Oh My God

I live in an area that is predominately one religion, of which I am not a member. This faith teaches that the Lord’s name is not to be used in vain. While I respect this belief, I do not think I should have to monitor my own words to fit the ideas of another religion.

Phrases such as “Oh my god,” “for God’s sake” and “Jesus Christ!” are part of my speech. They’re modern lingo that I do not think is directly offensive or insulting to a particular faith. What I find offensive is when a friend asks me not to say that around them because it doesn’t fit into their religion.

First of all, when I say “Oh my god”, that’s exactly what I’m referring to: My god, which may be an entirely different higher power than yours. If my faith or my own beliefs permit me to use that language, I should not be requested to alter it to make someone else feel more important. It is that request which is meant to make me feel guilty or as though those words somehow are a sin.

As aforementioned, I am not degrading a certain faith when I saw “Oh my god” or the like. I’m not announcing that I’m disrespecting the church of such-and-such or that the faith of so-and-so is stupid. If that’s the way you interpret that phrase, you are welcome not to simply not be in my presence, rather than trying to convert me to your way of thinking.

One other point I have is, respectfully, grow up. When you get out into the real world you will hear language a whole lot more horrible, and you won’t be able to censor one bit of it. I wish you luck finding any sort of society where you won’t be bombarded with words you don’t accept or agree with. For example, as a gay-rights advocate, I think it is offensive when people say “that’s so gay” to refer to something pointless or unwanted, and I don’t think it’s right when the word “retarded” describes something stupid rather than its proper form of describing someone mentally ill. But do I ask others not to say those words around me? No. Because it’s their choice and their right.

This topic may not seem really important or something to feel strongly about, but to me, it’s about censoring the rights that the 1st Amendment offers us: freedom of speech and religion. To those teachers, friends, and fellow students who don’t want me to say God or Christ the way I do, I say, it’s my right, so deal with it.