Blasphemy was apparently in the word, not the intent.

Crikey is another euphemism

and so are whole raft of other cr- words, like criminy, and cripes ("for cripes' sake"), and probably even cow (as in "holy cow!") - all different ways of changing quickly in mid-utterance as not to be [caught - by others or self -] taking the Lord's name in vain, while still venting intense emotion...