2007-02-13 09:32:52 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
It's out of tradition. Before modern medicine and the discovery of bacteria and viruses that can make a person sick, it was believed that evil spirits were responsible for causing illness. When one sneezed they were removing an evil spirit from their body and you said 'God Bless' to prevent the spirit from reentering. Now it is said out of courtesy. But if the 'god' part bothers you so much try just saying 'Bless you'.
2007-02-13 09:38:45 · answer #1 · answered by AthenaGenesis 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
In English-speaking countries, it is common for at least one person to say "God bless you" (or just "Bless you") after someone sneezes. This tradition originates from the Middle Ages, when it was believed that when one sneezed, the heart stops, the soul left the body and could be snatched by an evil spirit.
In English speaking countries, the German word "Gesundheit" (which means health) is occasionally said after a sneeze instead of "bless you."
Nowadays people say it just to be polite. No stupidity involved, just a harmless custom held over from days past.
2007-02-13 11:48:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you sneeze, people say 'God bless you' because many many many (not sure how far back) years ago people used to believe that when you sneezed, your soul would for a split second, leave your body and that was where the term came from. Hope this helps! I learned it when I was quite young and for some reason never forgot it!
2007-02-13 09:47:31 · answer #3 · answered by lettuce 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no people aren't stupid, thats an ignorant thing to say. People say god bless you because along time ago we use to think a sneeze was the spirit trying to leave the body. People would say god bless you so the spirit wouldn't leave and it now has become just proper manners.
2007-02-13 10:31:55 · answer #4 · answered by superstar77 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is because in some cultures people felt that a sneeze would open up the soul and evil demons would enter the person....so saying Bless You was a way to prevent that from happening.
It is one of those things that are carry-overs from the past
2007-02-13 09:38:23 · answer #5 · answered by clcalifornia 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
i don't think of you've some thing to rigidity about. the probabilities of listening to some thing that would not exist sneeze is fairly a lot no longer a danger. there are multiple explainations for the time period, notwithstanding it become initially used as purely "bless you", meaning wishing of solid well being. Who is favourite with what religious nut added in the "god" section.
2016-11-27 21:02:23 · answer #6 · answered by seim 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The story I heard was that it was once thought that when you sneezed your heart stopped. Therefore a blessing was in order if you "survived" a sneeze.
2007-02-13 09:39:02 · answer #7 · answered by Louie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It was believed in superstion that after you sneezed someone had to say God bless you, because otherwise an evil spirit could enter you.
2007-02-13 09:39:02 · answer #8 · answered by morleyd 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've always heard that when you sneeze, your heart skips a beat, so they are asking a higher power to watch over you. How could that be stupid?
2007-02-13 09:38:47 · answer #9 · answered by doe 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Most people i know just say "Bless you" not "God Bless You".
I have always thought it was a courtesy thing.
2007-02-13 09:37:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋