2007-04-30 10:53:39 · 19 answers · asked by ☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻ 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"Thank you."
Believe it or not, I don't go around looking for a fight. It'd be a silly moment to launch into a debate.
The phrase is part of the common vernacular, and came about because back in the day, people thought that a sneeze was the body's defense against demon possession.
You'd be hard pressed to find a Christian that actually means, "God bless you! The demons haven't got you yet!" when someone sneezes.
2007-04-30 11:10:05 · answer #1 · answered by Snark 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Someone said they would pray for me this weekend. Serious. I told her she may as well bake me a ham too. I mean I don't eat pork either, but I can really appreciate the effort.
The only people that bless me after a sneeze are people I know, like my boss usually, and I always fire back with "don't bother." I would thank a stranger though. no need to fire off on that. The crazy lady in the first answer asked me if I went to church, which was really none of her business, so she really had it coming.
2007-04-30 10:58:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I smile and say 'thank you'. It's meant as a courtesy, not a lecture, and I take it in the kind spiritu in which it is given.
Now, if I sneezed and someone oozed up to me, got in my face and said, "God Bless you. Have you accepted Jesus?" I'd tell him to go away because it's none of his business.
2007-04-30 11:00:17 · answer #3 · answered by KC 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm not really an athiest... I'm spiritual, but don't follow any specific religion. But seriously, it's the thought that counts. If they say "Bless you" then just thank them! They are trying to be polite! Plus, I say "bless you" just out of habit.
2007-04-30 11:04:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course, that happens all the time. I usually just say "thanks." I don't really feel the need to go around starting theological discussions all the time, and most people just say that thoughtlessly--it's a common colloquialism. No one actually still thinks sneezes are demons coming out, and that the sneezer needs protection (I don't think they still believe that, anyway...)
2007-04-30 10:57:37 · answer #5 · answered by N 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I said, "Thank you." That's the proper response when someone has done you a kindness or shown you a courtesy. "Blessing" someone who has sneezed is an essentially harmless tradition, though I don't do it myself, as I consider that perpetuating a silly superstition.
2007-04-30 10:56:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
i say, thank you or excuse me. sometimes i say both. same way i tell people thanks when i'm gonna go do something. and they say, "break a leg." i know they don't really want me to break a leg. same for people who say bless you or god bless you. they're not really blessing me...
edit: by any chance does this question have anything to do with that stupid dane cook skit? that thing was totally scripted. i've never met one atheist in my entire life who has ever gotten offended at someone saying bless you.
2007-04-30 10:59:06 · answer #7 · answered by just curious (A.A.A.A.) 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I say "Thank you", and I also say "Bless you" when somebody sneezes, unless the person is a Spanish-speaker (I'll say "salud").
2007-04-30 12:02:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is that offensive to you? How are we supposed to spot an Atheist?
I never met an Atheist I didn't like, so far!
`
2007-04-30 10:57:11 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. I say "thank you". It's the thought that counts.
Though I think the whole "bless you" thing is ridiculous and don't say it myself.
2007-04-30 10:57:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋