Atheists: When you sneeze or cough?

Question

and someone says, "God bless you" do you say thank you or do you get mad at them?

Answer 1

Most of us realize that everybody has their own beliefs and we are fine with that. So a gracious "Thank you" is in order. I don't understand getting mad at somebody who is trying to be polite--unless it's somebody who knows your position and is trying to rub theirs in your face.

Answer 2

Cough? I have never heard of someone who says "Bless you" after another person coughs. Hmm interesting cultural tidbit.
Anyways I say thanks. Seems pretty silly to go into a long lecture about religious beliefs when generally the saying is said out of habit and actually resembles little to no actual religious connotation in the first place.

Answer 3

I don't usually respond at all. I don't really understand why people feel compelled to acknowledge a sneeze, and I'm certainly not going to bother acknowledging their acknowledgement.
If someone else sneezes I don't say anything unless it was a particularly violent or prolonged bout of sneezing in which case I might say something like "are you okay?"

Answer 4

Do religious people ever become sensitive enough to realize that instead of "Bless you!" is more polite to learn to change the expression as it is done in German, French or Italian with "Good health to you!"

Obviously, as an educated person, I say thank you to those who say "Bless you!" But occasionally I do question them if they know who has the power to bless anyone.

Answer 5

Why would I get mad at them? That makes no sense. The hostility that you apparently think atheists have towards people who believe in God doesn't exist.

I say thank you.

Answer 6

I say thank you. Just because they use the name of a deity doesn't mean I will get all rattled because of it. I'd react the same if someone said "Odin bless you". Sometimes questions such as this make me wonder if people think we are raised by barbarians.

Answer 7

I say thank you. People have been taught to say that when someone sneezes. It's not like their out to convert you.

Answer 8

Unlike most Christians, Atheists tend to be civil, and courteous people. The say "thank you" and move on. They don't tend to fly off the handle over little things like this.

Answer 9

I generally regard the "God bless you" as an expression of good wishes, and so say "Thank you."

Answer 10

I say "thank you". It annoys me that someone would assume I care but they aren't trying to be mean and it isn't worth making an idiotic stink about it.