# Question for atheists and agnostics **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 28, 2005, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251 "2005-10-28T02:53:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/1 "2005-10-28T02:53:17Z")
In your daily speech, do you use words and phrases derived from religion? Do you say things such as “Oh, God” and “sure as hell”? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/2 "2005-10-28T02:54:52Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/3 "2005-10-28T02:55:18Z")
Yup. Sometimes, I go for really elaborate ones for ironic effect. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/4 "2005-10-28T03:00:07Z")
Sometimes. I do in curses especially. When calm and rational I use euphemisms such as Gosh, Jeez, and B.C.E. ---
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/5 "2005-10-28T03:00:38Z")
Yep… Kind of like how I use a whole bushel of phrases and words plucked from agriculture, though I an not a farmer. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/6 "2005-10-28T03:01:08Z")
Not daily, but from time to time. Once, my father was outraged that I said “Jesus Christ!” at the dinner table - and he’s not Christian - so I still say that from time to time. But I say more profane variants, like “for fuck’s sake,” more often than I used the really religion-derived ones. ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/7 "2005-10-28T03:02:50Z")
Not so much anymore, as I struck upon the inherent irony of doing so. But I do when I cuss… the more elaborate or shocking, the better. “Oh, god” is one I’ll never shake, though I take care not to say “Oh my god.” ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/8 "2005-10-28T03:16:28Z")
Yes. The only time I make an effort to change is when someone sneezes. And I say Gesundheit and never God bless you. God bless you seems to cross the line into hypocrisy. And anyway if you’ve sneezed you probably need good health more than you do god. I usually say Oh God! when vexed but I’m trying to change that to Bugger! as it’s something I do believe in. ---
**Author:** ![Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buckler_of_Swashing)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/9 "2005-10-28T03:39:33Z")
Yeah, I do. Usually only ‘Jesus Christ!’ or ‘Oh for God’‘s sake!’ as I am probably more partial to swearing rather than these, provided I am in company that I haven’t had to ‘check’ myself for - like somebody’s kids or something. But using these words and phrases derived from religions doesn’t bother me, if that is something you’re getting at. Certain religions were very socially pervasive for a long time and to some extent still are. This stuff entered the social vocabulary too long ago and in too broad a fashion for me not to consider it a shared linguistic heritage. After all, if non-believer’s can’t say ‘Christ’ and ‘God’ and the like, then almost everybody needs to find new names for a lot of things. Days of the week, for example. How many people still believe in the gods they were named after? Christians, are you going to find new titles for these days? No. Should you have to? No. ( **ITR champion** I’m not suggesting you were trying to say people ought not to use those words if they aren’t of the appropriate religion, I understand you were only asking ‘if’ people do. 🙂 ) > [@](#): > > originally posted by **betenoir** > I usually say Oh God! when vexed but I’m trying to change that to Bugger! as it’s something I do believe in. Bugger is a great, great all-encompassing ‘frustration’ word and I applaud it’s use! ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/10 "2005-10-28T03:41:36Z")
Christ, no! ---
**Author:** ![Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buckler_of_Swashing)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/11 "2005-10-28T03:42:43Z")
> [@](#): > > originally posted by **Buckler of Swashing** : > non-believer’s **Bugger!** scratch that apostrophe ---
**Author:** ![Strinka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strinka/32/512_2.png) [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/12 "2005-10-28T03:43:16Z")
Sometimes, sometimes not. If I can think about it, I’ll replace god with Og, Jesus with Jebus, etc. Although I am quite fond of “godbitchit!” ---
**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:** [October 28, 2005, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/13 "2005-10-28T03:47:29Z")
Constantly. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/14 "2005-10-28T03:48:47Z")
_Motherfucking Christ_ is a particular favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/15 "2005-10-28T03:54:51Z")
Goddamn and goddammit and my particular favorites. The cover a wide range of reactions from “GodDAMN that was good sex” to “GodDamnit, I locked my keys in the car!” Very versatile. It was a problem when I lived in the Deep South. ---
**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:** [October 28, 2005, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/16 "2005-10-28T04:02:02Z")
Of course. They’re in such common usage that it’s hard not to pick them up. Not that I specifically try to avoid them, they’re just words. Whether I exclaim “Oh, crumbs!” or “Oh, Christ!”, the sentiment is the same. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/17 "2005-10-28T04:21:52Z")
Absolutely. The entire point of swearing is to be transgressive, and blasphemy is as much fun as that gets. My GF has a different take on it, she uses non-religious swearwords in everyday life and reserves blasphemy for use during sex. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/18 "2005-10-28T04:24:38Z")
> [@ITR champion](#): > > In your daily speech, do you use words and phrases derived from religion? Do you say things such as “Oh, God” and “sure as hell”? I swear to God I’ve never done that. ---
**Author:** ![La\_Llorona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@La\_Llorona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/La_Llorona)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/19 "2005-10-28T04:25:44Z")
Yep, and it doesn’t really bother me. (Agnostic here, ftr.) I do, however, have an atheist friend who’s forever vowing to say “Stephen Hawking!” during sex instead of “Jesus Christ!” Not sure how well that one turned out… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251/20 "2005-10-28T04:30:36Z")
Yup. In a similar vein my father, who was reared in a very strict Jewish household, used Jesus Christ as a curse all the time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-atheists-and-agnostics/328251.md?page=2)