by AntigoneRising on October 4th, 2007
I think that depends upon the intention of the person saying it. Does the person saying it know the person they are talking to is an Atheist? Is the person saying it trying to give comfort or well-wishes to the Atheist? In such cases, it is best to thank them. If the person is saying it out of deliberate disrespect and/or disregard for the Atheist's beliefs, you might try anything from, "Toothfairy bless you," to, "I don't believe in God," to, "Hail Satan!"
Your choice.
by Galeanda on October 4th, 2007
"Thank you"...simple, respectful of the other person, and doesn't start a needless argument There is just not enough time in the day to 'correct' every person out there in the world. Pick your battles wisely.
by Tani on October 4th, 2007
Well, I'm not a hard line non-believer, but I also don't follow anything.
I would say "thank-you" politely, and leave it at that.
If a person means it with sincerity then why bring any negativity into it?
by 4747 on October 4th, 2007
Just say "thanks." They're not really proselytizing. No need to argue.
by iwnit on October 4th, 2007
1) Theoretically, you could say:
"Thank you for your wishes, but I don't believe in God, so this is meaningless for me. However, I know what it means for you and I am glad that you tell me that anyway. And I wish you the best too."
2) Practically, it would be in most cases better not to engage in a long discussion with people which you don't know very much, so you could just say:
"Thank you very much".
3) In some cases, it could be expected that you give the wishes back. (just being polite)
You could say "I wish you the best" or something of this kind.
If you do not find something appropriate to say, and if just want to be understood, you could also say "God bless you". If this doesn't mean anything to you, it will mean something to them.
4) It some cases, one could also just expect "God bless you" as a standard answer.
So either you just say it (whatever it means for you) and accept this situation, or you start a discussion about it. It depends of your mood and if you are a militant atheist. Or, at least, a secularist...
I am thinking about German Bavaria: in Bavaria, it is just usual to greet people with "Grüß Gott". Here is an interesting article about this (in English):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gr%C3%BC%C3%9F_Gott
by Nelson - Jetpacking from bed on October 4th, 2007
Depends on the person. If the person is a decent person, a simple thank you (for the thought and understanding of the tradition) is perfect. If you are a less than tolerant person, you will retort with something less than plesant.
by My Favourite Life on January 17th, 2008
No response is necessary.
by phatcrayonz on July 3rd, 2008
its an act of etiquette. so i dont care. i am atheist. i dont go over board. i say the pledge and dont care god is in it. i just dont believe god is real. but if you do then thats good. you treat me with a smile and a coke and laugh i will do the same.
by DeusNonEst on June 26th, 2008
It seems that the most appropriate and non-confrontational response is a simple thank you, but depending on the situation and the intent of the person invoking the invisible man, I might say "no thank you" or "get fucked"
by Lovehearts on May 16th, 2008
Why not just say thanks?
If somebody's well meaning, I don't see any need in going out of your way to be impolite.
by Bitto on May 12th, 2008
By saying "Thank you"
After all, Atheist is not synonymous with rude, is it?
by BOOZE HOUND... nothing is nonsence on April 20th, 2008
i allways say "he would if he existed"
by Anonymous on January 9th, 2008
The crux of this depends on if the person KNOWS you are atheist.
If they don't know, I think it's fair to assume they are being polite, which is nice.
If they do know and say it once or twice at most, it could be simply from habit.
If they say it more than 1-2 times (such as a coworker), then I believe they are trying to 'get under the skin'.
I experienced this myself at work quite a bit. The 3 people I work with continued to use the phrase even when I never responded with a 'thank you', and knowing I'm atheist. I consider this mean-spirited and "in your face" Christainity. I finally had to ask them to stop, stating the obvious..."if you know I'm atheist, why do it". In the end I was the one who appeared to be overly sensitive or aggressive, prohibiting their free speech. Apparently, they aren't imaginative enough to consider their own reaction, if hypothetically, someone were to say, "Satan Watch You", when they fart or hiccup. ;-)
by Jtigger on October 4th, 2007
Just say "Thank you". The person saying it to you is only trying to be polite and is just wishing you well. No need to get to "deep" about a simple God bless you.
by BrokeDog on October 4th, 2007
Most times it is just an instant reaction, without thinking, (for a sneeze, for instance). It is not usually said to offend or cause a problem.
Unless someone knew you were an atheist, and said it to get under your skin, I'd just let it go. It's just a response by some people who mean no harm.
by Halskiisaklink on October 4th, 2007
Nod and say "If you wish".
by Wide Awake @ has closing date woo hoo on June 26th, 2008
"Thank you." That's how ANYONE should respond.
by Penal Colony on June 13th, 2008
Um... "Thanks"?
by Farino on June 13th, 2008
I would respond with 'thank you for the sentiment'.
by Godless on June 11th, 2008
I don't respond to it.
by Tsubaki on May 12th, 2008
I would reply - Mohammed Save you
All religions are basically the same, what's the difference between the two?
by Nathan Explosion on May 11th, 2008
Any way they would like. Athiests are not restricted by dogma.
by American Idle on April 20th, 2008
I just say "thanks". A blessing is a blessing no matter where or who you choose to believe it comes from.
by Auntie Em on April 20th, 2008
I just say thanks if it is a simple non heated situation.
If it isn't being said in such a manner I say "Thanks, I'll be sure and sacrifice a goat for you!
by milkhoney on April 20th, 2008
I just say "you too." It's simpler than "Although I don't share your belief in deific blessings, I appreciate the sentiment and hope in return you feel blessed with your life." There's no need to refute another person's niceness.
by hijklmno on February 20th, 2008
I'd say "thank you". And I am an atheist, and I have said that.
Why be impolite?
by OmarFW on February 20th, 2008
Yeah, I see no need in starting a fight.
You gotta be pretty dense if words can offend you that much.
Besides, the fact that it has the word god in it is irrelevant. The point of the saying is to say "I hope you avoid any future problems". So it's a nice thing. They just happen to believe in god so they think that that is who will most likely have that happen for you.
by angel on February 20th, 2008
I am just polite, I say thank you. Doesn't hurt me. I don't need to squabble or worry over that at all
by Slave of 12 Gods on January 11th, 2008
Thank you , that is the usual thing I respond with!
by DiSTurBiA on January 9th, 2008
thank you....i guess
by Perryman on October 4th, 2007
Believing that it is simply common courtesy rooted in social etiquette, you may have given little thought to why people say this. Yet, the expression is rooted in superstition.
Moira Smith, librarian at the Folklore Institute at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.A., says of the expression: “It comes from the idea that you are sneezing out your soul.” To say “God bless” is, in effect, asking God to restore it.
I do not believe in following this ancient superstition.
Do what I do, simply say nothing.
by Emma is sick of ignorant bullies on October 4th, 2007
"who?"
by jokerblue on April 30th, 2009
thank you. because you are not stating you believe in a god but that you accept their wishes for you to be healthy [in a different form other than medical]. you can still believe what you want to. it doesn't mean anything to me anyways to hear it. except that they care for your health in their own way.
by black rabbit on December 9th, 2008
i say thank you. it's not really used as a blessing anymore. it's just a manner of speaking
by Yeahwell... on November 15th, 2008
Just say "Thank you" and appreciate that the person was being polite. No reason to make a big issue out of it.
by TaylorMade on November 11th, 2008
I just say thanks.
by Jiggy Kaiser on July 29th, 2008
Ok.
by InfidelEbz on June 26th, 2008
You can respond any way you want to (I tend to be a little literal sometimes lol) but it SEEMS like you want to know well how should you I dunno but.... well I can tell you how I and some friends who are atheist or agnostic or non-theist respond. Some kind of ignore it, some might give a slightly funny/disapproving look but might give a little uneasy thank you, some give an uneasy no thanks lol or they just go um ok. lol
by R.I.P. Gerald Malone on June 13th, 2008
Well, they probably might get offended, then they would suggest you say: "May the it of your choice bless you."
by Questioneverything on May 16th, 2008
personally i laugh at them.
by ousooner on April 3rd, 2008
You can respond by saying, "who blessed me?"
by bennyg on November 15th, 2008
Just don't say anything at all that's what I do. I don't know why people think they have to say anything.
by Music Sloosh on November 15th, 2008
The correct response is "Thank you".
by Nikkay on November 11th, 2008
if the person is saying it out kindness or maybe if they sneezed ;] then they should just say thank you or say nothing. there's no one reason to be rude. if the person is trying to be sarcastic then you should just ignore them because its just childish for someone to do that and shouldn't even be acknowledged.
by Stewie_G on November 11th, 2008
Hopefully with a polite "thank you" as the person in most cases would mean them no malice and would be wishing something they thought was good on them.
Not everything in life has to be a confrontation.
by Cailleach on December 1st, 2008
Good manners have nothing to do with whether or not I am an atheist so I say "Thank you" because the people that say "God bless you" usually mean well.
by thewildmonk on December 28th, 2008
I hope so, but I don't know how to believe.
by Rinky Dinky Do on October 11th, 2008
By scratching my ass
by Chris Hansen on October 11th, 2008
It's not that complicated. Just say "thanks."
by warex255 on September 26th, 2009
By saying sorry i sneezed at you. Did you know i have swine flue :D
by David85 on March 30th, 2009
Most of the time people say that to be nice, so just take it and say thank you
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Comments
Happy Samhain Antigone!
by fyrespryte on October 4th, 2007
I never seem to thanks Antigone enough!! Thanks again..
by Bartman on October 4th, 2007
Well said!
by Nelson - Jetpacking from bed on October 4th, 2007
Happy Samhain, fyrespryte.
by AntigoneRising on October 4th, 2007
Boogeyman bless you, my child.
by Darkling on October 29th, 2007
Easter Bunny be with you in all ways.
by AntigoneRising on October 29th, 2007
And also with you. Go eat peas.
by Darkling on October 30th, 2007
As it is written, "I like green eggs and ham."
by AntigoneRising on October 30th, 2007
Praise be to Seuss.
by Darkling on October 30th, 2007
RAmen.
by AntigoneRising on October 30th, 2007
May our Flying Spaghetti Overlord bless you all with his noodle-y appendages, Yaarrr!
(Someone had to...)
by Twhupfold on October 30th, 2007
Say: I swear to GOD, I appreciate that!
by Anti-Semantic - Quaerens Intellectum on December 22nd, 2007
I agree with all you said AntigoneRising.....except "Hail Satan!" An atheist don't believe in that either! :D
by Phil in the Blank...backandtotheleft on April 4th, 2008
How about a simple "to your health" as the German/Yiddish gesundheit offers.
by Nelson - Jetpacking from bed on April 4th, 2008
or "Did you know that 'bless' means 'to sprinkle with blood'?"
by purplecows on May 28th, 2008
That works.
by AntigoneRising on May 28th, 2008