I could seriously care less if somebody thanks God in a speech.

[trumad]

It's one of those moments in life where I say "let it go" because there are about a 1000 more things in life that are far more important than somebody giving props to the mythical guy in the sky.

I say this because it appears (from some comments here on DU)that when Forest Whitaker thanked God last night in his Oscar speech, scores of Atheists fainted at the mere mention of the 3-letter-word.

[Clark2008]

1. Me, too.

And someone could thank Thor from the Netherworld and I wouldn't care about that, either.

[LeftishBrit]

15. Great remark - I fully agree!

So long asI'm free to be an atheist without being coerced into praying, or accused of not being a full citizen of my country, I'm happy for other people to believe in, thank or pray to whoever they want!

[rock]

2. It is a vacuous phrase

I use it myself, as in "Thank God, I'm an aetheist!"

[ClintonTyree]

3. I use that all the time myself....

and get a lot of double takes and stares when I do. I guess they don't get the joke? :shrug:

[Dave From Canada]

17. It may be vacuous to you, but maybe not to someone who's faith really matters to them.

Just a thought.

[rock]

18. I did mean it most generally

True, a genuinely religious person may use it literally, for instance Muslums when they say "Praise Allah". But most of the time that I hear the phase, "Thank God", it is used to mean something like "Whew!". In fact, in many instances I find such use blasphemous.

[H2O Man]

4. Thank God

you expressed this.

[rfranklin]

5. Praise Allah!

and Buddha too!

[rebel with a cause]

6. I think it is okay to thank any superior being you want to.

Thank God, thank Allah, thank Jehovah, thank the powers that be, and thank you mother. (maybe sarcastic, not sure)

After all, we mothers all know we are superior beings. :applause:

Okay, my apologies to the men, but most women are superior beings. :hide:

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. LOL I would like to think I am a superior being but deep down in my heart

I am too aware of all my mistakes. :P

[rebel with a cause]

12. Don't you know nothing! ;-)

When you are a superior being you don't have to admit or regret any mistakes you make. In other words, you just have to think like a man. Well, okay I will be fair. You have to think like some men who are like my ex. By the way, not that I am saying this about us women, but the devil is supposedly a superior being also, isn't he? :dilemma:

I have made a lot of mistakes myself, but have learned in the last year to put them in context and forgive myself for them. Remember that to error is human, to forgive is divine. O8)

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. It depends on how heavy duty it gets. A thank you I can live with because

it's a personal sentiment. Had Forrest invoked the Lord to smite someone, I'da had a big problem with that. God should not be used as a threat or as a bullying tactic.

[leftyladyfrommo]

9. It kind of turns me off. To me religion is a very private and

personal affair. I am always a little put off by people who make a big deal out of religion - like ball players praying to win the game. I don't like it.

[The Stranger]

10. Could you seriously care less if someone thanks Satan?

That would be a five letter word.

[LeftishBrit]

16. Well, I'm sure Bush does regularly - after all, Satan is his vice-president

Though he usually uses the six-letter word 'Cheney'.

[mondo joe]

11. Me too. I love when we acknowledge that God is all into who wins the Oscar.

Though he is really a lot more into the Grammys, as a rule.

[live love laugh]

13. Sometimes it seems people are as prejudiced about God here as

the fundies are against all other religions.

If somebody personally acknowledges their religious beliefs I see nothing wrong with it. It's Bush on the podium with a cross (ala the '04 Republican convention...or Bush claiming God told him to invade E-Rack...or the ten commandments in living color at a public building that are the problems.

[Jonathan50]

14. The only ones the theists all hate more than other theists are the atheists

I :loveya: Richard Dawkins and I don't care who invokes whatever deity for whatever purpose as long as they don't want to force me or mine to follow any precepts of their particular faith.

As one raised in a conservative protestant sect though, it does seem a little tacky.

Matthew 6:6
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.