Tamara224
Well-Known Member
I'd say it depends on the context. I use key Biblical phrases a lot but not because I'm trying to sound holier than thou. It's because I'm alluding to those phrases on purpose to intentionally draw people's attention to them. By using the phrase, I incorporate by reference the entire passage. At least, that's usually my intent.
When I do that, I'm actually assuming that the people reading it will catch the reference. So...it's not holier than thou to assume your audience knows as much as you do. Is it?
Also, I'm a bit classic lit fan... and many good classics are strewn with Biblical allusions. I love that.
I certainly have seen people use it in a way that comes across as holier than thou, though. But then, with some people, everything they say comes across that way, whether it's a Biblical phrase or not.
Of course, for all I know, people are reading this and saying "yep, you come across as holier than thou all the time." All I can say is I don't mean to.
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