# Atheists and agnostics - What do you use to swear or for exclamations? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 19, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264 "2010-07-19T20:00:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/1 "2010-07-19T20:00:32Z")
I’m not looking for a debate over athiesm or agnosticism. I am wondering what people find themselves using either as an exclamation or when swearing. Oh my God! Holy xxx (fill in the blank)! Jesus Christ! Sweet Jesus Oh my lord Damn you Curse you heck, even Bless You. All of these reference some form of deity, many of them Christian specific. I find that using these is ingrained in me. If you are an athiest or agnostic, have you worked to change your vocabulary? What’s have you added? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/2 "2010-07-19T20:09:26Z")
I have found that many of these expressions became so prevalent that they crossed over into the vernacular as idioms rather than being conscious religious exclamations. My Jewish uncle used to say “Jesus Christ” all the time as an exclamation. I have not sustained the effects of my Christian upbringing but say “goddammit” and so forth, but so non-literally that it’s interchangable with “shit!” I also say “bless you” when someone sneezes. I also say “holy shit” but never thought there was anything religious about that to begin with. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Stoneburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/3 "2010-07-19T20:14:43Z")
Fitta (cunt) Hora (whore) Men vad fan… (But what satan…)\* Men för i helvete (But for in hell…)\*\* Satans jävla horkuk (Satans damned whorecock) - Better translated as “What the fuck” \*\* Better translated as “For fucks sake” ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/4 "2010-07-19T20:17:54Z")
I invoked Jesus Christ during the infamous [exploding breast incident](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9192093&postcount=12). I use my share of non-deity-based profanity as well. ---
**Author:** ![GHO57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df788c/32.png) [@GHO57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GHO57)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/5 "2010-07-19T20:18:39Z")
I’m not exactly English-speaking; nor socialized in a culture where references to a deity are commonplace… so pretty much the same terminology as anyone else. I could give you literal translations if you want? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/6 "2010-07-19T20:18:41Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > I’m not looking for a debate over athiesm or agnosticism. > I am wondering what people find themselves using either as an exclamation or when swearing. > > Oh my God! > Holy xxx (fill in the blank)! > Jesus Christ! > Sweet Jesus > Oh my lord > Damn you > Curse you > heck, even Bless You. > > All of these reference some form of deity, many of them Christian specific. > I find that using these is ingrained in me. > > If you are an athiest or agnostic, have you worked to change your vocabulary? > What’s have you added? Some of these are common in my speech, some aren’t. Why would I _work_ to change them? Their literal meanings mean nothing to me. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/7 "2010-07-19T20:25:50Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Some of these are common in my speech, some aren’t. Why would I _work_ to change them? Their literal meanings mean nothing to me. Exactly. I also swear by Ford, though - I started doing it as a joke after reading Brave New World in high school. And, er, I never stopped. It’s a genuine habit now. Ford! ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/8 "2010-07-19T20:27:47Z")
Most common first: Fuck. Holy shit. Jesus Fucking Christ! ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/9 "2010-07-19T20:31:13Z")
Why, the swearwords that are popular in my cultural sphere. Just like everyone else. (Because I’m a nerd, those tend to be “Frak!” and “By Crom!”) ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/10 "2010-07-19T20:40:53Z")
Profanity is learned from usage, and if everyone uses the same words and phrases, then one’s religious beliefs aren’t a factor. I say “holy shit”, “Jesus Christ”, and “fucking hell” all the time. Like **CookingWithGas** , I also say “bless you” when someone sneezes. The point of commenting is to excuse the sneezing. My lack of faith is irrelevant, and I’d consider it obnoxious to draw attention to it. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/11 "2010-07-19T20:42:25Z")
My most common is **jesus fuck!** **Godammit** is probably a close second. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/12 "2010-07-19T20:46:33Z")
Science H. Logic! Southpark ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/13 "2010-07-19T21:09:48Z")
This lensmen has actually sworn by Klono’s gadolinium guts. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/14 "2010-07-19T21:31:08Z")
Klono does have quite a convenient set of anatomy for swearing by, doesn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/15 "2010-07-19T21:33:51Z")
How about “Sweet evil Jesus!”? ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/16 "2010-07-19T21:35:25Z")
Er… isn’t it the religious folks who aren’t supposed to take the Lord’s name in vain? The atheists/agnostics can say whatever they want! ---
**Author:** ![kcor1953](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kcor1953/32/3221_2.png) [@kcor1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kcor1953)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/17 "2010-07-19T21:58:57Z")
"I am wondering what people find themselves using either as an exclamation or when swearing. … Curse you …" Does anyone, in standard English, actually say “Curse you” other than Snoopy the Dog in Peanuts? Anyway, I am an atheist but curse in idiom. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/18 "2010-07-19T22:00:24Z")
**Holy Christmas Jew!!** (stole that from Penn Jillette) **Bugger all!** ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/19 "2010-07-19T22:07:33Z")
Lot’s of religious swears, plus some of the more explicit sex and disease references and combos of all three that are all so much part of traditional Dutch (which has a lot of Yiddish in its swearing vocabulary, hence the diseases). ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/20 "2010-07-19T22:09:46Z")
Since this is more of a poll than anything else, it’s better suited for IMHO than GQ. Colibri General Questions Moderator [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264.md?page=2)