When I sneeze I say 'excuse me' just like when I burp. This is because I am exhaling noxious vapors from my lungs and nose that can possibly contain germs and/or bacteria. I feel the least I can do is say 'excuse me' when I spread around my bodily fluids like this.
But when I sneeze at work I get really annoyed because I have these three religious people sitting around me and it appears they are in competition to be the first to say "god bless you". They have been getting louder since I told one of them I do not believe in god. So today when they all said god bless you after I sneezed, I emphatically said "NO THANK YOU!". The guy I can see from my desk was visibly shaken by this and the other two would not look at me when I saw them in the hallway.
What are your feelings on sneezing and proselytizing?
2006-09-01 07:45:04 · 37 answers · asked by barter256 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You rule.
I'm not offended when they say it as a subconscious response, but when they try to rub it in your face specifically because you don't believe in the Master, then it's very annoying.
2006-09-01 07:51:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
I'm an Atheist, and have been for 15 years now. I always make a point to say "Bless you" when someone else sneezes, always dropping the god.
I don't see any point in being rude, it's basically just a tradition anymore.
Maybe if it really bothers you that much, I would ask them privately if they would only say bless you instead of god or not to respond at all.
2006-09-01 07:51:26 · answer #2 · answered by Leigh 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
out or curiousity - do you pay cash for items? How do you get around the "in god we trust" on the currency? I'm not being a wise-A - just an honest question.
I'm all for everyone having their rights to have their own faith, but i think your co-workers started saying it out niceness and then maybe decided to try to bring you to their religion once they found out you were atheist. I know a lot of Christians like that - they're like Jev. Witnesses almost sometimes. Just say thank you and move on or smile and nod or don't acknowedge them, but don't be rude or obnoxious about it b/c it's a) not nice and b) will make them want to convert you more.
I know i say bless you out of habit - since i am no longer catholic, i have dropped the god from it, but i still say thank you when people say it. Just a force of habit - like when somebody you know has a death in the family and you say "oh, i'm so sorry" You didn't kill the person - why are you sorry? Just one of those things.
2006-09-01 08:08:52 · answer #3 · answered by Weasel 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This is your WORK site, dude. Standard business protocol abides by standard social practices, which include common greetings and responses to typical events. Your exclusion of THEIR beliefs with LOUD rejections against "standard societal practices" is both politicial AND antisocial.
Save it for elsewhere, or suffer the aleination of others at your job. A quiet faith in your own system of beliefs does NOT mean you have to launch them on others -- I only WISH more "christians" would actually TRULY "GET" this concept.
Simplified: I am NOT going to listen to some Jesus freek babble on about the Bible at work. But, "God bless you" is almost as common as "How are you?".
Just not worth the trouble -- laugh it off... :)
2006-09-02 14:33:15 · answer #4 · answered by fitpro11 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For ordinary people, it's just a force of habit to say that. But it sounds like your fellow employees are doing it intentionally to annoy you, so your response was appropriate. Or you might explain to them how the tradition arose in the first place (people used to think that when you sneezed, your sould momentarily left your body thus making it vulnerable to demon posession, so they would say god bless you to scare the demons away), and then just laugh and remind them you're in no danger of demon posession if they keep doing it in the future.
2006-09-01 07:50:06 · answer #5 · answered by lenny 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's not just a Christian thing... I've had atheists tell me "God bless you", "Guhblez you", and "Bless you" as well. It's an American thing.
Lol.... I take it that, during sex or while under extreme amounts of fear or excitement, you don't say, "Oh, God", for the simple fact that it's an American thing?
I can safely assume, then, that it's okay to blaspheme out of pleasure or necessity, but not okay to offer a Christian kindness out of concern of another's health?
I also take it you have not considered how annoyed we are when an atheist says "Jesus Christ!" when they hurt themselves or angry at someone, or "Oh, God, that was funny!" at a good joke.
...yet, for the sake of your conscience, we put up with your blasphemy.
...and ironically, you do not put up with our kindness.
Typical.
2006-09-01 07:56:57 · answer #6 · answered by seraphim_pwns_u 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Generally when people say "God bless you" after you sneeze they are conforming to a cultural norm and are not trying to spread the Gospel. Perhaps your Higher Power is at work, helping you to analyize your feelings about His work here. I hope your cold gets better, and God bless you and keep you.
2006-09-01 07:56:22 · answer #7 · answered by stacey a 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think that saying "God bless you" to a sneeze, although holding to what I hear was the Pope's request during the plague, is the extent to which some "Christians" share their faith.
I pray that some day your co-workers can approach you with more than a knee-jerk response to your bodily functions - that they can discuss your salvation through Jesus Christ. And I pray that you would find it in your heart to listen.
Personally, I say "Salud" (sp?), according to the tradition of my wife's hispanic culture. It literaly means, "Health!"
May God bless you - said not because you rejected it from your co-workers, but because he loves you, his creation.
2006-09-01 07:55:45 · answer #8 · answered by In God I Trust (a.k.a. infohog) 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't let it bother me. I personally keep my beliefs to myself, but I do say bless you to someone when they sneeze, my intent, politeness.
The origin of the custom of saying "God bless you" was during the bubonic plague in Europe. The pope ordered that if someone sneezed they were to be blessed in hope of staving off the plague or preventing it from spreading.
2006-09-01 07:56:40 · answer #9 · answered by Kya 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If it's three people almost competing to be the holiest and the nicest, then yeah, say whatever you want. That probably would have bothered me too.
For the most part, I just take it as an expression and let it go.
2006-09-01 07:49:13 · answer #10 · answered by Allison L 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I typically ignore it and get on with my day. It's such a generic thing that I doubt that some people even realize they're saying it.
If it bugs you that much, try saying "Gesundheit" when they sneeze. Maybe they'll pick that one up instead.
2006-09-01 07:54:28 · answer #11 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋