I say, "Bless you." I don't have a clue as to why I follow the convention because I don't think they actually need to be blessed. Just one of the hangovers from my semi-Puritan upbringing I guess. I think its a politeness thing.
0 Replies
real life
1
Reply
Thu 8 Sep, 2005 12:34 am
Funny no one says "You are so good looking".
0 Replies
ebrown p
1
Reply
Thu 8 Sep, 2005 06:12 am
I think "Bless you" is polite and I was paying attention the past few days. I do say it out of habit... but I don't think it is a bad thing.
Atheists should be able to use cultural idiom without feeling uncomfortable. Once these idiom enter the culture, they lose their religious significance.
I don't think it is a contradiction for an Atheist to say "Bless you" or "Good bye" or to live in "Santa Fe" or to name their daughters "Christina" or even throw a "Hail Mary".
0 Replies
patiodog
1
Reply
Mon 12 Sep, 2005 04:56 pm
ebrown_p wrote:
patiodog wrote:
Salud.
Dinero.
Amor.
Sexo.
Muerte.
(probably not a good sequence...)
Usually "Sexo" comes before "Amor".
Other than that, the sequence is perfectly logical.
Excellent point. Thank you.
Sexo before amor, but always after dinero.
0 Replies
daniellejean
1
Reply
Mon 12 Sep, 2005 05:05 pm
How bout saying "A vos souhaits!" which means "To your wishes!" and is what the french say. It has no religous connotation at all, and is a fun alternative (which can also have the added benefit of making you sound like a sophistocated frenchy!)
0 Replies
ossobuco
1
Reply
Mon 12 Sep, 2005 05:10 pm
I might say that but would be taken for a clumsy californian...
0 Replies
ebrown p
1
Reply
Mon 12 Sep, 2005 05:31 pm
Can an Atheist tell someone to "Go to Hell!"?
0 Replies
ossobuco
1
Reply
Mon 12 Sep, 2005 05:38 pm
In a recidivistic moment, yes.
0 Replies
patiodog
1
Reply
Mon 12 Sep, 2005 05:55 pm
I say it all the time, when I'm trying to be genteel.
Otherwise what comes out is much worse, though decidedly more sectarian.
0 Replies
kickycan
1
Reply
Mon 12 Sep, 2005 06:08 pm
I say "god bless you," even though I don't believe in god. I also say "holy ****" all the time, but I don't actually worship ****. Okay, well maybe a little...
0 Replies
mac11
1
Reply
Mon 12 Sep, 2005 06:13 pm
I've been known to sneeze seven times in a row. Anyone want to go for two more after "salud, dinero, amor, sexo, and muerte"?
I typically say Bless You when someone sneezes, but it's pretty damn insincere.
0 Replies
KiwiChic
1
Reply
Mon 12 Sep, 2005 06:34 pm
I just say 'Pardon' lol
0 Replies
CalamityJane
1
Reply
Mon 12 Sep, 2005 07:14 pm
I usually say 'Gesundheit' = health.
0 Replies
Foxy1983
1
Reply
Tue 13 Sep, 2005 07:22 am
I say 'USE A DAMN TISSUE'
0 Replies
neologist
1
Reply
Tue 13 Sep, 2005 07:38 am
Finally a question of singular relevance.
0 Replies
CarbonSystem
1
Reply
Sat 17 Sep, 2005 10:32 pm
I sit and listen to everyone else say it, and I say nothing.
0 Replies
AngeliqueEast
1
Reply
Sun 18 Sep, 2005 12:40 am
Re: Sneezing - What do atheists say?
Green Witch wrote:
My husband is an atheist (he can't help it, he has a Phd. in science) and refuses to say "God bless you" or "Bless you" if someone sneezes. Now I know this is one of those stupid, rather trivial issues, but I can see people expect it after they sneeze and he just stands there in silence. We own a retail business (plant nursery) and the rag weed in our field is in bloom, so we hear a lot sneezing during the day. Do atheists just ignore the social standard? I thought he should say "be well", since that is how the whole thing started in the first place, and it get's rid of the god issue.
What do you atheists say when someone sneezes?
I can relate to that. I can't bring myself to say "Oh my God" like many people do. I just say "Oh My Goodness". I will say "God Bless You" to babies like it is our custom to do so; only because I respect others belief in god even if I don't believe in god.
0 Replies
dagmaraka
1
Reply
Sun 18 Sep, 2005 03:05 am
no biggie. i'm as atheist as they get and i say 'bless you' all the time. or 'na zdravie' (to your health) as we say in slovak. or gesundheit, the same in german. 'bless you' has been divorced from god in public speak long ago. it's a custom by now, for most people anyway.
0 Replies
InfraBlue
1
Reply
Sun 18 Sep, 2005 03:59 am
Is 'na zdravie' also said as a drinking toast, and is it similar in Russian?
