Saying god bless you.
 

I'm personally not religious at all. In fact I don't really believe a god exists per se, but I wouldn't consider myself an atheist either. Anyway, I was thinking about this the other day. It is considered appropriate to say god bless you to someone who sneezes and rude not to say it. The whole saying though is technically a religious saying, but most people don't consider it religious because it is so commonly used.

So would you consider it rude for an atheist or someone who doesn't really believe in god to not say god bless you? I know it is considered rude not to say it, but I don't like the feeling of being "forced" to say it, like if I was out on a date or something. I usually say it anyway, because most people don't consider it a religious saying at all, but technically it really is.

What is your take on it?

I say "bless you", I don't know it you think that makes a difference because I'm not particularily religious. I don't mind if someone else says it, religious or not. In the society we live in where faith is much more of a non-issue it's not such a big deal if someone feigns religiousness.

I say "bless you" as well. Its a knee-jerk reaction, and I say it as a response to someone sneezing without even thinking. It comes out more or less as a quick "bles-ewe"

I never say bless you after someone sneezes, just like how nobody says it whenever someone coughs. In my eyes, coughing and sneezing are equally valid methods for the body to employ to rid of foreign irritants, so I don't subscribe to this prevailing preferential treatment in favour of the latter.

The only bodily function for which I offer a spoken acknowledgment is the fart, my acknowledgments usually taking the form of a rating out of 10. And I only do this with close friends, as it is perhaps not appropriate for the times when the stranger standing next to you at the urinal releases one accidently through involuntary sphincter relaxation.

I have no firm belief either so when talking to other people I usually leave the
'god' part out in case they have some sort of crazy reaction or some shit.

Being a militant atheist, I never say anything after a person sneezes. It's just a normal human reaction/function and I am in no way offended by. Similar to passing gas and coughing, I just don't care. I do object to people saying such things to me, and generally ask them not to after I am done sneezing.

I don't say it because I think it's pretty dumb.

According to modern etiquette, the person who sneezed should instead apologize and other people should then accept it or just ignore it. This "god bless you" stuff is inappropriate and outdated.

You shouldn't have to apologize for something that's largely involuntary, unless you happened to have your hands full and couldn't drop whatever precious china you were holding in time to shield your nose and mouth and prevent a devastating flu pandemic.

It happened a few times recently to me where someone sneezes and then I say "Bless you", and after I realise I subconsciously said it, then I feel like a bit of an idiot (and no offense to those people who do say "Bless you", it's just that I'm not that religious and quite frankly, I don't think sneezes demand people to act courteous.).

Meh, I'll learn.

A little dane cook humor also discussing "god bless you" to an athiest.

I just say bless you when someone sneezes. Still don't know why but then I think of Millhouse. "saying god bless you brings the soul back from escaping"
It's a logical explanation.

I'm not religious at all, but I say "bless you". This is because I'm blessing them with super powers. That.. don't do anything.

I guess this is going to be something to do with up-bringing (in terms of the specific phrase used), but yeah I say "bless you" like most people. Certainly don't say "god bless you".

I don't necessarily mind saying "bless you" or having it said to me. I'm not religious and I don't care if the other person is, to me they're just being nice. But "gesundheit" always sounded "cooler" to me so I say that instead if I bother to say anything at all. "Bless you" and "God bless you" I probably wouldn't say now because it just reminds of overly feel-good family Full House/7th Heaven/etc. "I love you sweetie I'm so proud of you *audiences goes awwwwww*" junk that makes me uncomfortable for whatever reasons.

I say "You are soooo good lookin'."

I'm an atheist, so I don't say either "God bless you" or "bless you." Even if it is to show manners, I don't understand what "bless you" in the response of a sneeze means without the religious connotation. Someone else says it anyway.

I am not religious at all, and I always say 'bless you' when someone sneezes. It's just a polite thing to do, and NOBODY I've ever said it to was offended by it. That's a good thing, because too many people are easily offended these days >_>

Let's put it this way: "goodbye" is actually a shortened form of "God be with you (ye)." So if you can't say "bless you" to a militant atheist, you can't say "bye" either. And that's just one of thousands of religiously-derived words in the English language.

I am a religious person, but I think that these terms have been brought into common usage and that little, if anything, remains of their original, religious meaning. If someone is hypersensitive about it, chances are they're just looking for a fight or a landmark court case that will catapult them into the national spotlight.

I don't know, most times it's kind of an automatic reaction. it's the same thing when an athiest once told me to go to hell

come to think of it, I never say bless you when someone sneezes.

I always say "Bless you" after someone sneezes. I was raised to say it as just plain simple common courtesy to those around me. I pretty much do it without thinking for anybody I hear that sneezes - even if its some random joe on the street. I'm just like that I guess.

9 times out of 10 I always get a thank you in return. So...it's all good I guess.

I tease Sass about saying it to me all the time. We're both atheist, so she says it's just a figure of speech.

I don't use the phrase and I'm religious. Why? I don't understand it.

Definitions from answers.com:
Out of these, only 5 seems to fit. So, I'd be saying, "God bestow well-being on you." Doesn't God have better things to do than fix everyone's sneezing problems? It'll go away on its own without Him...

Well, it's a superstition. It's about as religious as attending church.

I guess that makes me modern then. I never say "bless you" when someone sneezes, I generally just ignore them when they sneeze, and then acknowledge the following apology with a slight nod of the head, and get on with what I am doing.

I'm not one of those stern people who can't bend. I'm not religious at all and if it honestly makes people happy if I say it, then I'll say it. I don't really care all that much. I'm not one of those people are are like I WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT SAY IT, I AM AN ATHEIST. It isn't hurting anybody so I don't consider it that big of a deal.

What I hate about it is the etiquette though. It is like if you don't say it to some people they consider it rude. They don't even stop to think that there may be a reason they don't say it other than them just being impolite. Some women will put not saying "bless you" on the same level as not opening a door for a woman or not pulling a chair out for a woman. I don't think they are the same level at all. The latter two are kind deeds to help a woman. Bless you is just a habitual custom that people have learned to say in society. The whole premise of it means nothing. It was originally started I believe to "bless" someone so they don't get sick. Because a sneeze is a sign that the person may be getting sick.

Now that we know it doesn't prevent a person from getting ill, it just seems pointless to say and I actually prefer it when someone doesn't say it and bring attention to my snotty nose.

If a person sneezes within close proximity to me, I do say "bless you" in reply. For some reason, I think it is the courteous thing to do, even though I am personally agnostic and harbor no strong religious/spiritual feelings.

Perhaps a more neutral reply could be "you are excused" much like when someone belches accidentally.

Since I am Athiest, I do not believe in that whole sneezing and losing your soul bit. I do sometimes say "bless you" but that is due to a force of habit from the past. It doesn't happen often however.

Yeah, exactly. I just hear so many people using "bless you" every time someone sneezes that it gets annoying after a while. Plus, sometimes the person does say "excuse me" after he/she sneezes, isn't that enough? What do people say when they fart, burp, shit and cough? Actually, no one shits in public, but I mean, with the other three, don't they just say "excuse me" and move on? If "bless you" had some relevant meaning with "excuse you," I could understand. It's almost as bad as slang that doesn't make sense with what you apply it with.

I don't think much people say it out of respect to the religious connotation, but moreso out of habit. I say it without meaning anything in particular, although every once in a while I would wonder if someone would take offense to me saying it, or just ignore it at worst. Fortunately I haven't run into any pricks that would flip out over a good intention.

My friend says it every single time she's within earshot of a sneeze which is sort of cute and it makes her come across as a nice person to others.

I don't say "God bless you" because I'm an atheist. I don't say "bless you" because I feel stupid saying that. I don't do anything when people sneeze. I adhere to most tenets of common courtesy and good manners, but I really don't think sneezing is a big deal.

I think it's really funny when atheists take offense to someone saying "God bless you" to them. Admonishing people for being polite, that's good times.

I think it's rude NOT to say "Bless you" or something similiar.

I am a militant atheist as well, but I've been raised to be mildly courteous to others. I will react to a sneeze with "Bless you" always. Because it's polite.

It's a superstition as Bigblah said. The put 'God' in there because they believe the spirit tries to leave the body when you sneeze. Don't y'all watch the Simpsons?

The other day I sneezed any my little brother says, "Shuttup." I laughed for nearly 15 mins.

I say "gesundheit". It's what my Austrian grandmother said, and when I was a kid I thought it was the best thing ever, so it stuck.

Ypu people come up with such a wierd superstitions, whenever someone sneezes I just say: "There won't be circus today, the bear caught a cold :D"

Epic post.

I don't say 'bless you' just like I don't say 'goodbye'. I say 'see you later,' or 'laters' or something along those lines.

I've come to dislike "gesundheit" simply because few people say it correctly.

It doesn't matter to me. I think when it first started, way back when, it was meant to be a religious comment. Nowadays, it's evolved in to a saying commonly used, and most people say it without even thinking about it. Another example would be the saying "god speed". I guess religious folk use the term as well, but when people say it for no reason, it's just another way of saying "run hecka fast!"

It may be considered a superstition but I was brought up to think of it as common courtesy, so like quite a few of the people here it's pretty much a reflex.

Speaking of which, what is the proper way of saying that? I pronounce that as ga-zoon-height, less stress on first syllable..

Whenever someone sneezes around me though, I don't normally say anything. I'd probably act as if nothing happened, or if I'm really close to the person sneezing, I'd back off a little. I think everyone I know who does say something, says "bless you".

I believe the proper was is guh-zoond-height. I used to take german classes like 10+ years ago when I was in grade school, so I forget the exact pronunciation.

It's said pretty much exactly as it's spelled - Geh-zoond-height, or at least that's how the accent I heard it spoken with sounded...

I find it's more a reflex, but sometimes (as silly as it may seem) I try not to say it because I am proving a point that I don't believe in a god (or a devil, considering the origin of the phrase). I don't want to give anyone any misconceptions. It's the same with saying "Oh my god"; I have stopped saying it.

I rid myself of the saying a while ago. It doesn't even phase me anymore. Occasionally I may say, "thank you," if I'm trying to make a good impression, but otherwise I try not to encourage people to say it. =D If I don't want to deal with it, I just muffle or, when possible, prevent my sneezes.

I do, on the other hand, say, "Jesus Christ!" and "Oh my fucking God!" just for the irony.

I used to say it, but I recently stopped. It's awkward and there's no reason to say it. I don't even consider it being polite. Like Kolba said, why don't we say anything when someone coughs? I don't care much for what society has come to expect; tradition can be a real bane sometimes.

I don't say it for the same reasons as Kaleb. It feels weird saying that over a natural function, and I actually prefer that people don't say it to me, because then I'm made to feel like a rude asshole if I don't thank them.

I say something along the lines of a mumbled "bleshoo"

"bleshoo" X3 Cute.

I don't say it myself, but if someone says it to me, I just say "thanks." Habit replies to habit.

Wow, I'm really suprised so many people have abandoned the time honered "God Bless You" and "Thank You." My roommate and I are apparently both allergic to this apartment, and sneeze all the time. We end up saying "Bless You" about 15 times a day each. We also say "Thank You" to each other, but never EVER "You're welcome!" I'm going to have to start that, I suppose.

I never say 'bless you', or anything of the sort. I AM an atheist [of sorts, maybe I'm more agnostic... but that's beside the point] but that's not my reasoning for not saying it. I just... I don't know, I don't like saying it. It doesn't feel right, so I don't.

When I sneeze though, I usually say 'excuse me' or something. Just reflex, I guess.

I'm a pretty religious guy, however, even I only say "God bless you" when someone sneezes out of habit. In fact, I usually do not preface with the word "God" prior to acknowledging someone's sneeze. Speaking of which, I literally just sneezed! But nobody said anything...

I say "bless you." I was raised as catholic, but I don't believe in the majority of it. Anyway i just say that.

I say bless you to those who say it to me, just out of common courtesy. It'll be awkward for my friends who do say it normally and they sneeze, then no one says it to them. Although I'm atheist, it's not as if saying it is making me believe in a god all of a sudden.

I'll put in my input since I am non-denominational when it comes to religions, since I do not anotate other beliefs, but study them in practicality.


God bless you is basically a "wish you well" saying. All it implies is that one is wishing you well. Now people who are religious use that in a different meaning such as "in hopes that god watches over you and keeps you from harm" or the more spiritual sense to ward off both bad omen and ill fate. In any case, the same or similar meaning.



Such was used with the Bubonic Plague "Bless you" when one would sneeze. This is nothing more than in hopes of you remaining well and safe from potential harm.


Now some people believe in many things while others don't. Does that make it wrong for someone, anyone to say something like this to an athiest? It shouldn't be offensive. They are just expressing things as they always have.

I know what you mean. I was raised a Catholic as well. It has been a hard time getting rid of saying that for me, considering I had to say stuff like that when I was younger. I truly believed in that whole lose your soul thing for a while. What can I say? I was young and naive. Sometimes, I still think I am naive...:(