This is something I've heard both online and IRL, and I've really begun to wonder about it lately. There are some people who say "Oh gods" instead of "Oh god," and it just makes me wonder...why? I am a Christian, but to me "Oh god" is simply a phrase to express something like surprise or dread. I don't really think of it as a very religious term, just as I don't think of "mother fucker" as a phrase that is specifically addressing somebody's mother. I understand the phrase will always be slightly religious in nature because it has the word "god," but in its modern usage it's rarely used to make any sort of theological statement.
I never really thought much about it until I started hearing people say "Oh gods" instead of "Oh god." And I just wonder...does it really matter to people that much? Do they think their religious beliefs will be confused or misinterpreted if they use the phrase? I don't think anybody assumes you believe in the Abrahamic God or any sort of monotheistic deity simply by saying "oh god." In fact, simply using the phrase more often sends the message you aren't religious, as conventions still hold that religious people tend to not use "offensive" language or casually invoke their god's name. To me, it feels like taking a phrase which has pretty much lost any religious connotations it once had and adding back in religious connotations, and for no reason at all. It's just a phrase people say, like "Bless you" when people sneeze. I don't think most people assume you are actually performing some sort of rite to bless them if you happen to say "bless you" after someone sneezes. Or "speak of the devil."
I know a few of you out there say this, so I'd just like to ask why? What made you change the phrase? Why is the distinction important to you? I've also noticed some people who will say something like "Oh god (who I don't believe in)." Again, if you are one of the people that says this, why is making this distinction so important? Is that really a problem you have frequently faced, people assuming you are a theist just because you use the phrase "Oh god?" It just seems like a really unnecessary non sequitur. It would be like a religious person saying "Speak of the devil (who I don't worship because he is evil)."
I never really thought much about it until I started hearing people say "Oh gods" instead of "Oh god." And I just wonder...does it really matter to people that much? Do they think their religious beliefs will be confused or misinterpreted if they use the phrase? I don't think anybody assumes you believe in the Abrahamic God or any sort of monotheistic deity simply by saying "oh god." In fact, simply using the phrase more often sends the message you aren't religious, as conventions still hold that religious people tend to not use "offensive" language or casually invoke their god's name. To me, it feels like taking a phrase which has pretty much lost any religious connotations it once had and adding back in religious connotations, and for no reason at all. It's just a phrase people say, like "Bless you" when people sneeze. I don't think most people assume you are actually performing some sort of rite to bless them if you happen to say "bless you" after someone sneezes. Or "speak of the devil."
I know a few of you out there say this, so I'd just like to ask why? What made you change the phrase? Why is the distinction important to you? I've also noticed some people who will say something like "Oh god (who I don't believe in)." Again, if you are one of the people that says this, why is making this distinction so important? Is that really a problem you have frequently faced, people assuming you are a theist just because you use the phrase "Oh god?" It just seems like a really unnecessary non sequitur. It would be like a religious person saying "Speak of the devil (who I don't worship because he is evil)."
Love your avatar, by the way. Adding that color of glow to Haunter really makes it look like a heartless from Kingdom Hearts.
