OH God! - Part 1

Category: MNI View Created on Sunday, 18 September 2011 22:20 Written by Tina Mowatt

A typical Sunday Morning……

Many Christians are either already at church or are preparing to go to church. Others celebrated the Sabbath the previous day and are perhaps stretching and yawning, getting out of bed.

“Oh God!”, “My God!”, “Oh My God!”, “God Dammit!”, “Lord God!”

The almost unconscious, habitual utterance, many times it seems, frequently refers to the Christian Deity, whether one, two or three-in-one. In many instances, it is not used in praise and worship but for the simple annoyances in life, expressions of shock and exasperation, and sometimes, I daresay, bliss? In my experience, I have not observed a deity being referred to in such a frequently unconscious, and sometime “unholy”, manner, despite “commandments” that would discourage such acts.

What makes us ramble any word or phrase unconsciously in the first place? Let us closely examine two key words, unconscious and habit.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary online, (many are now made to believe that research entails “googling”, a new verb), “unconscious” means:

: not knowing or perceiving: not aware b: free from self-awareness

: not possessing mind or consciousness <unconscious matter>    b (1): not marked by conscious thought, sensation, or feeling <unconscious motivation>  (2): of or relating to the unconscious c: having lost consciousness <was unconscious for three days>

: not consciously held or deliberately planned or carried out <an unconscious bias>

Let us look also at  “habit”:

: the prevailing disposition or character of a person's thoughts and feelings : mental makeup

: a settled tendency or usual manner of behavior <her habit of taking a morning walk>

a: a behavior pattern acquired by frequent repetition or physiologic exposure that shows itself in regularity or increased facility of performance b: an acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary <got up early from force of habit> c: addiction <a drug habit>

So “God” has become a word that is unconsciously repeated due to frequent repetition and exposure. It has become so engrained in our everyday language that its utterance has become almost involuntary. This must mean that we are continually exposed to the word “God”, if we take in to consideration how behaviours become unconscious and habitual.

Are we frequently exposed to the word “God”, outside religious contexts? Let us examine this for a moment.

Where do we see the word “God” outside of religious contexts? Now may be a good time to “google” (remember that new verb?) to find out. I was so surprised at my discovery that I did indeed exclaimed, “Oh My God!”. My awareness has now increased tenfold by just writing this article!

Here is a list of some contexts I found:

1. Religion (of course)
2. Television – an actual name of an international channel is God-TV
3. Information Technology –  What is a “God Status”?
4. Insurance – “… acts of God…”
5. Money – “In God we Trust”
6. Psychology – “God Complex”
7. Law – “… so help me God”

Let me stop at number seven to rest. “God” did rest on the seventh day….

How can anyone, Christian or Non-Christian, avoid the word “God”. It seems to be a penetrating word, encompassing many more areas than I was consciously aware. In the various non-religious contexts, do we apply the same associations with the word “God” as we do in religious contexts?

There is an association between “God”  and attributes of power, authority, supremacy and omniscience, to name a few. This three-lettered word evokes in many, feelings of surrender, loyalty and marvel. With such powerful associations, do we also habitually and unconsciously assign them to “God” in non-religious contexts?

I propose this thesis: “Any context involving “God” will conjure similar associations and attitudes”

A great debate this idea is sure to provoke as we instantly begin to process our own attitudes to determine if we agree with the statement. The point of this article is not to debate the purported thesis but to simply beckon the word “God” from unconsciousness into consciousness.

“Oh God” cannot be simply an utterance used by Christians or even religious peoples. It permeates so many aspects of daily life that even persons who do not believe in a god must certainly find themselves saying this and/or similar phrases. While in many circles such senseless reference to a Deity is blasphemous, I beg leniency for the afflicted, including myself.

What I would encourage instead is the identification of mindless, habitual behaviours. We should strive to recognize such things in ourselves, examining its source and deliberately using or removing based on compatibility with one’s own integrity and values. If moved to say “Oh God!”, “My God!”, “Oh My God!”, let it be an exact reflection of our purpose for saying it: praise, exasperation, annoyance, delight, fright.

Wait a minute? Can this unconscious habit be a result of brainwashing as well?

“Oh My God!

Photo Credit To Secure Ministries

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Tina S. Mowatt is a freelance contributor to MNI Alive