What do you say to an atheist when s/he sneezes? "bless you" doesn't sound like the right option.

Answer 1

Just cause they dont believe doesnt mean you dont. I feel a blessing is welcome wether I believe in it or not the person blessing me has enough faith for the both of us.

Other option: Gesundheit - means "HEALTH!" More a proclaimation than a blessing really.

Answer 2

I go with the Geshundheit or whatever you spell it.

You are right that Bless you does have religious roots, based on the belief that when you sneeze, your soul is being forced out of your body, and bless you stopped the devil from taking it away.

I like the "You are so handsome" response, but I might say "I am so handsome" so as not to sound flirty.

Answer 3

You would say what you would say to anyone who sneezes. "Bless you". An atheist is the one person who needs to be blessed. It is not up to us to make people believe in GOD. We can just faithfully follow GOD and hope that people will come around. Either way, when GOD comes, everyone will know that he is real and then they can panic. Don't stop believing in GOD and doing what you have always done just because someone doesn't believe. GOD bless you.

Answer 4

"Blessing" is not just an organised religious expression. Pagans and others who believe in a less "vengeful" entity also believe in blessings, however not of the "god"/"divine" kind.

I myself usually say "Curse You" or "Curses!" as a joke of sorts, but a which friend of mine also says "Bless you" or "Blessed Be" when someone sneezes in the vicinity.

Basically the word "bless" has been tainted by organised religions thoughout the ages, and we humans have subconciously linked the word "bless" with organised religions.

So it isn't necessarly inapropriate to say "bless you" to a sneezing person, as long as you explain to them it isn't just a religious thing...

Cheers!

Answer 5

I say the full "God bless you." to everyone. It's a well- intended polite response to a sneeze...not an an attempt to save their soul. If they choose to get bend out of shape about it, then shame on them. Isn't it more important that we care each about each other to even acknowledge the sneeze?

Answer 6

the reason ppl say bless you after a sneeze goes back to 1665 or there abouts
its in reference to the plague (bubonic) which one of the first sighs of the virus was a habit of sneezing just like when you have a cold.
So because of people sneezing this was a way of helping ward of the plague as the church and physicians didnt really have anything to combat it unless you liked leeches!!
so with this being a cultural reference when ppl sneeze despite them being muslim/christian/athiest its passed beyond the church reference and moved into modern speech

Answer 7

I am an atheist, and I really do know some folk who get offended at that and will challenge and argue with people who say it. Although I am very proactive in criticising the excesses of Theism, (as many of my answers will testify!) I think there is a point when you just have to get a life!

Answer 8

Ever hear of "Gesundheit"? In German, it means "(to your) health". A nice, non-sectarian wish. The custom of saying, Bless you" came from the medieval idea that when one sneezed, there was a risk of one's soul escaping from the body. This is not so.

Answer 9

'Gesundheit' because it means 'good health' and doesn't have religious connections. But there is a superstition that if you sneeze three times and no one says 'bless you' then the devil will get you!

Answer 10

Hmm, good one. I guess you wouldn't say anything at all as though it were a mere cough... but would that make them feel a bit unloved? I'd say BLESS YOU anyway, because it's nice to be blessed.