I have noticed that a lot of atheists and skeptics will still say “Oh my god” or “Jesus” when they are surprised by something.

I always tell people, “Don’t use the g-word”, or “Don’t use the j-word.”

People will defend the practice by saying that it is due to habit. Some excuse it, saying that it is just part of the culture.

For those who say it is habit, I say: Say strong, my naturalistic brothers and sisters. Change your habits to reflect your rational outlook.

For those who say it is okay because it is part of the culture, I reject that excuse. How did it come into culture? From religion. We must remove all religious and superstitious influences from our culture and our thinking. If we do not remove religion in small ways, how can we remove in large ways?

People should not replace “Oh my god” with something like “Oh my Darwin”, or “Oh my Hithchens”. We do not worship fictional characters. We should neither invoke nor give the appearance of worship of fictional or actual people, living or dead. Do not personify or
anthropomorphize the impersonal universe.

The only exclamation I can think of at the moment is: “Uranium 235!” [Note  1]

Make your awe and wonder reflect the mechanistic nature of the universe.

[1] Would “Thorium Tits” count as a compliment amongst the scientifically literate?

Views: 91

Comment

You need to be a member of Atheist Nexus to add comments!

Join Atheist Nexus

Comment by Lorryslorrys on October 7, 2012 at 5:16pm

I thought it was churchmen who didn't like blaspheming. I like doing it and you're not taking "Christ on a bike!" away from me.

Comment by Loren Miller on October 6, 2012 at 12:20pm

Plenty of bullshit out there, bro - including stuff that actually HURTS, restricts rights, promotes pseudo-science and screws with our government and wants to promote the idea that the US is a christian nation, never mind crap that comes from the followers of the New Apostolic Reformation.  By comparison, worrying about atheists using words such as god and Jesus-Jebus-Haysus-whatever is way small potatoes by comparison.

Worth note, too - there's plenty of talk here on A|N about god, whether he/she/it exists and if so what happens.  These discussions have been going on since before I joined A|N three years ago.  You want to rail on about that, too?

Comment by Everyday Freethought on October 6, 2012 at 11:54am

I do not have to accept bullshit just because it is part of the culture. Why join a site called Atheist Nexus if you are going to just accept the bullshit people give you?


If you want to be a sheep, go ahead. Do not tell me that I have to be one.

Comment by Loren Miller on October 6, 2012 at 11:49am

Good night, Agnes!  If you're going to be that much of an ouch-cube about a lousy word -  god, you have a bigger problem than perceived threats from me.  Like it or not, it's part of the vernacular and the culture, and changing that is going to require as large a change in social inertia as getting believers to stop believing.

I will continue to speak and swear as I see fit, full stop.

Comment by Napoleon Bonaparte on October 6, 2012 at 11:19am

Comment by Everyday Freethought on October 6, 2012 at 9:40am

To Loren Miller: Do not threaten me under any circumstances, not even in jest.. If you try to kick my ass, I will kill you. You don't like it? I will lump you.

Comment by Art Eaton on October 4, 2012 at 9:51pm

I just use the Jesus F. Christ one and occasionally say "Oh Your God!"

'Cides, on my work site, Jesus IS the little shit that does most of the fucked up stuff.  I'm not going to blame his essay Gabriel.

Comment by Loren Miller on October 4, 2012 at 9:19pm

Whereupon I say, "Attempt to censor me, and I'll kick your ass to Zanzibar!" 

I express myself mostly in the moment and as I see fit.  Frequently, I will use what you might find as more acceptable expletives, such as: "Good night, Agnes!" or, under greater stress," Great holy fuck-a-duck!"  However, particularly when I'm not thinking about it, "Jesus Christ" still pops out and I will apologize to NO ONE about it.

It's part of my upbringing and who I am.  Maybe it'll change over time, but in the overall scheme of things, it's small potatoes compared to other shit that's going on.  You don't like it?  LUMP IT. 

Blog Posts

Pope's 'exorcism' caught on film video

Posted by Debra Stevenson on May 21, 2013 at 2:37pm 0 Comments

There is a video of the Pope's 'exorcism' caught on film.  The man isn't demon possessed, there are likely no 'real' demons.  He's just delusional and doesn't want to accept personal responsiblity for his own behavior for his own dysfunctional life.

 

Brandi Amari Williams

Do you support 'traditional' marriage, vot now ad

Posted by Debra Stevenson on May 21, 2013 at 2:28pm 2 Comments

There is an ad that reads ' Do you support 'traditional' marriage? Vote Now"!  .

 

 

No, I don't support 'traditional' marriage because there is no such thing. I support heterosexual and same-sex couples marry each other legally , yes.  'Traditional' marriage promoters largely do not believe that heterosexual women are co-equal to their husbands.  Their only purpose in 'traditional' marriage is to sexually satisfy their husbands if they can and raise children and do all…

Continue

War on Christmas in May

Posted by matthew greenberg on May 21, 2013 at 12:18pm 6 Comments

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/21/texas-merry-christmas-bill_n_3312786.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

i've got no problem with everyone saying "merry christmas" on christmas day.  however, they've turned it into an entire holiday season where it lasts a month or more.  in those situations it should be perfectly acceptable to say "happy holidays" or call it a…

Continue

My first funeral as an atheist

Posted by Two Cult Survivor on May 21, 2013 at 11:30am 0 Comments

I posted the bulk of this on another thread, but wanted to add some context separately.

I finally confronted my faith and embraced the fact of my atheism late last August, 2012. Days after I revealed my "epiphany" to a few friends who knew me from another message board, my sister died from Lou Gehrig's Disease (which pissed her off because she hated catching a disease from someone she never f---ed).

THAT was my sister, understand? She was a beautiful, life-loving, potty-mouthed…

Continue

© 2013   Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: Richard Haynes.

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service