Do atheists get offended when someone says "bless you" when they sneeze?

Question

If you are atheist, do you thank the person wishing blessings upon you? Do you say "bless you" when someone else sneezes?

My friend is atheist, and gets offended when people assume that she believes in a god. She was at my house and sneezed, and I wasn't sure whether I should say "bless you" or not, so I asked her. She said she doesn't get offended, but she doesn't thank the person, and she thinks its a little silly. What do other atheists think?

Answer 1

I have no problem with it. To be honest I've always thought it was a little silly offering someone blessings for sneezing but expecting them to excuse themselves after burping or farting.

Answer 2

Someone was just saying she said God bless you to an atheist who sneezed on a bus and he got all grrr with her. I think you could say "bless you" to most people and you wouldn't offend. It is kind of a funny custom that we have to say something to a person when they sneeze. I find that I would prefer to say "use a hanky". Sometimes if it's a stranger in a public place, I will just say "Oh my!" and consider offering a tissue. My main focus when others sneeze is to get out of the line of fire.

Answer 3

Well, my husband is an atheist, so when he sneezes, I usually say something like "I bless you" meaning that I hope he doesn't get sick and I wish him good health. Or I might say "The Goddess bless you." because I believe in the femininity of God and he respects me for that or I might say ,"May the Buddha bless you." In neither case, he doesn't get angry but usually smiles and says "Thank you." Then again, my husband is a very open minded soul and I have been blessed by the Goddess to be his spouse. In general when I hear someone sneezing, I feel it is polite to say "Bless You" and then let that person fill in the blank in any way he/she pleases.

Answer 4

I say bless you when people sneeze and Im an atheist.

I think its just a nice thing to say.

Of course I dont say GOD bless you. Because I don't believe in a God.

Answer 5

I am an Atheist and I don't get offended and I say thank you. I don't even get offended when people try to convert me. The way I look at it is like this

People think that their religion is the ticket to heaven and they want to share it with me. Why would that offend me. I think it is very nice of them. I think it is silly that they believe in some Middle Eastern sky God, but it is nice of them to want me to join them in heaven.

Answer 6

I'm not offended by it but some atheists might be. When someone says "Bless you" or "God bless you" to me I always say thank you.

Answer 7

Well if atheists aren't affended they would be if they knew the orgins of Bless You. It was thought along time ago that when a person sneezed it made his soul vulnerable. To counteract this people said Bless You. It was spiritual in orgins.

Answer 8

I'm Jewish but I don't get offended at Christmas trees or Christmas cards. I wish they would put right beside the trr a menorah and all other symbols of each faith as we are not all Christian.I also wish they would send something more neautral such as season's greetings. Plus, that Christmas music, year in and year out is annoying! :( No offense! I'm sick of hearing about jingle bells!

Answer 9

I'm atheist and I say "bless you" myself. It doesn't offend me at all, actually it offends me more if nobody says anything. It seems a little uptight to get offended over something so trivial.

Answer 10

I am a christian and I hate it when someone says "bless you' when I sneeze. It is just an old pagan beleif because they believed that a demon coud enter the body at that moment. It's just a dumb habit.