I like to bring this subject up. Here's the question: Should swearing God's name in vain be banned from public schools?

I would say yes, it should be banned. My reason: Because of the fact that I'm trying to be religious and hearing things like, "Oh my ***," can offend me. It's like another way of offending somebody's religion.

Some people might say "No." A possible reason is that they aren't religious. Some teachers in my school don't allow people saying that term, "Oh my ***," because it offends Christianity, and it's the dominant religion in the US. Other teachers will let you say it because they don't care about that term that much.

Another possible reason people won't want to ban it is that it might be a "waste of a rule." How is that a possible reason b/c it's a "waste of a rule"? Consider the facts: Yes, there are a lot of Evangalistic Christian parents, but is there a lot of Evangalistic children? If there isn't, it would make that rule "a waste of a rule."

So what's your opinion?

**edit**

(update)

You know, there's "Oh my God" and then there's "Oh my God". The two are different. If I clearly mean my God then it shouldn't offend you.

i know, i know. it's just that when people say it, either way, i take it pretty seriously b/c i get easily offended.

well, it's not our fault you're easily offended.
it's part of our common language. you're gonna have to deal with that.
maybe you could work on your fault of being easily offended, instead of trying to change the way most of the country talks.

true, true... i can't really change the way people say that term, cuz of the fact the Bible says that they're sinners, and they aren't saved... my school doesn't really have that many religious ppl and they say that term a lot. we have rules to not allow people to offend other pplz religion, but yet, there are very few evangilist kids out there who might get offeneded just cuz of that term and there's not much of a rule to stop that term.

it's debatable of whether or not to ban it, but right now, my brain is telling me that idea is like "a waste of a rule."

I'd have to agree with Sammi. Just because you're unhappy with something doesn't mean everyone else has to change to satisfy you.

Yep. Brings back the possible reason why it's unnecessary to have this kind of rule.



Enough said. Public school children are mostly not that religious when they are in school, so it would be a waste of a rule.

Why should what I say about my God/Creator bother you?

Imagine people saying:

"Oh your God!"

:::DELETE:::

f**k it....not tryin to argue about god again...

I'd give them a look and then the look will stay on me for at least a couple hours.

oh dang... i should've read carefully. but i don't really ask people of what they mean when they say "Oh my ***."

well..i think its a really good idea bcus i wince too when i hear it. but seriously.. do you really think kids are gonna just stop saying something they've been saying for like.. forever?

Then don't be offended so easily. Not everyone is out to offend Christianity. If you really want to get into it, then ask whoever's bothering you with that statement what he/she means. If the person response with "what does my God/god/Creator has to do with yours?", then you'd know.

i really don't understand why people get so offended!?! when we something big happen. like a car accident for example, we are going to say OH MY GOD! (or gosh) it is just something that we all say and it is apart of our language. and i don't think it should be banned from school because that just might createblog controversy with other religions. thus, creating an even bigger problem.

i also think that you should not take personally. when someone says "oh my god" we all know that it is just an expression. we all know that there is only one god in christianity. if not, there would be 378478947982374375074 gods.









why can we just all get along?

saying stuff like that in a public school should not be banned because the constitution CLEARLY states that church and state should be separated. aaaaaand, ppl have a right to free speech. read the first amendment.

[edit] heh..i reread this..it sounds kinda rude...sry. ^.^;

*shrugs* I don't think you would be able to enforce such a rule.... or pass it, for that matter.

I know about the 1st amendment. It's just that i pointed the reason to ban b/c it might possibly offend a Christian's religion. It's like saying something offensive towards another person's religion almost. Thats why I think it shouldn't be said in school.

But at the same time, you point out about freedom of speech. Freedom of speech, yes, is there to allow you to say anything you want without the government controlling what you say, unless you say something threatening. The term "Oh my ***," isn't threatening, so therefore, you're saying it shouldn't be banned.

My teacher (he's agnognistic) claims it's a figure of speech. I claim it's swearing, no matter how it's used, but I really can't do anything about stopping it.

because thats not a complete violation of freedom of speech. next, lets ban "crap" because it means the same as "shit". besides which, people curse and get away with it anyway. if you banned it, it would be like tying religion and school again, because its a commandment not to say it

You know, some people are offended that you say or think that your God is the one true God, but that doesn't mean that those people will try to stop you from saying that. They'll debate it, but they won't stop you, or at least, I hope not.

Sammi and Tweeak really said it all.

I would like to take this opportunity to point out that "God" isn't even God's name. Thus, saying "Oh my God" isn't even taking the Lord's name in vain.

I'm not into much religion. I can't really say I have a religion right now, but I really think how the rules are right now are fine. Some teachers (like my Social Studies teacher) don't allow saying, "Oh my God." But then again, some teachers do. I don't know much to say in defense except that people shouldn't feel too offended by people saying, "Oh my God." I guess because I don't know anything about Christanity really affects my thinking, but if someone's overreacting that's their problem. Banning it to all religions makes it hard for people who already have it as a habit. I tried to stop saying "Oh my God" when one of my friends didn't like me saying that, but it's hard to get rid of. It's kind of like a reflex, just a phrase used when you trip or something and people shouldn't be getting offended by something as light as that.

actually, even though it isn't his name, I remember reading this book about how to raise boys and the author was Christian. seems like the author was a former teacher and he heard somebody say "Oh my ***," once in class and the teacher got angry and he pointed out that it was against the 10 commandments (it was a private school)

Personally, i think there's a limit to what people can say and what they can't. People shouldn't be able to promote violence or state racial comments. However, I don't think a small comment like "Oh my God" should be banned. It might at a religious school, but for the general public, its an everyday remark. No one means anything offensive by saying it. They aren't swearing on God's name. I really don't have a problem with it.

And excuse me very much, it 'offends christianity'???!! You know, Christianity isn't the only religion that believes in God. I don't care if it's the 'dominant' religion or whatever you call it. This is a matter about God, not religion. True, christianity is more popular. But if you look at who believes in God and who doesn't, there are only two kinds of people. Believers and non-believers. Don't be ignorant. I'm Jewish, and i find that offensive.

wow, you're hooked on createblog. hehe.

and dude, just they cuss or something doesn't affect you. it's not like they're saying "CHRISTIANITY SUCKS!" they just don't believe it's bad to say it. it shouldn't offend you if someone says oh my god.

and like fae said, it offends us with you saying that your God is the only one we could be referring to.

there's no way you can possibly remove everything that offends someone. deal with it.

I don't think it should. Maybe from Catholic schools, because 'tis is a sin to do so.

But in regular public schools, I don't think it should. It's part of our everyday vocabulary, just like all the other curse words. >.<

Kids will still say it no matter what, though.

my religion requires me to say 'oh my god' whenever i experience supprise.

i'll sue if i don't get to practice my religion.

deal with it. :-)

im not to fussed about goin to hell, all my friends are going too, so at least i wont be lonely. we'll make the best of it. plus i plan to haunt people, so it really doesnt affect me one bit

on the point ofoffense- do you think that 'under god' should be removed from the pledge of allegience, because that offends some non religious people... its the same kinda thing

i can't believe i put that! y'all know what i mean!

well... yall made me really think about this debate about whether or not it should be banned. i've decided it shouldn't be banned.

but one of my biggest questions i've thought up is: Why do people say "Oh my ***!"? It is really an offensive term if you put yourself in this situation.

Pretend everybody started saying "Oh my ___(put ur name here)__!" Your friends would most likely be offended, right? Moral: Saying stuff like "Oh my ***," no matter if you mean it or not is offensive.

and for the "Under God," issue, I don't even say the pledge.

2 big reasons:

1. It's like a force of faith. Faith is not forced, therefore, it should be banned from public schools.

2. the pledge should the banned also. Some kids don't take it seriously, so why not ban the pledge itself?

Why would saying "Oh my Leyla" be offensive? Pretend Leyla is my name.

^ Exactly what I thought. It's not like you're saying "God is Evil!"

"Oh my God" isn't a threat, it's just saying His name in vain, which means you're saying it casually. So if you say, for instance, my name in vain, why would it be offensive to me? Wouldn't I be happy that I'm so important that you blurt out my name whenever you feel like it?

Not that I'm saying God would like that, but no one I know would be offended if their name was used in the phrase "Oh my ___".

whenever i say that phrase i actually mean "Oh my gawd."... but no one knows that. so now i say "Oh my gosh".. or "OH MA GAWWW!"

i dont like when people say it but, i dont let it bother me. a lot of people at my school are church going people so i dont hear it too often

nope some ppl don't even know who is god
they just said it
it will be a big govt problem if they don't allow it.

I don't like using God's name in vain either.

BUT, don't worry about others. You can't change their langauge, cause most of them will ignore you anyway. Just owrry about you. As long as you don't use the Lord's name in vain, then you have nothing to worry about, cause you are being a good Christian, and thats what matters. That YOU are a good Christian.

Maybe if people were bashing your religion, but most people don't even mean it to offend you.

Also, why would it bother you that other people are using God's name in vain? Then, the person who is doing so would be the "bad" Christian. Does it affect you? No. As long as you are a "good" Christian, why would it matter what other people are doing? Let alone that most of the people who swear God's name in vain aren't Christian at all. I see the same issues coming up with same-sex marriages.

I just know saying the Lord's name in vain is a sin.

And if you say "Oh my god" pertaining to some other god (there is only one) than that is also a sin, because you are to have no other gods than the one, true Lord.

exactly.




i think that saying "omg" shouldnt be banned. All because the majority of people are christian, that doesn't mean that EVERYONE is christian. If they have a problem with people saying that, then that's their problem. Freedom of speech people, please.

Why must we always be politically correct?


edit//

btw---if christians have a problem with saying the lord's name in vain, then how about jewish people and other religions that don't believe in god say that they want "one nation, under god" [in the pledge of alligence] to be taken out.

b/c it promotes Christianity and the other religions don't feel comfartable hearing that term.

Should the words 'Under God' be removed in the Pledge?

Then tell me should we swear with God's name.

thats what i said....

why only christians? the word "God" doesn't refer to Christ only. i mean you could have different names for your Gods, but they are divine and most people will call them "God". there are thousands of other gods, for other religions.

I think it's because Christianity's the one that says it's a sin to swear God's name in vain.

but its like that for other religions too...i don't think most people wouldn't care if they heard people took God's name in vain, because you're not supposed to do that for all religions. well it makes sense for all religions, but some religions i know, it IS wrong to take God's name in vain. whether its christianity or not.

That seem ridiclous, my school doesnt cares cuz it'z only a word. How is that bad to said it ? Why do people have to take is soo serouisly ? I dont see the point ..

'its one thing to sy you've got the best god, but ot say you've got the only god...'

thats just naive...

power of belief my friend... as long as someone believe's in a god, then they're just as real as the christian god, or allah, or vishnu, or gaia, or whatever you choose to worship.

and as far as god saying not to have any others. well duh, he would say that. he jus wants to show of his little clutch of followers to his deity-buddies down the ambrosia bar.

*shrugs*

CAN'T BELIEVE HOW IGNORANT YOU ARE.

Okay, look, people should try looking at it this way:

If people started going around banning stuff that offends a someone or group of people then . . . we wouldn't be able to do anything.

Someone is always going to be offended by what someone else id doing. Me typing in the library, making clickity lick sounds like I'm doing now could be annoying to someone, so I guess I shouldn't be allowed to type in the library anymore, right? Wrong.

So, someone says "Oh my God," and you're offended. So you have the right to pass legislation preventing people from saying that, right? Wrong.

Oh, and gay marriage offends Christians and stuff, so it shouldn't be allowed, right? Wrong.

This applies to a lot of stuff. Think about it.

well one could argue that murder only offends the peopl ewho knew the deceased party, but that is still rightly illegal...

im just bickering tho,i agree with you really :)