Do You Say "O My Gosh"?

[BuckeyeGirl]

I don't use minced oaths. Nor do I get too bothered by believers who haven't thought it through and do.

I suspect that many believers who use these interjections have not thought through the connection between phrases like "oh my gosh" or "ge*z" and God's name. Even if they have, eradicating bad patterns of speech can take time - this doesn't always happen overnight.

So, I hope those of you who have made the connection won't be too harsh on fellow believers who use these phrases out of ignorance!

 

[Gforce9]

I think it is a matter of personal conviction. I understand the originality of the word was slang for God but that is not what the word means today. It is a term of surprise. Nor do I think people who use it consider it taking the Lord's name in vain. However, those who directly say God in this term know they are using that name in such a way.

My question to those that are hard on this line, do you ever say oh my word, or oh my goodness or anything like that? It is such a slippery slope to get started on this train.

Now, I don't personally have a position on the word gosh. I've been on both sides and have not come with a clear answer for myself.

Whatever one thinks it might be, it fits the definition of "minced oath"......what is one trying to say when they utter "oh my golly", if not a "polite" way of using God's name irreverantly? Others have given various links above. I am guilty of all kinds of "filthy language from your lips", but don't base truth upon my own experience or behavior. I think the key is to continually know what is right and to strive for it......

 

[Edward]

My question to those that are hard on this line, do you ever say oh my word, or oh my goodness or anything like that?

No.

 

[Ryan J. Ross]

I think it is a matter of personal conviction. I understand the originality of the word was slang for God but that is not what the word means today. It is a term of surprise. Nor do I think people who use it consider it taking the Lord's name in vain. However, those who directly say God in this term know they are using that name in such a way.

My question to those that are hard on this line, do you ever say oh my word, or oh my goodness or anything like that? It is such a slippery slope to get started on this train.

Now, I don't personally have a position on the word gosh. I've been on both sides and have not come with a clear answer for myself.

No, I don’t use any of those expressions. I’d say nothing or that it surprises me, if it did.


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[Jack K]

My question to those that are hard on this line, do you ever say oh my word, or oh my goodness or anything like that? It is such a slippery slope to get started on this train.

I say "yikes!" sometimes. I'm not aware of any word-origin connections it may have to God's name (though someone, somewhere has probably found a way to make such a connection). I also say "arrgh," "aach," "wow!" and "ow!"

I'm thankful I was brought up to avoid minced oaths, making it easy for me. I don't really get annoyed at believers who do use them, since they may have been raised differently. And surely those fellow believers are far ahead of me in some other matters of holy living.

 

[Ryan J. Ross]

I say "yikes!" sometimes. I'm not aware of any word-origin connections it may have to God's name (though someone, somewhere has probably found a way to make such a connection). I also say "arrgh," "aach," "wow!" and "ow!"

I'm thankful I was brought up to avoid minced oaths, making it easy for me. I don't really get annoyed at believers who do use them, since they may have been raised differently. And surely those fellow believers are far ahead of me in some other matters of holy living.

Yeah, it’s like “yipes.” Seems innocuous. I’d encourage anyone using words to learn what they mean and how they’ve been used and then speak charitably, seasonably, and graciously, according to their several relations and place and calling.


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[Jack K]

according to their several relations and place and calling.

I find that "ow!" and "oops!" increasingly fit my place and calling as my body gets older and frail.

 

[Steve Curtis]

I sometimes say “Wow”.

You do know, of course, that “wow” is derived from the Old English, “wowan,” which, in turn, stems from the Latin, “wosare,” which emerged from the Greek, “φύρςω,” meaning “to mix or mingle.” This, as we all know, was an idiomatic expression employed in the debates in the Council of Chalcedon. Thus, it, too, is to be avoided.

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- Isn’t this April Fool’s Day? (just for the record, no, it is now Monday - and has been for several minutes!)

 

[OPC'n]

I think mums the word....I think.....of course I could be wrong.

 

[Cedarbay]

I am learning much from this thread. Just when I thought I had conquered most of the mincing still left in my vocabulary, a couple of words/phrases have come up here that I must consider. I may just walk around with tape over my mouth for a few days.

 

[Jack K]

As a minced oath moves further from its original form both etymologically and historically, it loses the conscious connection to the original oath that make it sinful. It still is quite obvious what "Oh my gosh" is meant to replace. Others that are further removed I'm less inclined to fault.

I think you are correct. At some point, sometimes, a phrase that was originally a minced oath or a veiled reference to God's name may acquire such a different connotation that the original use no longer applies.

For example, I have no problem casually saying "goodbye." I don't consider it to be a flippant use of God's name today, even though at one time it was a contraction of the phrase "God be with ye."

But I think "Oh my gosh" is still recognizable as a variation of an improper use of God's name.

 

[Ryan J. Ross]

I think you are correct. At some point, sometimes, a phrase that was originally a minced oath or a veiled reference to God's name may acquire such a different connotation that the original use no longer applies.

For example, I have no problem saying "goodbye." I don't consider it to be a flippant use of God's name today, even though at one time it was a contraction of the phrase "God be with ye."

But I think "Oh my gosh" is still recognizable as a variation of an improper use of God's name.

I’m more inclined to use “goodbye, if that history is accurate.


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[Reformed Covenanter]

My question to those that are hard on this line, do you ever say oh my word, or oh my goodness or anything like that? It is such a slippery slope to get started on this train.

If I ever do, it is a sin that I need to confess and forsake. I don't believe it is right to have lustful thoughts, but I do not excuse my sin whenever I indulge in any. The same thing applies to breaches of the third commandment. As it happens, I have not used a minced oath for many years but that is not a cause for self-congratulation.

 

[Edward]

I say "yikes!" sometimes.

I'm showing my age here. I looked up 'yikes' and it had a slang meaning of which I was not aware, and to which I won't link here.

Until this morning, I thought it was purely a harmless phrase.

But, otherwise, a harmless expletive.

 

[Stephen L Smith]

In terms of a general godly attitute to the law of God, I have found the commentary on the Westminster Larger Catechism by J Vos to be of tremendous spiritual edification and instruction. The WLC is particularly helpful on the law of God and this commentary gives much insight. Of course it does not cover all moral issues, including the one discussed on this thread, but it is helpful in helping one develop an attitude to the law of God that helps one think what is the godly approach to this situation before me. https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/the-westminster-larger-catechism-vos.html

 

[OPC'n]

I'm showing my age here. I looked up 'yikes' and it had a slang meaning of which I was not aware, and to which I won't link here.

Until this morning, I thought it was purely a harmless phrase.

But, otherwise, a harmless expletive.

Seems harmless to me. "Yikes might derive from fox hunting. There is an older word, yoicks, dating from the mid-18th century, which was used to encourage the hounds to go after the [poor old] fox. By the mid-19th century, it was being used as an exclamation of general excitement."

 

[Edward]

Seems harmless to me.

You must have missed the one describing the dance.

 

[OPC'n]

You must have missed the one describing the dance.

I looked it up on a few links and all of them only talked about fox hunts. You sure you put in "yikes"?

 

[Edward]

You sure you put in "yikes"?

Are you sure you consulted the Urban Dictionary? Do you have safe search turned on?

 

[Deleted member 6112]

I usually just say, "Shoot!" or, "Shoot fire!" It's a Southern thing. The origin may be less than noble, but it's not blasphemous.

 

[Ray]

I usually just say, "Shoot!" or, "Shoot fire!" It's a Southern thing. The origin may be less than noble, but it's not blasphemous.

If I make a mistake or forget something I say Oh Sh*t, but the Dutch don’t mind. Often heard a few them say it, most don’t think it’s a bad word. But some of my non believer and legalistic friends do

 

[a mere housewife]

You do know, of course, that “wow” is derived from the Old English, “wowan,” which, in turn, stems from the Latin, “wosare,” which emerged from the Greek, “φύρςω,” meaning “to mix or mingle.” This, as we all know, was an idiomatic expression employed in the debates in the Council of Chalcedon. Thus, it, too, is to be avoided.

Wow, I will never say Wow again.

I don't expect people to intuit much from my silence, and so in conversation I say, I'm afraid, a lot of meaningless things that when analysed, are not worth graving on stones. Given how few things do get graven on stones, I've come to think that the sort of meaningless things we utter to reassure people of sympathetic listening are one of the really valuable things to do with words. I'm afraid I say 'Oh my goodness' in that context, not meaning mine or anybody's in particular ... I can work on it, but probably not at the cost of appearing either extremely morose or extremely significant or extremely well supplied with more appropriate verbiage ...

 

[Pergamum]

Many cuss words are largely culturally. Our tribe shouts "Earthworm" because it is a symbol of death (they eat you in death) or Geen (the river spirit). A tribe in a different river valley would shout the word for magic flute (because flutes were used in animistic worship). And every culture has various words for defecation, urination, and sex (the term kids use, a normal term, a polite term, a funny term, a medical term, and a harsh term). It is all largely arbitrary and not a matter of morality except the Lord's name in vain or clear sexual insults or terms.

 

[VictorBravo]

All of this reminds me of an experiment a couple of friends and I did in high school back in the 70s. We had just been lectured by our shop teacher on the foolishness of vulgarities, how they make you look bad, and are uncreative.

So we were trying to figure out a better expletive. One of my buddies said, "Mustard."

And that was it. We always said "mustard" with sharp emphasis if something went wrong. We'd use the term softly in describing something interesting or cool. And so forth. It caught on and pretty soon the whole school was using it.

10 years later, I was asked to come judge some debates at the old school. I was standing in the hallways watching the kids go between classes when I heard the phrase "Oh Mustard!" coming from some tough looking kid. I asked the teacher I was with, "they still use that phrase?" He said he didn't know where it came from, but yes, it was common.

Of course, this was pre-social media, so it has probably died out now.

 

[Username3000]

All of this reminds me of an experiment a couple of friends and I did in high school back in the 70s. We had just been lectured by our shop teacher on the foolishness of vulgarities, how they make you look bad, and are uncreative.

So we were trying to figure out a better expletive. One of my buddies said, "Mustard."

And that was it. We always said "mustard" with sharp emphasis if something went wrong. We'd use the term softly in describing something interesting or cool. And so forth. It caught on and pretty soon the whole school was using it.

10 years later, I was asked to come judge some debates at the old school. I was standing in the hallways watching the kids go between classes when I heard the phrase "Oh Mustard!" coming from some tough looking kid. I asked the teacher I was with, "they still use that phrase?" He said he didn't know where it came from, but yes, it was common.

Of course, this was pre-social media, so it has probably died out now.

Relishing in the past.

 

[Edward]

10 years later

Glad you were able to ketchup with the past.

 

[Ask Mr. Religion]

I have taken up using a word I made up, Wiffenpoofle! (whiff-en-poo-full), for most expressions of annoyance and frustration. Get behind it, use it often, and perhaps I will be granted a citation in some dictionary someday.

 

[OPC'n]

I have taken up using a word I made up, Wiffenpoofle! (whiff-en-poo-full), for most expressions of annoyance and frustration. Get behind it, use it often, and perhaps I will be granted a citation in some dictionary someday.

it's a funny word but hard to say lol

 

[Cedarbay]

it's a funny word but hard to say lol

I can't decide whether to put an accent on the whiff or the poo.

 

[Ask Mr. Religion]

I can't decide whether to put an accent on the whiff or the poo.

Emphasis on "Wiff"!