Where did the slighting, humorous nickname “Jebus” (aka “Jeebus”) originate? I’ve seen it more and more over the past couple of years, used mostly by non-Christians, but also by liberal Christians (such as James Lileks) to taunt Fundies. I first remember hearing it on The Simpsons: “Save me, Jebus!”
Anyone have an idea, or am I going to have to write to William Safire?
I 1st heard it on the Simpsons too, and I’ve been wondering the same thing too.
This came up in GQ just a couple weeks ago in the thread, What’s up with Jeebus?
Oop! Thanks, peepthis, I must have missed that one . . .
Jebus is an old name for Jerusalem, mentioned in two contexts in the Hebrew Scriptures. It seems to have been a standard euphemism for Jesus (the saying of whose name in vain was of course blasphemy for people living in a Christian-based milieu) much like Jee-zum or Jiminy Cricket (whence Pinocchio’s miraculous entomological conscience).
Good God, awmighty, Poly.
I mean…dang.