The popularity of “Gossip Girl” may be waning — it was last in the ratings this past week — but the popularity of “OMG!”, one of the teen drama’s catchphrases and the bedrock of one of its ad campaigns, has only increased. Used by the teen textorati as a time- and Blackberry thumb-saving shorthand for “Oh, My God!,” those three little letters have now crept into common parlance so much so that they have become a “Jeopardy” category.
But by using the tiny phrase, are Judeo-Christians committing the big sin of blasphemy, asked “Nightline’s” Jon Donvan last night as part of the show’s series on the Ten Commandments. Not taking the Lord’s name in vain ranks as number three amongst the Ten Commandments; that’s right behind big time no-nos such as worshiping other gods and building idols. This is serious stuff.
Bob Miller, an Old Testament scholar from Catholic University, agrees that it is serious stuff and that using “OMG” shows not only a lack of reverence, but “a lack in belief that God is present.” And he may be right: a group of teens from Washington Hebrew Congregation tell Donvan that there’s nothing religious about the phrase they use to mean “No way!,” or “That’s unbelievable!”
“Most teens just use it and don’t think about it,” one girl noted with a slight shrug. And it’s sure to further irk Miller that not only do most teens not consider the provenance of the acronym, but that it has become a throw away phrase, much like the perfunctory LOL, which one teen explains is used even when you’re “not really laughing [at a comment] and you don’t think it’s funny.”
However, the group did agree that following the interview with Donvan they certainly would be “more conscious” of using it.
Donvan points out that many non-blasphemous substitutes for the name of God have come about over the years, such as Egads, By Jove, Golly, Gee Whiz, Jiminy Christmas, and more. So, is OMG merely an acceptable modern-day substitution for taking the Lord’s name in vain or does OMG=BlsfmE?
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posted October 7, 2009 at 2:34 pm
I know this isn’t what your blog is about, lol, but Gossip Girl has always been last in the ratings. It’s popularity isn’t waning, it’s just always had abysmal ratings, albeit being relatively normal for the CW.
Meanwhile, I think OMG has progressed so far in our culture, seeing as the full phrase has been prevalent in our language for so long, that it has become a part of daily speech patterns and can’t really be changed now.
It honestly no longer has a religious context, because people are not thinking of religion when they use it. “Gay” is no longer used to mean happy – it somehow evolved into “homosexual” instead.
Similarly, I don’t think people mean anything when they say OMG, and I honestly don’t think that’s what God was thinking about when he made that commandment.
posted October 7, 2009 at 3:20 pm
The third commandment is better translated as “Do not swear falsely by the name of the LORD…”, meaning it specifically deals with using the name of God in the context of swearing oaths and not someone saying ‘Oh, my God’.
posted October 7, 2009 at 7:46 pm
I agree 100% with Sam and Kauko. I wish to add that OMG is in reality, a short prayer. I’ve been close to death numerous occasions and at times there was the time for a Hail Mary and Our Father. However, at times it seems like I may only have a second or two, and those were the times I said OMG. I also wish to add that OMG are the first word in the Act of Contrition. It goes: O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins, because of Your just punishments, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. http://www.catholicsupply.com/EXISTING/practof.html
Now there are those who will say OMG is OH my God and the Act of Contrition starts with O my God, therefore it’s different. So to them I say the dictionary says “O” is also used to express surprise or emotion. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/o
posted October 8, 2009 at 9:29 am
Alberto – you are so deep! I agree more with Kauko becuase it is the truth of the issue. I started off thinking that to write/say OMG showed disrespect to God but further study of what the scripture does say showed me that was not right. Thanks, all. I learned something.
posted October 8, 2009 at 10:08 am
I cringe every time I hear it. The ones who use it are a vacuous sort who trivialize the feelings of the world around them. Blasphemy? Yes it is, even if done without thought as to the meaning.
posted October 12, 2009 at 9:19 am
I am not very religious but cringe every time I hear OMG as a throwaway for surprise. Did the kids really use (concence) in place of (conscious)? Well, I really shouldn’t be surprised at the ignorance demonstrated by the new society.
posted October 22, 2009 at 11:20 am
Interestingly, when I text or receive OMG, I think Oh My Gosh……
posted November 1, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Don’t be fooled. Teens are not praying when they text omg.
God commands that you do not take his name in vain. The definition of “in vain” is: In an irreverent or disrespectful manner. Yes, using God’s name to curse or swear is also irreverent and disrespectful but is not limited to that.
When Jesus gave his disciples an example of how to pray he included “hallowed be thy name”. The Jews, God’s chosen people, had such a deep respect for God’s name they would not even use it.
False doctrines have led us away from the scriptures and instead we do what is popular or politically correct.