Christians: If an atheist in your presence sneezes?

Question

What do you say to them? Gesundheit? Or the "other" phrase?

Answer 1

I never say either. Both phrases are based on false assumptions.
Superstition is not something a Christian should take part of and yet, the phrase God bless you is based upon superstition.

"god bless you" has these reasons as suggested origins:

1. * The belief that the heart stops when you sneeze, and the phrase "bless you" is meant to ensure the return of life or to encourage your heart to continue beating. (Of course, the heart beats because of electrical pulses that are not affected by normal functions like sneezing.)
2. * Your soul can be thrown from your body when you sneeze, and saying "bless you" prevents your soul from being stolen by Satan or some evil spirit. Thus, "bless you" or "God bless you" is used as a sort of shield against evil.
3. * A sneeze is good luck and saying "bless you" is no more than recognition of the sneezer's luckiness.

gesundheit has these as suspected origins:

There are different theories regarding the origin of this phrase. One idea is that the expression stems from the Middle Ages when the Bubonic Plague was threatening European health. In this case the person saying gesundheit was actually wishing good health upon themselves, since they may have been infected by the one who sneezed.

Superstitions date back as early as Ancient Greece (ref. Herodotus, History 440 BC). The soul was thought to leave the body through the nose upon death, so a powerful sneeze was thus considered an ominous event.

I have personally decided to stop participating in the saying of "God Bless You" out of respect for the truth.

Answer 2

I never say God bless you when someone sneezes anyway. I just say bless you! but i mean, what difference does it make......... you don't have to accept it. See, God has blessed you with freedom of speech. In some countries you would not even be able to think about religion or make a choice about what you do or do not believe in!

Answer 3

I say nothing, but even if a christian says it, i still say nothing

It came from superstitious ideas. People in the Dark Ages would sneeze and people would think they were possessed or that your heart stops, so thats why they would say it.

Answer 4

I say bless you, and more then likely if they are atheist or not I don't know. But I generally will get in response a "thank you".

Answer 5

I say "Gesundheit," which is pretty much what I say to everyone.

Answer 6

As an atheist I tell people to shut up when they sneeze....
no, not really.

Answer 7

I usually don't say anything to anyone when they sneeze, I'm to busy making sure they're not spraying me. I'm very germ conscience.

Answer 8

this is a dumb question,I even have a muslim co worker who says bless you when I sneeze and he knows that I'm a Christian,Quite frankly an atheist should just take it in stride it is just words to him anyways.

Answer 9

lol reminds me of dane cook so i will repeat what he says....!! ok first one

theres not much to ssay because if u say
gazuntite it sounds liek your suported hitler
and u cant say god bless u because yea u know
so id say nothing happens whaen u die!

Answer 10

I don't ask people if there athiest or not before they sneeze...