List of religious slurs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The list of religious slurs enumerates pejorative terms for people based on their religion.
- Allah lover
- Muslim.[1]
- Bible thumper
- (U.S.) derogatory term used to describe a Protestant, particularly one from a Pentecostal or fundamentalist denomination who believes in the fundamentalist authority of the Bible, also commonly used universally against Christians.[citation needed]
- Bible basher
- (UK, Australia & New Zealand) derogatory term used to describe a Protestant, particularly one from a Pentecostal or fundamentalist denomination who believes in the fundamentalist authority of the Bible, also commonly used universally against Christians.[citation needed]
- Bluenose
- (Scotland) - derogatory term for a Protestant, from the colour of the team strips of Rangers , a traditionally Protestant club of the Scottish Premier League.
- Fundie
- (US and some other English-speaking countries) religious fundamentalist, particularly Christian fundamentalists.[citation needed]
- Holy Roller
- (US) ritualistic Protestants prone to shaking (Shakers), rolling on the floor, suffering from fits or "speaking in tongues" (Pentecostals during worship or prayer). However this term is applied to some Evangelical Protestants, usually Baptists, who are not only vocal about their own religious views, but are critical of other Christians not meeting their standards. Similar to Bible Thumper.[2][3]
- Irvingite
- a member of the Catholic Apostolic Church — often taken to be offensive [Edward Irving died 1834 Scottish clergyman + -ite][4]
- JAP
- Jewish American Princess
- Jack Mormon
- (Western U.S.) a. a non-faithful LDS person, b. a non-Mormon.[5]
- Jesus Freak
- (U.S.) A Christian[citation needed]
- Kike
- A Jew.
- Garufint
- A Jew or Israeli. Persian origin.
- Left-footer
- (Northern Ireland) (West of Scotland) Catholic (Northern Ireland)[6] Used by Protestants to describe Catholics or a supporter of Celtic F.C.. From the myth in Glasgow that Irish Catholic labourers pushed spades into the ground their left foot and kicked footballs with the left foot.
- Mackerel Snapper
- or Mackeral Snapper, is a sectarian slur for Roman Catholics, originating in the U.S. in the 1850s and referring to the pre-Vatican II custom of Friday abstinence.[7] The Friday abstinence from meat (red meat and poultry) distinguished Catholics from other Christians, especially in North America, where Protestant churches prevailed and Catholics tended to be poor immigrants from Italy and Ireland.
- Marrano
- (Spain) a Jewish convert to Christianity, usually for social and not spiritual reasons; derives from the Inquisition; today, can be used to describe a Jew who marries a Catholic. Can also be called a Converso. (It is also a Latin American Spanish slang synonym for "dirty pig" or swine.)[8]
- Molly Mormon
- The opposite of a Jack Mormon; a female Mormon who is strict and rigorously follows the Church's rules, even more so than average Mormons. Also, a Mormon from Utah.[citation needed]
- Mussie, Muzzie or Mozzie
- a frequently offensive term for a Muslim [9]
- Orangie
- (Ireland/UK) a derogatory term for pro-British Ulster Protestants. [referring to supporters of the Orange Order][10]
- Papist
- (Northern Ireland and Scottish Protestants) a Roman Catholic person — usually Irish Catholic. Used in the movie Mississippi Burning.[11]
- Prod
- Derogatory term for Protestant.
- Proddy dog
- (AUS Catholics (particularly school kids)) term for Protestants, particularly rival kids from Protestant schools. "Proddywhoddy" and "proddywoddy" are used in children's school rhymes in Cork.[12]
- Russellite
- one of the Jehovah's Witnesses (Charles Taze Russell died 1916 American religious leader + -ite)[13]
- Soup-taker
- (Ireland) A person who has sold out their beliefs, referring to the Irish Potato famine when some Catholics converted to a Protestant faith in order to gain access to a free meal. [14]
- Taig
- a. (Northern Ireland Protestants) a Catholic, from Tadhg, Irish for Timothy. Comparable to "nigger". b. (England) obsolete: an Irishman.[15]
- Xian
- A shortened version of "Christian", with the X used in place of "Christ" (as the Greek word christos, meaning "messiah", begins with the letter chi, written χ). "Xian" and "Xianity" are occasionally used by Jews out of reluctance to indicate a particular figure as the Messiah, and sometimes by Christians themselves for other reasons.[16]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Richard A. Spears, Slang and Euphemism, (2001)
- John A. Simpson, Oxford Dictionary Of Modern Slang ISBN 0-19-861052-1
- John A. Simpson, Oxford English Dictionary Additions Series ISBN 0-19-861299-0
- ^ Giambattista Basile, The Tale of Tales, p. 438.
- ^ "roller, n1", definition 17b. The Oxford English Dictionary. (Account required for online access).
- ^ "Why I Am a Holy-Roller", a sermon by William Marrion Branham, August 1953
- ^ "Irvingite." Webster's [Accessed 12 Mar. 2006].
- ^ Spears, "Jack"
- ^ Share, op. cit. p. 189.
- ^ The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English p. 1250 (2005 Taylor & Francis)
- ^ Ibid. p. 635.
- ^ "Muzzie" definition from Double-Tongued Dictionary
- ^ Share, op. cit. p. 231.
- ^ Simpson, "papist" op. cit.; Share, op. cit. p. 237.
- ^ Share, op. cit. p. 253.
- ^ "russellite." Ibid. [12 Mar. 2006].
- ^ Hughes, "Ireland" p. 78
- ^ Simpson, "teague", op. cit.
- ^ soc.culture.jewish FAQ.
