They say it in a sign of respect not as an insult. I don't mind if people don't say anthing but you want some one too? wouldn't you?.
2007-11-24 10:07:06 · 25 answers · asked by LadyP&B 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
People get too offended by any mention concerning God or Jesus (think, no Christmas, just happy holidays, because it has Christ in it)
If someone says it, don't get too flustered over it.
Theyre just being nice.
2007-11-24 10:10:45 · answer #1 · answered by kelso mcfly 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
During Medieval times, many people believed that the sneeze was an attempt for your soul to leave your body. Furthermore, when the Bubonic Plague hit and people sneezed... people would think that you would catch the plague as well. The Roman Catholic Church (thanks to the Pope at the time, the name of which I cannot remember) made it a rule that whenever a person sneezed, the response would be to say "God Bless you". This saying spread quickly due to the Church's grasp of territory back then.
Nowadays, it's become a friendly response. It's also become rather controversial with so many different religions (or a lack thereof), but in my opinion, saying God bless you when a person sneezes is a bit much. I just cut straight to the "Bless you" part, and in that way hope that I don't offend any of my peers.
hope that helps!
2007-11-24 10:53:07 · answer #2 · answered by boscosticks 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you're referring to when people say it after you sneeze, then it is not a sign of respect. It stems from a time when people were superstitious and believed you were vulnerable to evil spirits or death after a sneeze. Most people today blindly say "bless you" or "God bless you" after a sneeze because it's socially expected for some arbitrary reason. The German, "gesundheit," is a little bit better of an alternative and means "good health."
A person's heart does not stop when sneezing. This is a myth. Look at number 11 on here: http://www.lifespan.org/services/specials/myths/general.htm#heart ...
2007-11-24 10:15:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The custom of saying "God bless you" after a sneeze was begun literally as a blessing. Pope Gregory the Great (540-604 AD) ascended to the Papacy just in time for the start of the plague (his successor succumbed to it). Gregory (who also invented the ever-popular Gregorian chant) called for litanies, processions and unceasing prayer for God's help and intercession. Columns marched through the streets chanting, "Kyrie Eleison" (Greek for "Lord have mercy"). When someone sneezed, they were immediately blessed ("God bless you!") in the hope that they would not subsequently develop the plague. All that prayer apparently worked, judging by how quickly the plague of 590 AD diminished.
2007-11-24 11:20:31 · answer #4 · answered by missmidwestangel 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A long long time ago people actually thought then when someone sneezed that there head would explode. So they started saying God Bless You thinking that then the persons head would not explode or would be less likely to. I know it sounds wierd in crazy, but I actually read that in a book.
2007-11-24 10:13:54 · answer #5 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Besides thank you ("God's blessings upon you") it is also a hangover of the belief that demons can invade people on certain circumstances - so the German version of God Bless You (Gesuntheit) after a sneeze is rooted in the belief that demons can invade at that moment.
2007-11-24 10:14:02 · answer #6 · answered by Mike1942f 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When a person sneezes, their heart stops. People say "God bless you" so that God will bless them while their heart is at a stop. Also, they are asking God to make it to where the person heart will start up again and not quit working forever. This is a scientific fact that when you sneeze, your heart stops.
2007-11-24 10:14:46 · answer #7 · answered by reganmonkey14 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This was supposedly started back during early war times in the hospitals. Whenever someone would sneeze it was a sign that they were still alive so the nurses would say "God bless you" to them.
2007-11-24 10:12:07 · answer #8 · answered by tomsalwayssmilin 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think they say it because when you sneeze, your heart stops or something. It comes from the religious people of the earth I guess...I find it annoying cuz I'm not christian and despise when people assume I am. But its never meant as a christian thing, just respect...acknowledging that they don't want to see you drop dead if your heart didn't restart after a sneeze! LOL
2007-11-24 10:12:03 · answer #9 · answered by Moon 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In the old days, people thought your spirit temporarily left your body when you sneezed, so they found it proper to bless the person and this way the spirit would go back to that body.
2007-11-24 10:12:14 · answer #10 · answered by tomjsh4213 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋