# Atheists, Do you say phrases like "Thank God" or "Swear to God" as forms of exasperation? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 30, 2016, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274 "2016-09-30T09:53:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**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 30, 2016, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274/41 "2016-09-30T22:13:17Z")
Hell no. I substitute something I do believe in. I’ll say things like, “Nothing dammit!” and “Thank Nothing”. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274/42 "2016-09-30T22:38:44Z")
I sure do. I may be an atheist, but I’m culturally Christian. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Terrific](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tom_terrific/32/342_2.png) [@Tom\_Terrific](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Terrific)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274/43 "2016-10-01T00:59:58Z")
Well, bless your heart. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2016, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274/44 "2016-10-01T01:10:11Z")
I didn’t vote: I don’t qualify. But a close friend who does says “Jesus Christ” and “God Dammit” so often that its become a standing joke between us. ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274/45 "2016-10-01T05:35:39Z")
I don’t swear to God, as it seems silly. I do thank God, though, especially for small favors. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274/46 "2016-10-01T11:09:35Z")
Spanish speakers, at least once a day, invoke Allah without realizing it (_ojalá_ is a common way to say “I hope…”). The form has changed a little over the centuries, so it’s not totally obvious, but pretty close – maybe like “Cheese and crackers!” or “Gosh!”. Point being, don’t confuse the mere vagaries of language with sincere professions of belief. For this poll, I chose “rarely” because I do try to stop myself from saying God or Jesus – instead, lots of “thank goodnesses” and “Geseundheits” – but if one occasionally slips out, I don’t expect anyone to take it seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274/47 "2016-10-01T12:58:29Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > But “thank goodness” means “thank god.” It may still mean that literally, but not nearly as directly as “thank god.” I’m not aiming to strike anything remotely religious from my speech, I just avoid direct mentions of god if/when I can and so far “thank goodness” has been the easiest change to make. I still say “bless you” when someone sneezes (growing up it was never “God bless you”) and other indirectly religious things, too. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274/48 "2016-10-01T13:42:07Z")
Before the marvel movies came out, I used to say ‘thank Thor’ and ‘swear to Thor’. It was my way of expressing the Stephen F Roberts quote about atheism\*. But now it just feels weird and like I have a man crush on Chris Hemsworth. True story. \*I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours. - Stephen F Roberts. I felt like replacing the culturally appropriate deity (like God) with a deity that society accepts as false (like Thor) would help me not get caught up in religion. ---
**Author:** ![DoggyDunnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@DoggyDunnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoggyDunnit)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2016, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274/49 "2016-10-02T02:37:12Z")
Nope. I use “Thank Nature!”, and usually swear on something I like, usually a favorite food like catfish or cheeseburgers. ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2016, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274/50 "2016-10-02T03:26:08Z")
I’ll say “Oh my God” when something’s really unbelievable. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2016, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274/51 "2016-10-02T09:46:05Z")
[Science damn you!](http://southpark.cc.com/clips/z95a6u/dawning-of-the-sea-otters) ---
**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:** [October 2, 2016, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274/52 "2016-10-02T11:24:26Z")
> [@feppytweed](#): > > I’ll say “Oh my God” when something’s really unbelievable. For utter disbelief I know a woman who says, “well, fuck me running!” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274/53 "2016-10-02T15:22:45Z")
I consider myself non-religious rather than atheist. But in the end it amounts to the same thing. I use the expressions all the time. “Thank goodness” just sounds weird. Of course I prefer Ods bodkin. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2016, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274/54 "2016-10-03T14:17:51Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > For utter disbelief I know a woman who says, “well, fuck me running!” For years I’ve been trying to get in the habit of saying “Great googly moogly!” But it won’t stick. _sigh_ ---
**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:** [October 3, 2016, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274/55 "2016-10-03T14:21:44Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > For years I’ve been trying to get in the habit of saying “Great googly moogly!” But it won’t stick. _sigh_ If you’re ever in my area, I’ll meet you at [Wicked Googly](http://www.thewickedgoogly.com/), a bar/restaurant/ bowling alley that sometimes has bands.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2016, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274/56 "2016-10-03T14:25:31Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > If you’re ever in my area, I’ll meet you at [Wicked Googly](http://www.thewickedgoogly.com/), a bar/restaurant/ bowling alley that sometimes has bands.😃 Deal! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2016, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274/57 "2016-10-03T14:28:26Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > For years I’ve been trying to get in the habit of saying “Great googly moogly!” But it won’t stick. _sigh_ My daughter has gotten into the habit of saying “Oh my days!”. She didn’t get it from us, so it must be from one of her teachers. It’s very quaint, coming from a small child. ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274/58 "2016-10-04T03:19:05Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > For utter disbelief I know a woman who says, “well, fuck me running!” In that vein, I often use, “Well fuck me up the ass sideways!" I don’t know where it came from or if I made it up. It doesn’t sound pleasant. I’ve used it at least 25 years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-do-you-say-phrases-like-thank-god-or-swear-to-god-as-forms-of-exasperation/767274.md?page=2)