How hard is it to replace "daemon" with different terminology? I know someone who wants to use linux but won't because the term is immature and offensive to Christians. Would like it replaced using a different term such as "Demand", "Commander", "Service", "Process", etc. It'd be nice to replace other terminology to suit personal taste too.

I'm more comfortable using Gentoo/Funtoo.

you can say server process, but it has a slightly different meaning. Or background process. But he should be familiar with the original name, because it is the generally accepted and used expression. Those daemons are running also in Vatican.

Better make sure they stay away from the command line then....

I would suggest they stick with Windows, but don't install GIMP. Certainly don't point them to FreeBSD.

Previous related LQ threads/posts:

• http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ne-mad-191272/
• http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...nguage-883245/
• http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...eloped-883295/
• http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...66/page11.html
• http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...661/page2.html
• http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...245/page2.html
• http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...870/page2.html

Deja-vu...again! Call them "thingies" - that shouldn't offend anyone (except sensible Linux users, but we don't matter).

"Service".

Very hard, because you don't only have to change it in the kernel or system libraries, you also have to change it in the entire Unix/Linux documentation. The thing is that this name is used in more broad terms for at least 30-40 years now. People are used to it, so why should they change?

Sorry I have to say that, but I think it is more immature to be offended by a technical term that has nothing to do with religion at all just because it sounds similar to a word of your religion and therefore rejecting from using an entire OS.

Think about it: If it really is offensive to your friend to use Linux because of the word daemon, then, even if (s)he uses Windows to avoid this situation, (s)he also has to avoid Google, Facebook and many other online-services. Android phones should not be used. Don't buy were there is Linux/BSD running on cash registers. Don't use navigation systems in your car. Don't rely on the weather forecast, it is most likely simulated on computers running Linux/BSD. You basically can't avoid to use a Linux/BSD system in your everyday life.

All of this just because a word (again, a technical term that is totally unrelated to your religion) is seen as offending. Better don't tell him/her that there is a 666 on every barcode out there.

Sadly that is not true: http://www.av1611.org/666/barcode.html (the first site I can across that debunks it, there are others.).
File permission are, of course, sometimes set to 666 though, technically, the number to avoid is 616.

Daemon (computing) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daemon_(computing)

daemon - http://catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/D/daemon.html
The Origin of the word Daemon - http://ei.cs.vt.edu/~history/Daemon.html

If someone is that easily offended they shouldn't even be using a computer.

Tell them they need to come out of the dark ages.

What he said.

I could go on. But I won't.

+1

Surprised they don't think computers are the work of the devil......tell them to grow up.

oh crap does that mean I am in trouble.

They need a newer Bible.

Don't see how they could use a common US paper money either.

Please note that, when OP reports that his friend says the term "daemon" is offensive to Christians, he is by no means speaking for all, or even most (or, indeed, for anything more than a very vocal fringe that delights in being offended by modernity) of the Christian community.