CC--Christianese 23c: Blasphemy (part 3 of 3)

--Do phrases like “Oh my God!” and “Oh God!” constitute blasphemy?
--Before we can answer that, let’s start with something easier. Is it blasphemous to even utter the name of God?
--For some people, Jews in particular, blasphemy would include even using the name of God (Yahweh or Jehovah) out loud, possibly even using the substitute term “God” itself. And this is why you’ll notice in some Jewish literature the construction “G-d” or some oblique referent like “Ha-Shem” which means “The Name.”
--The reason for this is that humans can almost never be pure enough to say God’s name without dishonoring and profaning it. So, rather than taking that risk, they simply don’t say it at all.
--For Christians, however, merely uttering God or any of God’s names or titles (Elohim, Yahweh, Jesus, Adonai, etc.) isn’t considered blasphemous precisely because He permits us as His children to say His names.
--But if one utters the names disrespectfully or irreverently, that is handling God’s name improperly or vainly. And the most common form of this is cursing which uses God’s Name to express dissatisfaction as a swear.
--The reason this particular form of cursing is blasphemy is easily seen by the fact that one could express the same content with any of a number of alternate and truly profane terms relating to bodily functions. Thus, the blasphemy comes from equating God’s Name with such vulgarities by substitution.
--But is “Oh, my God!” in this category? Well, it depends on who is saying it and how they do so.
--If a Christian says this as an appeal to God in a moment of great significance, it’s honoring God. If a non-believer says it as a form of semi-sarcastic tsk-tsk, such trivializing is at least semi-blasphemous. In other words, the expression in itself isn’t blasphemous so much as the tone of voice, the context, and the question of whether it serves to bring honor and weight to God’s name or the opposite. Also, precisely because Christians have a more familiar and informal relationship with God as His children, we are generally more liberal about references to Him, at least when made by our fellow family members.