Have any Christians who don't say "oh my God" commented on the equivalent Chinese phrase 我的天哪
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Many Christians (I think especially in Reformed and Fundamentalist circles though I might be mistaken) do not use the expression, "Oh my God!" to express shock or surprise due to it being perceived as a violation of the 2nd commandment.
In Chinese, people sometimes use the phrase 我的天哪 or 我的天 in the same context. This phrase actually comes to Chinese by translating the English phrase, but instead of "God" the Chinese word 天 (tian) means "heaven". So 我的天哪 could literally be translated "my heaven ah!" Thus, it is not literally using the title "God" unlike the English phrase. However, I can think of two potential reasons Chinese Christians might still object to 我的天哪:
1. It is translated from a taboo English phrase.
2. Traditionally, 天 in Chinese is often used in the sense of an impersonal divine Providence, such as in the phrase "mandate of heaven" (天命) for the legitimate right of a ruler to rule. In this sense, even though 天 typically means heaven it could also be understood as a title for God.
**I'm wondering if any Christians from those traditions who object to "oh my God" on grounds of the 2nd commandment have commented on the permissibility or lack thereof of 我的天哪.** To be clear, I am asking about this phrase's evaluation with regards to the 2nd commandment specifically. For a parallel example, I don't use "oh my God" personally, but not due to the 2nd commandment specifically; rather I avoid it because I see it as irreverent.
Asked by Dark Malthorp
(4706 rep)
Mar 12, 2025, 06:57 AM
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Last activity: Mar 31, 2025, 08:16 PM