag, I'd object. :lol:
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I just spit on my keyboard I laughed so loud. Thank you very much.
 
soot said:
What do you guys mean by "draw the line"?
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I use bad language regularly. However, I do not use the Lord's name in vain.

Surely you know what "drawing the line" means, don't you? It means "where you stop, where you will not continue."
 
Medusa said:
:confused: even medusa knows what it means
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Then your powers of clairvoyance far exceed my own, as I find it difficult to impossible to read minds.

I asked because there are a great many behaviors for which I'll "draw a line", but my reaction to that line being crossed differs depending upon the behavior.

For instance, I "draw a line" at people using excessive profanity around my kids.

When that line is crossed I'll ask people to behave in a manner that I feel is appropriate and if they refuse I'll take my kids and leave.

I also draw a line at people touching my kids.

If that line is crossed, and depending upon the manner in which it's crossed, I may politely ask the offender to take their hands off my kid or I may attempt to kill the person.

So, given all that, you'll understand why I ask someone exactly what they mean when they say that they "draw the line".

It isn't uncommon at all to not accept a given behavior in your presence.

But the enforcement of that standard can vary dramatically.

When it comes to free speech it's one thing to get up and walk away, or to choose not to spend any time in the company of the offensive person.

It's something else to have that person's rights curtailed, or to physically attack the offender.
 
it's just me said:
Yes, having once been a sailor I can put up with people dropping F bombs and such but I have to draw the line at taking the Lord's name in vain.
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Yeah, that. :yt


Ex-cop. Most rough language doesn't phase me, and if I get agitated I'm liable to unleash a blue streak myself. But no misuse of God or Jesus or anything blasphemous.
 
soot said:
Then your powers of clairvoyance far exceed my own, as I find it difficult to impossible to read minds.

I asked because there are a great many behaviors for which I'll "draw a line", but my reaction to that line being crossed differs depending upon the behavior.

For instance, I "draw a line" at people using excessive profanity around my kids.

When that line is crossed I'll ask people to behave in a manner that I feel is appropriate and if they refuse I'll take my kids and leave.

I also draw a line at people touching my kids.

If that line is crossed, and depending upon the manner in which it's crossed, I may politely ask the offender to take their hands off my kid or I may attempt to kill the person.

So, given all that, you'll understand why I ask someone exactly what they mean when they say that they "draw the line".

It isn't uncommon at all to not accept a given behavior in your presence.

But the enforcement of that standard can vary dramatically.

When it comes to free speech it's one thing to get up and walk away, or to choose not to spend any time in the company of the offensive person.

It's something else to have that person's rights curtailed, or to physically attack the offender.
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OK then let me re-answer your question. I personally will not use the phrase, or anything similar, that I feel is offensive. If I have friends that say it (most generally don't), I'll deal for a while, but if the habit is continuous, I think that it's possible that the friendship would eventually drift apart.

I would never, ever tell anybody what they can or cannot say. I just choose to not say it myself.
 
Superfly said:
OK then let me re-answer your question. I personally will not use the phrase, or anything similar, that I feel is offensive. If I have friends that say it (most generally don't), I'll deal for a while, but if the habit is continuous, I think that it's possible that the friendship would eventually drift apart.

I would never, ever tell anybody what they can or cannot say. I just choose to not say it myself.
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I think that's completely reasonable.

I've been asked by people here not to take the Lord's name in vain, and though I think it's a silly request I'll respect it because (occasional evidence to the contrary) I'm not a total dick.
 
Paschendale said:
Why on earth do you think that your beliefs should inform how someone else speaks?
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Just consider it to be "political correctness", I am sure you understand the concept. :roll: And if that doesn't work for you how about just plain good manners?
 
I don't swear around people who find it offensive. It's really, reeeeeeally hard to curb what I say, because it's an ingrained habit, but I am generally pretty successful.
 
it's just me said:
Just consider it to be "political correctness", I am sure you understand the concept. :roll: And if that doesn't work for you how about just plain good manners?
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Without getting into the ideas of PC, which you clearly don't understand, how can you think it good manners to say to someone "I believe X, so you shouldn't Y"? That is one of the rudest things I could imagine saying to someone. That would be the worst manners you could have. That demonstrates so little regard for the person you're talking to... It's brain-explodingly rude. And arrogant. And self-righteous. I don't know how you can think it's okay to take that position with someone.
 
Paschendale said:
...how can you think it good manners to say to someone "I believe X, so you shouldn't Y"? That is one of the rudest things I could imagine saying to someone. That would be the worst manners you could have. That demonstrates so little regard for the person you're talking to... It's brain-explodingly rude. And arrogant. And self-righteous. I don't know how you can think it's okay to take that position with someone.
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I understand the concept of PC fully, which is basically what you just described. ^

Another irony meter just exploded off the wall.
 
it's just me said:
I understand the concept of PC fully, which is basically what you just described. ^

Another irony meter just exploded off the wall.
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No, that has nothing to do with political correctness at all. Political correctness is about not discriminating against people, both legally and socially, because of things that factually don't matter. You're telling people not to say things because of what you believe. Facts =/= belief.

It's interesting to me that this reaction to "using a name in vain" is essentially the same thing as Jihadists going nuts over cartoons of Muhammad. Other people aren't allowed to portray what you believe in in a way that you dislike. Obviously, there is no violence here, because we all live in a civilized, secular country. But it all comes from the same place.
 
Paschendale said:
No, that has nothing to do with political correctness at all. Political correctness is about not discriminating against people, both legally and socially, because of things that factually don't matter. You're telling people not to say things because of what you believe. Facts =/= belief.

It's interesting to me that this reaction to "using a name in vain" is essentially the same thing as Jihadists going nuts over cartoons of Muhammad. Other people aren't allowed to portray what you believe in in a way that you dislike. Obviously, there is no violence here, because we all live in a civilized, secular country. But it all comes from the same place.
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It isn't remotely the same thing.

One will frown on you.

The other wants to kill you... and have attempted to do so, yes even in this "civilized" nation.


Substantial difference.
 
Paschendale said:
No, that has nothing to do with political correctness at all. Political correctness is about not discriminating against people, both legally and socially, because of things that factually don't matter. You're telling people not to say things because of what you believe. Facts =/= belief.

It's interesting to me that this reaction to "using a name in vain" is essentially the same thing as Jihadists going nuts over cartoons of Muhammad. Other people aren't allowed to portray what you believe in in a way that you dislike. Obviously, there is no violence here, because we all live in a civilized, secular country. But it all comes from the same place.
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partly you are right. you have the right to decide what to say but the others may have the right to dislike it
 
Goshin said:
It isn't remotely the same thing.

One will frown on you.

The other wants to kill you... and have attempted to do so, yes even in this "civilized" nation.

Substantial difference.
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And yet Christian sub-Saharan African countries criminalize blasphemy and apostasy. When these two religions are in power, they act exactly the same way.
 
Paschendale said:
And yet Christian sub-Saharan African countries criminalize blasphemy and apostasy. When these two religions are in power, they act exactly the same way.
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70% of Americans, roughly, self-ID as Christian. In that sense we ARE in power, and I don't see any blasphemy laws.

Africa is Africa. Africa is brutal, whoever is in charge.
 
Goshin said:
70% of Americans, roughly, self-ID as Christian. In that sense we ARE in power, and I don't see any blasphemy laws.

Africa is Africa. Africa is brutal, whoever is in charge.
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And (almost) all Americans are modern, secular people, despite their cultural links to medieval religion. Cool racism, though. Or if that offends your delicate sensibilities, just ethnocentrism and arrogance.

I know you're smarter than this. So why is it that whenever you're faced with the reality of what exceedingly devout members of your faith (I would argue more devout, since they place religion over country and certainly over national values like freedom of religion) do because of that faith, you go into denial mode?

And how did we even get to this tangent anyway? I just said that it was rude to tell people that they should censor their speech because of someone else's religious beliefs. But it's gotta get into some kind of excuse making because Saudi Arabia is a worse place to live than the United States. Whatever. I'm done with this.
 
Paschendale said:
And (almost) all Americans are modern, secular people, despite their cultural links to medieval religion. Cool racism, though. Or if that offends your delicate sensibilities, just ethnocentrism and arrogance.
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What on Earth did he say that was racist??
 
X Factor said:
Just out of curiosity, do comments like "Christ on a cracker", etc. bother you at all? I admit that it is something that feels like a little dig at my faith. I totally acknowledge that many times there is no ill will intended and often people are just trying to be funny (and goodness know that I've said offensive things just going for the laugh). I'm just saying that, while it's not something I dwell on, I personally don't care for it.

(and now that I've admitted that, I fully expect to see it a lot more in replies and responses to me :mrgreen:)
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Not me, but a guy who rose from the dead is going to want to have a looooong conversation about that.

To me its ignorance and stupidity, dark ages mentality, to insult God as if it will make you badder, blame the church etc.

But then we are dealing with a society that kills a million celluloid people every week end at the movies but goes ape **** over part of part of a nipple being seen for 2 micro seconds on TV.
 
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