# If you don't believe in God, then why ask Him to damn something? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 21, 2002, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156 "2002-12-21T02:25:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/21 "2002-12-21T03:20:55Z")
I think _you’re_ just bored but [some people are hardlined about this and _they’re_ idiots. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/22 "2002-12-21T03:21:15Z")
> [@](#): > > is it a colloquialism or is it a request, is wmulax93 an idiot or is he just bored, etc. Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/23 "2002-12-21T03:23:12Z")
Only joking. I don’t think you are an idiot. I just can’t resist answering questions like that with a ‘Yes’. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/24 "2002-12-21T03:27:55Z")
I don’t know why it is. It gives me the giggles, answere ing “is it A or is it B?” questions with “Yes” It seems like It does something clever to the circuitry in my brain. Almost like the desired effect of a koan or something. Now I think it is _me_ that is bored. (I think you will agree) ---
**Author:** ![SmileyDeath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@SmileyDeath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmileyDeath)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/25 "2002-12-21T03:29:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wmulax93 \* > \*\*Seriously, this bothers me. I’m not the most religious guy (I live with my girlfriend. for Pete’s sake) but I really try not to take the name of the God I believe in in vain. I hear all sorts of people saying “G-d Damn this, that or the other thing” many times every day, and it bothers me no matter who says it. However, it bothers me immensely when atheists/agnostics/non-theists say this particular phrase. If we just had a discussion TEN MINUTES AGO about how you DON’T BELIEVE IN GOD, then don’t ask him to Damn something for you. Take a stance, don’t just ask for favors from some entity you don’t believe in. \*\* Goddamn it sounds better. Blah. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/26 "2002-12-21T03:36:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lobsang \* > \*\*Only joking. I don’t think you are an idiot. I just can’t resist answering questions like that with a ‘Yes’. \*\* I prefer to answer with “Both” ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/27 "2002-12-21T03:42:44Z")
‘Both’ Is witty only superficially (“you are an idiot _and_ you are bored”) But ‘Yes’ is unexpected and paradoxical - it answers the question but it doesn’t answer the question. or something. I don’t know. it just made me giggle. ---
**Author:** ![loinburger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/db5fbb/32.png) [@loinburger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/loinburger)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/28 "2002-12-21T03:55:03Z")
An alternative is to give an even more nonsensical response, like “Beer” or “Whoremongers.” I’ve got a friend who does this, and gets his ass kicked all of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/29 "2002-12-21T04:03:55Z")
“Yes” is a logical answer according to George Boole. “Whoremonger” is just nonsense ;). ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/30 "2002-12-21T04:11:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wmulax93 \* > \*\*No, I’m not always this literal-minded, and yes, I understand it is a figure of speech. I just find it offensive that one can’t even put the thought into realizing that they are asking someone/something they do not believe in or outright denounce for favors. \*\* And, as people have already said, saying “Shit!” doesn’t mean you want to poop, saying “Fuck” doesn’t mean you want to have sex, etc. Why should it matter? These are just sayings that have developed their own meaning. Why aren’t you upset that one “can’t even put the thought into realizing that they are demanding sex when they say ‘fuck you’”? ---
**Author:** ![xcheopis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bc8723/32.png) [@xcheopis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xcheopis)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/31 "2002-12-21T05:22:57Z")
From \*\*\*Mr. Terry Pratchett’s \*_, Men At Arms_: > [@](#): > > …when you hit your thumb with an eight-pound hammer it’s nice to be able to blaspheme. It takes a very special and strong-minded 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 “Aaargh, primitive-and-out-moded-concept on a crutch!” ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/32 "2002-12-21T06:53:07Z")
Someone beat me to the Pratchett quote ☹ I could cry. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/33 "2002-12-21T08:26:16Z")
As long as we’re being literal, I think I should admit that I would have no clue what to do even if you provided me with both the straw and the goat. **wmulax93** , not to get into a religious debate here, but wouldn’t it seem more likely that an athiest or agnostic would be more likely to use the phrase “god damnit!” than a religious person? After all, if you believed in God, asking Him to damn something is not a light request here. One who doesn’t believe can see the phrase for the figure of speech that it is. You, OTOH, are asking your deity to look disapprovingly upon something and to take action against it. Pretty serious stuff if you asked me. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/34 "2002-12-21T08:37:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wmulax93 \* > If you don’t believe in God, then why ask Him to damn something? Why not? ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/35 "2002-12-21T14:52:20Z")
I do try and avoid words I know will offend someone (eg. Christ! infront of a christian, or Fuck! infront of a friend’s granny) but when I hit my thumb with a hammer I _have_ to shout, and don’t get a chance to think about it. I mean, when you hit your thumb with a hammer you’re supposed to shout something offensive, right? ---
**Author:** ![Dravin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dravin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dravin)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/36 "2002-12-21T15:04:43Z")
Not if you’re my father, then when in extreme need of an expletive you resort to vile utteringa such as bullfeathers. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/37 "2002-12-21T15:50:38Z")
I think **Ender** has hit the goddamn nail on the head. ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/38 "2002-12-21T16:19:58Z")
I figure it’s a more practical day-to-day use of Pascal’s Wager. ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/39 "2002-12-21T19:04:32Z")
Yeah, and what’s with those Christians calling it Wednesday and Thursday? If you don’t believe in Woden and Thor, why are you calling on them?! Goddamn it! ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156/40 "2002-12-22T00:12:17Z")
Both God and damnation are powerful ideas; that’s why “God damn it!” has been a good curse for so many centuries. I don’t believe either of those concepts reflect anything in reality, but the point of a curse isn’t literal belief, but the power of the words. Besides, I have a God-given right to blaspheme. Incidentally, when he made _Planet of the Apes_, Charlton Heston successfully argued for inclusion of the line “God damn you all to Hell!” on the basis that the character wasn’t swearing, but meant it literally. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-dont-believe-in-god-then-why-ask-him-to-damn-something/144156.md?page=3)