Is saying "Oh my Gosh/Goodness" blasphemy?

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I think the point Pup is making is that it appears you are arguing that no one can ever for any reason say pretty much anything in surprise or frustration as effectively everything you could or would say is simply a substitution for something blasphemous or vulgar. Is that what you are trying to say, or perhaps we have misunderstood what point you are making?
 
I am saying you shouldn’t utter blasphemous phrases. That should not be controversial. I am also saying you shouldn’t utter the minced oath versions. Those are also blasphemous. Saying ‘my God’ or ‘oh my God’ are not necessarily blasphemous. But they could be violations of the first commandment if said too much.

If people run out of words because they can’t utter blasphemous words then they should crack open a dictionary. There are plenty of non blasphemous words out there. A lot of what people do utter in surprise or frustration is blasphemous and using a minced oath doesn’t change that.

Is saying ‘jeez’ really that important to people that they would rather blaspheme than learn a new word? I get that we pick up habits from others and lots of people blaspheme. But we can do our best to work on what we say.
 
I think we are all in agreement that we shouldn’t utter blasphemous phrases. The disagreement is over exactly what phrases would be considered blasphemy.

I have never heard the “minced oath” terminology. So are you saying that you are fine if someone decides to say “Oh my grape juice”, but saying “Oh my goodness” is too close to the “original” to be used in good conscience?

I’m genuinely trying to understand what you’re saying.
 
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To be honest, I never knew “Jeez” meant “Jesus”. I thought it was just a phrase I could use that had no real meaning other than shock or annoyance. But I’ve apparently been blaspheming every time I’ve said it. Where’s the line drawn then? It would seem that a case could be made that no matter what is said, whether it’s goodness, jeez, gee wilikers, etc., that it’s blasphemous, since apparently every time someone says “Oh my ____”, the blank is in some way directed towards God, whether the blank is a word or silence. That, to me, sounds ridiculous.
 
Fauken said:
To be honest, I never knew “Jeez” meant “Jesus”.
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I had never heard that in my life, and wonder if it’s not a recent incarnation. My mother says that, and she literally thinks “crap” and “that sucks” are actually dirty words. As in actual dirty words.
 
Yes, there is a reason for minced oaths - and the very reason, clearly, is to provide a non-blasphemous, non-offensive alternative to the actual words.

Saying minced oaths are to be avoided is like saying Virgin Marys (a non-alcoholic version of a Bloody Mary cocktail) are to.be avoided. Of course they aren’t - they are specially designed with the problem ingredient missing!
 
Well, Kermit the frog used to say “sheesh”.

I guess all the little kids who picked that up are doomed forever.
 

Minced oath - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org en.m.wikipedia.org
Joe_5859 said:
I have never heard the “minced oath” terminology. So are you saying that you are fine if someone decides to say “Oh my grape juice”, by saying “Oh my goodness” is too close to the “original” to be used in good conscience?
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What I am saying is if I hit my hand with a hammer and say ‘Jesus Christ’ in anger that is blasphemy. If I decide to be tricky and say instead ‘Jiminy Cricket’ that is also blasphemy. After all I am trying to say ‘Jesus Christ’ without saying it. I could say s***, shoot, f***, or fudge. All those are better than blasphemy. Another option is to not say anything.
JRS_831 said:
Scrupulous
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Just because someone doesn’t want to blaspheme doesn’t make them scrupulous. Is saying certain words really that important to you?
Fauken said:
To be honest, I never knew “Jeez” meant “Jesus”. I thought it was just a phrase I could use that had no real meaning other than shock or annoyance. But I’ve apparently been blaspheming every time I’ve said it. Where’s the line drawn then? It would seem that a case could be made that no matter what is said, whether it’s goodness, jeez, gee wilikers, etc., that it’s blasphemous, since apparently every time someone says “Oh my ____”, the blank is in some way directed towards God, whether the blank is a word or silence. That, to me, sounds ridiculous.
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Most people don’t realize it. But now you do know. A lot of common exclamations are blasphemous minced oaths. Blasphemy and trying to get around blasphemy is popular. Everyone who uses these words does not intend to blaspheme. Most probably don’t. But, given their origin and intent I’d try to avoid them.
 
Hey @Fauken, I just found this. it must depend on your source.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
That is Pharisaical thinking. It is trying to be clever to get away with something. Do I really need a symbol to stand in for ‘Jesus Christ’ if I hit my hand with a hammer? Do people around me really need to know that I won’t actually say ‘Jesus Christ’ but that is what I mean?
 
Good grief.

Wiki says “poppycock” and “bloody” and “Bleep” and “blankety-blank” are also minced oaths. Also blaspheme?

At least three of those are just euphemistic - as are the rest of them.

Time to move the heck on, ex.
 
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I believe poppycock is for s***. So it isn’t blasphemy. Bloody is blasphemous. I’d avoid the blasphemy. I don’t have a problem with poppycock.
 
Better yet, is there a Catholic source that talks about the gravity of minced oaths?
 
The origin of bloody is not even certain. It’s fine.

I doubt several million Brits, Scots, and Irishmen are in trouble over that one.

Poppycock is for “soft dung”. Not the other.

And that’s not even blaspheme, it’s just a generally impolite word.
 
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Pup7 said:
The origin of bloody is not even certain. It’s fine.

I doubt several million Brits, Scots, and Irishmen are in trouble over that one.
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Yes, it isn’t certain but it was considered profane.

Just because lots of people use it doesn’t make it right. I hear a lot of people say ‘Jesus Christ’ or ‘g d it’ in anger.
 
exnihilo said:
Just because lots of people use it doesn’t make it right. I hear a lot of people say ‘Jesus Christ’ or ‘g d it’ in anger.
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Totally different.
exnihilo said:
Yes, it isn’t certain but it was considered profane.
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I’m married to a Brit. I know this. Profane doesn’t equal blasphemy, for one. Two, for the love of Pete, this isn’t a big deal, and you’re feeding scruples. Why, I have no idea.
 
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