I'm sure someone here will be able to give specific origins of this belief, but in some religion/beliefs, it is thought that if you sneeze your soul escapes for a brief moment. The phrase "God bless you" was said in order to thwart the enemy from stealing your soul. So in essence, when someone says that, you are implying that their soul has left their body. Not very Christ minded!
Now, I am a Christian before you start hating on me.
Don't just say it's out of courtesy, because don't you think as Christians we should know what we are saying before we say it?
Maybe when Jesus said “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.” Maybe He was referring to us Christians as well.
2007-04-30 16:22:25 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I agree completely with alot of your answers, like Crabby & Lemon (just to name a few). I asked this to simply point out that us Christians shouldn't walk around blindly. We shouldn't take things, even the smallest things at face value. We need to know what we say and what we do. Do we agree on that?
2007-04-30 16:43:57 · update #1
Even if it originally had a superstitious origin, when is it ever bad to tell someone, "God Bless You?" We need all the blessings we can get!!!!!!
2007-04-30 16:28:01 · answer #1 · answered by PTK 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Oh big deal; they used to do all sorts of crazy things "back in the day" that the traditions have carried over into modern society. Take Halloween for example.
And yes, I knew the origins of why they used to say "God bless you" came from, but I still say it and I'm a Christian. Now it doesn't mean you are affirming the belief that a person's soul has left their body and you are trying to help it stay in or keep evil spirits out. Now it is a courtesy thing. And THAT is a very Jesus-like thing to do. Don't you think that Jesus would want us to be kind, polite, and courteous towards each other?
2007-04-30 16:29:40 · answer #2 · answered by lemonlimeemt 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They say god bless you because a long time ago when christianity was extremely new they felt that when you sneezed it was your body trying to get the demons out. Since they thought that it was demons they would say god bless you. Even after people found out that the demon theory wasn't true the saying had already stuck.
2016-05-17 21:49:11 · answer #3 · answered by leticia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I completely agree that we need to walk about with eyes wide open.
As far as sneezing, I've always understood that the phrase came out of the "black plague" era: because sneezing was a symptom of the onset of the plague, one would cross themselves and say "May God bless your soul" or something similar. I'm sure , however that there are many such origin explanations for the phrase.
blessings to you dear - good question! :)
2007-05-01 10:42:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't say that, though most of my Christian family DOES.
I actually say "Gesundheit" which means, literally, good health. It's said because a sneeze can often be an early sign of a cold, and to wish good health on a person was a sign of good luck to keep them from catching a cold, or - in worst case scenario - the plague.
2007-04-30 16:30:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't agree with any of these answers. Why bother to say "God bless you", when we are already blessed just getting up from bed every morning?
2014-11-02 06:42:42 · answer #6 · answered by Paula 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Real Christians don't go for such nonsense. The phrase as used NOW means simply a little hope/prayer for the persons health.
Only the fake Christians in the right-wing cults preach such nonsense.
2007-04-30 16:28:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
never really thought about it that way, I usually say "Bless you" because what if they don't believe in God, then isn't that offensive to them? but come to think of it, what if they like to sneeze in peace without anyone saying anything to them, that would be wrong to do to them too. But if I were to say "you're so good-looking" and they're not, isn't that lying. So, I guess I'll just look away when someone sneezes......unless they sneeze on me then I'll just smack them!
2007-04-30 16:30:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have never heard of that. I have always heard it's origins developed during the great plague. The first symptoms were sneezing and people always said God bless you to send up a prayer to God in their behalf. Where did you hear this? Please tell us more.
2007-04-30 16:30:10 · answer #9 · answered by wonder woman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you thought this over a bit much...only non christians would MAYBE be offended by someone saying god bless you...and it is indeed common courtesy
2007-04-30 16:27:12 · answer #10 · answered by prince4816 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋