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?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

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.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Scarletdeath

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.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.