Religious words in swearing

[BostonMike7]

I'm guilty of it myself. I don't blurt it out in public. Mostly if working on a project at home, or on the car I might mutter something under my breath. In general I don't curse in front of others.


Being an atheist.......meh.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by snatale1

So in conclusion, you are correct. We're all going to hell.

Is that where Lemmy is? If so, sign me up!

[ormari]

Originally Posted by pikabike

I grew up near Boston and didn't think much about this until I noticed its marked absence when I moved to CO, and elsewhere later.

People in/near Boston swear using religous words as cussing more than anybody else I've heard. This includes in white-collar office settings, not just construction sites or bars and parties.

I'm not talking about G*dam*, but more colorful phrases such as these:

J*. H. Chr* on a stick!
Chr* almighty!
F*ing J*!
For Chr* sake!

Is it only my impression, or have other people noticed this quirk? BTW, I am not posting to criticize it, rather more as a comment on local language habits.

I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. I haven't noticed any significant difference in the propensity to use these colorful phrases between the PNW and New England.

Instead of Christ on stick, it was Christ on a cracker. And no Jesus, Mary and Joseph out there. But otherwise, usage was the same, though perhaps not in a professional setting.

I never heard Christ in a sidecar before. I kind of like a sidecar now and then, but it never makes me feel divine. Perhaps I need to order from the top shelf.

[pikabike]

Funny, I pictured JC riding in a motorcycle sidecar. You know, with Jesus by my side" applied to Harleys. Or something like that. What an image.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by pikabike

I grew up near Boston and didn't think much about this until I noticed its marked absence when I moved to CO, and elsewhere later.

People in/near Boston swear using religous words as cussing more than anybody else I've heard. This includes in white-collar office settings, not just construction sites or bars and parties.

I'm not talking about G*dam*, but more colorful phrases such as these:

J*. H. Chr* on a stick!
Chr* almighty!
F*ing J*!
For Chr* sake!

Is it only my impression, or have other people noticed this quirk? BTW, I am not posting to criticize it, rather more as a comment on local language habits.

It's funny, I'm an atheist (grew up in a very loosely Catholic family- really tradition only- and went to Catholic school/confirmation, etc.), and I use a lot of these fairly regularly. Particularly "Jesus F------ Christ!" (or "Jesus Tapdancing Chr*st," or just "Jesus Chr*st"). I do it without thinking. There's no particular extra meaning behind it. I don't want to offend anyone or take a jab at those who are Christian. As an atheist, there's no superstition, so that definitely plays a role. But it's just habit at this point. I'm conscious about it to a degree (I have some devout friends and family) and I make efforts to not do it in public, but it is pretty common here. As BostonMike7 said, meh.

[BostonMike7]

Heard a good one this weekend...


"Jesus S***s in his hat"

[emm74]

Originally Posted by goyguy

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph!

ha, that's the one I thought of. I don't think I've heard that one since I moved to Denver from Boston, except when I sometimes say it myself. And the funny part is that I'm Jewish! But after living in Boston for 25 years, it gets into your system! lol!

[pikabike]

Originally Posted by lrfox

It's funny, I'm an atheist (grew up in a very loosely Catholic family- really tradition only- and went to Catholic school/confirmation, etc.), and I use a lot of these fairly regularly. Particularly "Jesus F------ Christ!" (or "Jesus Tapdancing Chr*st," or just "Jesus Chr*st"). I do it without thinking. There's no particular extra meaning behind it. I don't want to offend anyone or take a jab at those who are Christian. As an atheist, there's no superstition, so that definitely plays a role. But it's just habit at this point. I'm conscious about it to a degree (I have some devout friends and family) and I make efforts to not do it in public, but it is pretty common here. As BostonMike7 said, meh.

Haha hee hee, tap dancing. You summed up my impressions. There isn't a second thought given to those swears tossed out freely even at work. It is contagious. I did not grow up either religious OR swearing, but after working with swearers, I started doing it. Then carried it with me to a new city, where it was not common. I didn't realize until a boyfriend accused me of swearing a lot, and yes they included that particular brand of profanity.

And for the record, all of the Catholics I knew as an adult in/near Boston were vehemently EX-Catholic.

Emm74, you and I spread the contagion to Denver!

BostonMike7, that one conjures up an even worse image than JC in a sidecar. Holy sh....OOPS.