I don't want to be yelled at, but I have an atheist friend. whenever he sneezes, I always say bless you and e normally responds, thanks or thank you. but when I or someone else sneezes, he doesn't say bless you or even gesundheit. i mean, I just think it's common courtesy. I have friends who don't believe in god and say it anyway. What do you make of the fact that it bothers me?
2006-07-26 13:30:19 · 12 answers · asked by Michael J with wings 3 in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
note: to me it's not a faith question, it just feels like an etiquette thing. like maybe...who thingks he should do the thing from seinfeld (i'll give the 10 pts to the first person who answers that correctly)
2006-07-26 13:46:04 · update #1
It is a nice gesture and you wish your friend would do this nice gesture. But life is a choice and he apparently chooses not to do this or is uncomfortable doing this. If this is the worst problem you have in life well "bless you!"
2006-07-26 13:36:42 · answer #1 · answered by Elwood 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I can't remember where this information came from, but it was a serious matter back then. As in terms of saying bless you after someone sneezes it comes from a belief in when a very religious community at the time believed that whenever a person sneezed their spirit would come out of them and die. So they would shout out Bless You as a "prayer" that your spirit would not come out from the power of the sneeze to live for another day. Now it's just adopted as common courtesy.
2006-07-26 14:12:57 · answer #2 · answered by rosepassions 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well people have their opinions. He has his opinion on not believing in god so little things like saying bless you or gesundheit don't really fathom him. So if he being rude just let him act that way or he doesn't pay attention when you sneeze lol. But good luck and Bless you ;-)
2006-07-26 13:37:15 · answer #3 · answered by ♥Loving*Steph♥ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Bless you" stems from the days of the Black Plague in Midevil times - when people sneezed, it was just often assumed that the person was going to die, because people were dying left and right.
I'm not really sure how it evolved into what it means today, but it is considered to be a common courtesy. It shows that you are observant of people other than just yourself.
it bothers you because you show your friend some consideration, but its unreturned.
2006-07-26 16:22:51 · answer #4 · answered by Chelle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When someone become sick or is catching a cold to become sick a blessing is given in order that God the creator will heal them and give them back to health. It is a very old custom coming a early, as 500 BC, I believe. Hebrews blessed anyone that was sick and made a sacrifice to God to heal them from that sickness, somewhat. It has carried over today however, most people do not mean it when they Say, "Bless YOU" simply because they do not believe God or the Great Healer Yeshua ( Jesus ) will heal them. Thus they come down with a cold. Modern medicine today tells you to keep active, drink lots of liquids and eat right. But they will be the first to admit that they can't cure everthing. God said come to me to be healed.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly. (John 10:10).
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. (Mark 11:23)
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (3 John 1:2)
There is an old saying ... even an atheist comes to know God in a foxhole.
2006-07-26 13:52:50 · answer #5 · answered by Michael JENKINS 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He probably would prefer that you say nothing to him when he sneezes and since he wants to treat others the way he wants to be treated, then he is silently saying, "Don't bless me".
As when you say, "Bless you" you are trying to teach him how to treat you (again silently and indirectly) because you want people to treat you they way you treat them.
Since many of us don't have the gift of reading minds, you can just simply tell him this ... and see what happens.
2006-07-27 11:11:36 · answer #6 · answered by Giggly Giraffe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For some reason he chooses not to say it. He has the right to choose, its not a mandatory thing. Just accept that its his decision to not do that. Its not that big a deal. It probably bothers you because he's not being the way you expect him to be. Lighten up.
2006-07-26 13:37:55 · answer #7 · answered by Ariel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't say it either even though people say it to me. It started because people thought when you sneezed you were expelling evil spirits so they "blessed you". So it really is a pointless saying anyway.
2006-07-26 13:34:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are very sensitive, not really a bad thing! Try not to let it bother you and continue to be a role model. Remember to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
2006-07-26 13:43:41 · answer #9 · answered by shepherd 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it bothers you both because in your eyes it is a breach of etiquitte and because you believe in God.
2006-07-26 13:42:24 · answer #10 · answered by shadhag42 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋