Comments on: By Request: Bless THIS http://atheists.org/blog/2006/01/16/by_request_bless_this A Blog of Atheist Thought Sun, 21 Mar 2010 03:09:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The Typhoon http://atheists.org/blog/2006/01/16/by_request_bless_this/comment-page-1#comment-23031 The Typhoon Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-23031 It's a reflex for me too it just comes out automatically I don't really think of it in any Religious way . I can?t really help it...<br /> <br /> But I don?t think it?s a reflex if someone constantly blesses you after you sneeze for the fifteenth time. About saying thank you I don?t know why but I feel some how pressured to say it. It’s a reflex for me too it just comes out automatically I don’t really think of it in any Religious way . I can?t really help it…

But I don?t think it?s a reflex if someone constantly blesses you after you sneeze for the fifteenth time. About saying thank you I don?t know why but I feel some how pressured to say it.

]]> By: Donaldito http://atheists.org/blog/2006/01/16/by_request_bless_this/comment-page-1#comment-23032 Donaldito Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-23032 Ha! I've had to have this conversation at work. It's interesting when people try to "reason" with me that it's rude for me to neither say it to people or to thank people when it's said to me. Of course, when I asked for their reasoning for thinking I'm rude, they offer nothing.<br /> On the (sort of) flip side of my own reasoning, we have Jehovah's Witnesses who also refuse to participate because "only God can bless people." Ha! Ha! I’ve had to have this conversation at work. It’s interesting when people try to “reason” with me that it’s rude for me to neither say it to people or to thank people when it’s said to me. Of course, when I asked for their reasoning for thinking I’m rude, they offer nothing.
On the (sort of) flip side of my own reasoning, we have Jehovah’s Witnesses who also refuse to participate because “only God can bless people.” Ha!

]]> By: reluctantatheist http://atheists.org/blog/2006/01/16/by_request_bless_this/comment-page-1#comment-23033 reluctantatheist Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-23033 Hey, I get to be the 1st poster! Long time!<br /> Bless you (actually, r4d & I discussed this at the EA many mos. ago) has a religious connotation.<br /> Somebody blessed me when I sneezed last month. "God bless you!" I replied back, "There is no god!" <br /> Young guy, knew I was an atheist. "Man, thass pretty hardcore, man."<br /> "Gesundheit" is acceptable, German for "Health be to you."<br /> Actually, it's (as I understand it) a primarily Euro-American habit, because it's supposed to prevent your spirit from dislodging itself from your body. <br /> The song 'Superstition' by Stevie Wonder comes to mind.<br /> Better post quick!<br /> Hey, I get to be the 1st poster! Long time!
Bless you (actually, r4d & I discussed this at the EA many mos. ago) has a religious connotation.
Somebody blessed me when I sneezed last month. “God bless you!” I replied back, “There is no god!”
Young guy, knew I was an atheist. “Man, thass pretty hardcore, man.”
“Gesundheit” is acceptable, German for “Health be to you.”
Actually, it’s (as I understand it) a primarily Euro-American habit, because it’s supposed to prevent your spirit from dislodging itself from your body.
The song ‘Superstition’ by Stevie Wonder comes to mind.
Better post quick!

]]> By: reluctantatheist http://atheists.org/blog/2006/01/16/by_request_bless_this/comment-page-1#comment-23035 reluctantatheist Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-23035 D'oh! Foiled again!<br /> That's okay, I never got the bloody damn toaster from the last time I posted 1st.<br /> We do get a toaster, don't we? <br /> As to saying it: I catch myself at times.<br /> So "Gesundheit!" is what I say mostly.<br /> After that, I say, "Ditto if you do it again!" "Ditto!" "Ditto!"<br /> If they sneeze 15 times or more? Yeesh, how polite can 1 person be? D’oh! Foiled again!
That’s okay, I never got the bloody damn toaster from the last time I posted 1st.
We do get a toaster, don’t we?
As to saying it: I catch myself at times.
So “Gesundheit!” is what I say mostly.
After that, I say, “Ditto if you do it again!” “Ditto!” “Ditto!”
If they sneeze 15 times or more? Yeesh, how polite can 1 person be?

]]> By: island57 http://atheists.org/blog/2006/01/16/by_request_bless_this/comment-page-1#comment-23036 island57 Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-23036 Whoa, this really is intense. I sometimes find myself saying gesundheit reflexively when I'm with someone who sneezes. (I wouldn't say anything to a stranger). When someone blesses me, and that's pretty frequently because I have allergies, I am usually silent in the reply. Sometimes, I tell them "no thank you". I've never said "because I'm an atheist". I don't think these folks mean any xtian harm, I think these old habits are hard to break, and this is a very old habit. Whoa, this really is intense. I sometimes find myself saying gesundheit reflexively when I’m with someone who sneezes. (I wouldn’t say anything to a stranger). When someone blesses me, and that’s pretty frequently because I have allergies, I am usually silent in the reply. Sometimes, I tell them “no thank you”. I’ve never said “because I’m an atheist”. I don’t think these folks mean any xtian harm, I think these old habits are hard to break, and this is a very old habit.

]]> By: Deadly Doomham http://atheists.org/blog/2006/01/16/by_request_bless_this/comment-page-1#comment-23037 Deadly Doomham Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-23037 This is a funny topic, just one example of the many ways religion has snick into our daily lives. This is a funny topic, just one example of the many ways religion has snick into our daily lives.

]]> By: Donaldito http://atheists.org/blog/2006/01/16/by_request_bless_this/comment-page-1#comment-23038 Donaldito Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-23038 reluctantatheist: I thought I was going to be first, too :)<br /> As for where the saying came from, I've read a few different theories and, apparently, it's definite origin is unknown. I've read the one you gave. Also, that your heart stops briefly when you sneeze, so people say it as a hopeful blessing for it to restart. More too, but most having to do with the whole spirit/demon thing you mentioned. reluctantatheist: I thought I was going to be first, too :)
As for where the saying came from, I’ve read a few different theories and, apparently, it’s definite origin is unknown. I’ve read the one you gave. Also, that your heart stops briefly when you sneeze, so people say it as a hopeful blessing for it to restart. More too, but most having to do with the whole spirit/demon thing you mentioned.

]]> By: reluctantatheist http://atheists.org/blog/2006/01/16/by_request_bless_this/comment-page-1#comment-23039 reluctantatheist Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-23039 Donaldito:<br /> <blockquote>I thought I was going to be first, too :)</blockquote><br /> Looks like Typhoon swept in like a gale wind, & beat us to the punch. Oh well.<br /> I'm fairly certain there are few instances of such a custom in Asia. Dunno about Africa. <br /> Maybe it's that Eurocentric thing about having the last word? <br /> If memory serves, sneeze winds have been clocked in at 100 miles per? Some outrageous amount like that. <br /> So never, NEVER hold it in. You could hurt yourself.<br /> Seriously. Donaldito:

I thought I was going to be first, too :)

Looks like Typhoon swept in like a gale wind, & beat us to the punch. Oh well.
I’m fairly certain there are few instances of such a custom in Asia. Dunno about Africa.
Maybe it’s that Eurocentric thing about having the last word?
If memory serves, sneeze winds have been clocked in at 100 miles per? Some outrageous amount like that.
So never, NEVER hold it in. You could hurt yourself.
Seriously.

]]> By: island57 http://atheists.org/blog/2006/01/16/by_request_bless_this/comment-page-1#comment-23040 island57 Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-23040 Looked up the origins of the blessing of the sneeze on<br /> www.snopes.com<br /> First sneeze on record in AD77<br /> Several interesting theories are mentioned. I love that web site. Looked up the origins of the blessing of the sneeze on
http://www.snopes.com
First sneeze on record in AD77
Several interesting theories are mentioned. I love that web site.

]]> By: natasha http://atheists.org/blog/2006/01/16/by_request_bless_this/comment-page-1#comment-23041 natasha Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-23041 I can't out myself at work, my fellows are nutjob catholix and they would turn on me. I'm surrounded by good xtians who would try to get me fired. Bite my tongue all freakin bless you day. I live a double life. Yuk! I can’t out myself at work, my fellows are nutjob catholix and they would turn on me. I’m surrounded by good xtians who would try to get me fired. Bite my tongue all freakin bless you day. I live a double life. Yuk!

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