Holy Atheist!!!

[Dyno247365]

I've begun thinking about my faith, If I should have one at all or be more scientific, that sorta thing, but a more immediate matter struck my interest. Should it be appropriate for Atheists and others don't don't believe in a god or gods to say phrases like 'G-D4MNIT' 'OH MY GOD' and 'JESUS' and etc. I was arguing with my friend just before, who doesn't believe in god and says stuff like that all the time, sure everybody does or has at some point, but that fact that it doesn't make any sense for an atheist to say it, means to me, atheists shouldn't do it. My friend's rebuttle was that it's like saying it's a thousand degrees outside, exaggeration, and to me that's totally different from 'acting like' it's his god and he doesn't mean it.

What do you think?

[drunken monkey]

by your reasoning, no one is allowed to say any of those things considering that if you are religious, it will be blasphemy. It follows that the only people who can say those things are those who do not believe.

[Dyno247365]

Originally Posted by drunken monkey

by your reasoning, no one is allowed to say any of those things considering that if you are religious, it will be blasphemy. It follows that the only people who can say those things are those who do not believe.

You're right, I explained that to him to...but in all accounts, it's better to say something bad then not believe in it and say it.

[drunken monkey]

why?

[Dyno247365]

You think I have all the answers? That's why I post on AF!!

I'm asking what you guys think of atheists saying those things and not meaning them, as opposed to a religious person saying those things. If an atheist says omg, or GD, what god is he referring to if he doesn't believe in a god?

[GForce957]

I think the atheist is just using it as a commonly used phrase. People hear something so often that it just becomes ingrained in them, they don't necessarily reflect on what the phrase means.

[drunken monkey]

I think that it is good to ask questions.
I also think it is good to know what sort of questions are worth asking.

[ericn1300]

its a cultural thing. our swear words and phrases come about first as a protest against the group they would offend the most and then slowly become become common in the popular vernacular. the offended group usualy responds with great outrage which was the intent in the first place and reinforces the use of the slang terms. it aint just atheists; agonistics, wiccans, secularists and others use the same slang terms.

[beef_bourito]

some people take offense to it, my mother for example, most don't care. i was raised catholic so i don't really say those out of habbit, never said them when i was younger, haven't bothered to start, it's not something i care about.

as for atheists not being able to say it, what do you think of christians saying "holy cow"? you think it's just an innocent phrase but it's the same kind of thing but against the hindu belief that the cow is holy.

my viewpoint on the whole thing: free speach is there for a reason. say what you want, and if people get offended that's their problem.

[Dyno247365]

Originally Posted by ericn1300

its a cultural thing. our swear words and phrases come about first as a protest against the group they would offend the most and then slowly become become common in the popular vernacular. the offended group usualy responds with great outrage which was the intent in the first place and reinforces the use of the slang terms. it aint just atheists; agonistics, wiccans, secularists and others use the same slang terms.

So oh my god and GD is really said by atheists as rebelling against religions? Yeah I guess I could see that, but it's true that most people say it as popular vernacular and don't know WTH they're talking about. I should stop saying it as I'm a bit religious, but it's tough to, I've said it ever since I heard my dad curse as a little kid. It's hard to stop...just like drinking.

[MonsterBengt]

Lol, define "should".

"Should" as in: "To make all believers happy by force nonbelievers into the reality of an objective right vs wrong and conform those to that, since they'd go to hell otherwise, and we don't want that to happen."?

Don't use language as an objective tool for communication in direct contact with objectiveness. The phrases themselfs are used for an everyday purpose, to express feelings and etc. NOT to either praise nor blaspheme.

If I were God, I'd either 1. Not care, 2. Be pissed about people trying to uphold MY rules, by calling eachother blasphamers, when I am the almighty one and can by all means punish or restrain anyone by their behavior and sins.

[boingo82]

We just say it because it's common vernacular, just like "Holy Fuck!" or "Hot Damn!"
Those aren't literal either. Most exclamations aren't.