Blasphemy

[Moonhead]

So blasphemy, like "Oh my G*d" or "J*s*s Chr*st* etc etc, to people with religion, is wrong, as I gather it is deemed disrespectful to God etc. BUT where did these sayings come from in the first place? My Nan has a habit of saying "Oh Mother!" when feeling stressed or whatever, as in "Help me Mum", which isnt disrespectful to her, so why should "Oh G*d" be disrespectful to Him? And if they are so wrong, then why did people start saying them in the first place?? I hope this makes sense - I'm afraid I've waffled a bit! Thanks.x

[Quizmonster]

If a believer is actually addressing God - for example, in prayer - then his/her saying: "Oh my G*d" is not at all disrespectful or blasphemous. It becomes so only when used in situations where no such communication is meant...in other words, when it is merely an oath.

The plain fact is that people centuries ago did start saying these things genuinely...only later did they become curses.

[andy hughes]

When your mother says "Oh Mother!", she isn't referring to her monther, but to Mary, mother of God - this is a common Catholic plea / prayer when things go wrong. Other than that, nothing to add to the previous answer, except to say that blasphemy is in the ear of the beholder.

[Moonhead]

No, I know my Nan is talking/exclaiming to her Mother, not Mary, because I asked her when I was little, why she said it, and she said "because sometimes, everyone still needs their Mum, no matter how old they are, and wish for their help." So :op Andy.

[andy hughes]

I understand your contradiction, fair point, but not the bit at the end - the 'So :op Andy' - can you explain what it means please?

[Ewood27]

One of the Ten Commandments is "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain". In other words, Christians are specifically told in one of the most basic sets of rules NOT to use God's (or Jesus') name frivolously, as just an oath. If you are a Christian, the Commandments mean something. If you're not a believer, what are you doing calling on God anyway?

[Moonhead]

Sorry Andy, it's horrid text/chat speak for pulling a tongue :oP. Like saying "so there". :o)

[andy hughes]

Thanks Moonhead! Being a bit old for the text generation, I never would have figured that out! Now I know.

[MrIxolite]

"Mother is the name for God on the lips of small children" - The Crow