# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/41 "2010-07-20T14:53:41Z")
I think Terry Pratchett summed this thought up nicely in Men At Arms… > [@](#): > > Besides, when you hit your thumb with an eight-pound hammer it’s nice to be able to blaspheme. It takes a very special kind of atheist to jump up and down with their hand clasped under their other armpit and shout, ‘Oh, random fluctuations-in-the-space-time-continuum!’ or ‘Aargh, primitive-and outmoded-concept on a crutch!’ ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/42 "2010-07-20T14:58:52Z")
I use all the normal iterations on the deity and his son. I don’t think any more about their literal meanings than I think about thursday referring to Thor. ---
**Author:** ![SurveyorAlpha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@SurveyorAlpha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurveyorAlpha)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/43 "2010-07-20T21:16:27Z")
> [@kcor1953](#): > > Does anyone, in standard English, actually say “Curse you” other than Snoopy the Dog in Peanuts? My twelve-year-old daughter does, constantly. Not sure where she picked it up, but any time I annoy her, she lets it fly at me. “CURSE YOU!!!” ---
**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 21, 2010, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/44 "2010-07-21T00:26:04Z")
> [@kcor1953](#): > > "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? I actually use “Curses, foiled again” as a very mild exclaimation of annoyance. I occasional think about trading in “Fuck You” for more inventive curses, to prove my superiority to those poor sods who are limited to the F-bomb. Unfortunately, “May your camel get fleas” isn’t very effective here. (That and I’m usually to slow to come up with something really interesting on the fly, and cue cards detract from the moment.) ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/45 "2010-07-21T02:28:17Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > Actually, I’d figured there might be people who would feel that by using GODDAMN or Oh my GOD, they were actually endorsing that there is an additional meaning to the words. It’s like _ceremonial deism_… Hmmm… _ceremonial blasphemy_? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/46 "2010-07-22T19:27:52Z")
I say “God_s_”, sometimes “Black Gods!”, “Dark Gods!”, “Elder Gods!”, “Great Old Ones!” or otherwise invoke the various Lovecraftian entitys, especially “Hastur! Hastur! Hastur!”. “Great Cthulhu!” and “Sonofa…HoundOfTindalos!” get a workout, too. Sometimes “Father Dagon and Mother Hydra”. If occasion merits, some irritant may get the full "Shub-Niggurath, Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young!!!” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/47 "2010-07-22T19:36:44Z")
Maybe a better way to frame this question is, “Do any atheists or agnostics deliberately refrain from using religious-based swears?” ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/48 "2010-07-22T19:49:56Z")
I’m not a Christian either (although I am religious), and I say hell, goddamnit, Jesus, and oh my god like everybody else, not to mention _hostie, tabarnac, câlice, ciboire_ and the rest in French. ---
**Author:** ![Athevangelist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Athevangelist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athevangelist)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/49 "2010-09-03T18:10:27Z")
Expletives in high-stress/hammer on digit situations aside, I also ascribe to the view that to use religious-derived exclamations implies some sort of endorsement of that religion. As I am Anglican-raised, I still find myself saying “thank god!” automatically sometimes. However as I’m now effectively atheist, this sounds wrong to me (particularly one such utterance - “thank god I didn’t tell him that I’m an atheist”). I try to deflect “thank god” to “thank Rod” which for convenience can be a reference to Rod Stewart. There is at least ample evidence for his existence. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/50 "2010-09-03T18:17:54Z")
> [@akennett](#): > > “Goddamn motherfucking piece of shit!” flies out of my mouth quite fluidly at times. It’s societal convention, not their literal meaning, that gives any of these words their power as swear words, so it’s no endorsement of religion to me to use them. Heh. “Goddamn motherfucking piece of shit!” is one that I use commonly. I was troubleshooting my chainsaw last night, and between “you son of a whore” and “Goddamn motherfucking piece of shit!” I had it covered. btw: small crack in the fuel line. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/51 "2010-09-03T18:21:03Z")
So far as I’m concerned, they’re useful tools in my box of cuss words. God and Christ _are_ quite similar to other profanity in sound, being single syllable with hard consonant sounds on the ends. They have the advantage of being (slightly) more socially acceptable while not being as cheesy as ‘gosh darn it to heck’. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/52 "2010-09-03T18:48:47Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Maybe a better way to frame this question is, “Do any atheists or agnostics deliberately refrain from using religious-based swears?” Me. Partly because of my disdain for everything religious; partly because that disdain makes religious terms unsatisfying for swearing. The very occasional “damn” is about it. I don’t actually swear using the classic four letter words either; I was constantly abused in school by kids who swore obsessively, and this gave me a strong aversion to the classic swearwords. Pavlov in action I guess. I tend to say something inarticulate (“Arrrgh”, more or less), or something like “idiots!”. Oddly, at one point I found myself using my brother’s name (in situations that had nothing to do with him) as a swear word and had to break myself of the habit. Swearing seems somewhat reflexive. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/53 "2010-09-03T19:14:12Z")
by the dog ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/54 "2010-09-03T19:19:36Z")
I use all the terms listed in the OP, and I’m also a particular fan of “Christ on a bike” and “Jesus Christ on a crutch”. Edit: I didn’t notice “Bless you” in the OP, I don’t say that, not because it’s religious but because it’s just… I dunno, stupid? I don’t need to say something when someone sneezes. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/55 "2010-09-03T19:34:14Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Heh. “Goddamn motherfucking piece of shit!” is one that I use commonly. I was troubleshooting my chainsaw last night, and between “you son of a whore” and “Goddamn motherfucking piece of shit!” I had it covered. > > btw: small crack in the fuel line. I use “you son of a whore” mostly on inanimate objects. I’m having trouble opening the pickle jar, “Oh come the fuck on you son of a whore.” I keep dropping the wrench, “Quit fucking around you son of a whore.” and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Rhodes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhodes/32/273_2.png) [@Rhodes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhodes)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/56 "2010-09-03T19:35:20Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Maybe a better way to frame this question is, “Do any atheists or agnostics deliberately refrain from using religious-based swears?” I don’t use the Lord’s name in vain. He ain’t _my_ lord, but I don’t really intend to cause offense by swearing and these phrases would be considered too shocking to those who know me. But I don’t hesitate with a “dammit” (while not thinking about the implausibility of literal damnation) and I’m pretty sure my last words are going to be “oh shit.” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/57 "2010-09-04T00:50:33Z")
I am agnostic. I frequently sound like Tony Soprano. In fact, I believe I came up with “Jesus Fuckin’ Christ” independantly of Tony. In a similar vein, I’ll also say “God fucking dammit.” I’ll also string curses together so they sound like one word as in “godfuckindammitfuckinsonofabitch.” I’ve also come up with some really blasphemic curses I really don’t feel comfortable sharing here, but they would really shock the hell out of believers. They are for times when I’m by myself and don’t run the risk of offending anybody. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/58 "2010-09-04T02:04:37Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > Science H. Logic! > > Southpark Don’t laugh but my friend who is very much a hardcore atheist used “God dammit” and “Jesus fucking Christ” until that episode ran. Now its always “science dammit” and “fuck my monkey ass”. He means it (uses them seriously to swear) and it cracks me up every time. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/59 "2010-09-07T07:25:59Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > 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! That’s what confused me. It is precisely because I’m religious that I avoid profanity, but have relaxed a bit on vulgarity. The closest I get is using the word hell, but that’s specifically because I don’t consider it profane to use a bad place as a swear. I’m surprised there aren’t New Yorkers out there that swear by using “New Jersey.” ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264/60 "2010-09-07T07:49:50Z")
I have a few phrases I’m fond of when the occasion arises: - Jesus Christ on a popscicle stick (not even sure where this came from) - Holy sheep shit! - Sweet Sister Sadie (stolen from an old lover) - Holy mother of god, Holy St Patrick, Jesus, Mary and Joseph (from Mom) - Cocksucking motherfucker (usually when I’ve been drinking) I tend towards Yosemite Sam-type cussing or geeky expletives most of the time though. When my guys at work hear me curse, it’s rare enough that it grabs their attention (and no, I don’t curse at them). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-agnostics-what-do-you-use-to-swear-or-for-exclamations/547264.md?page=4)