ANSWERS: 38
  • No its doesnt cause offence, at least not to me! Just say 'Bless you' and it will cover everybody. People shouldnt get offended, its not like you know what religion they are. Just do what feels more comfortable to you! :)
  • It doesn't offend me. To me it means you want good things for me, even if we don't agree about how good things come about.
  • No it doesn't offend me i think is just a sentence and all they are doing with it is wishing me good no matter if it has a religious connotation to it, as long as they dot try to change my beliefs my fine with it.
  • No i don't, i merely see it as a figure of speech. I don't like it when i am preached to though, the attempt of conversion to me, as an athiest... IS A 'NO GO'!
  • I find it presumptuous and, therefore, offensive for people to say "God Bless" and I know people who use this expression insead of "Bye for now" or "Yours truly" and "Thank you." They close conversations, E-mails and letters this way. I would much prefer "Bye for now, Yours truly and Thank you." Also, shouldn't it be "May God Bless You?" or "I hope God will give you blessings?" Aren't these people presuming to speak for God when they say "God Bless?" This is the highest form of audacity, isn't it?
  • I usally take it at face value and say thank you
  • never get offended...take it in stride, and try not to offend them by saying something stupid...just accept it in the manner in which it was given
  • That depends on the context. Sometimes you will get a person who says it to an atheist as a parting bit of simpering patronization (I think that's a word...) or just to be a jerk, but these folks are few and far between. Generally people say it to be nice; I don't mind it and I don't think many others would. Few, if any, people will begrudge a genuine expression of well-wishing.
  • Most religious ppl say "god bless you". It's because they are mad about something the other had said to them. So by the "religious" ppl saying that, they think the other will become angry. I find that very funny. :D
  • Wouldn’t it be easier if people just didn’t say this stuff?....then no one would be offended. Personally I am not offended by such things....but I do tend to pity the people who say such things.
  • I never say God Bless you to people as I don't believe in the superstition, but when people say it to me, I don't get offended or think badly of them. I simply say, "Thank you", as they are only wishing me the best. I feel this is the most respectful, least judgmental reply.
  • You know, I've actually been giving this some thought lately (probably more than I should:), and I do have some related concerns. First, though, as an atheist I take no offense to the expression. I don't see it as proselytizing (which I DO find offensive), but rather, as mentioned already, an expression of good wishes -- for the most part, anyway. I mean, there may be some out there who are genuinely asking God to bless me, which is a bit presumptuous and a little creepy, honestly, only so far as I don't believe in the same superstitions. More than well wishing, though, I feel saying "God bless you" is a product of reflexive social norms. Which is fine. Where I do find issue, however, is the expectation that I am to thank the blesser as my role in the exchange, and I'm concerned my not thanking him/her is viewed as rude. I don't want to be forced into engaging in what has become a social ritual with a religious root simply to uphold my standing as a thoughtful, polite person. It's an unfair exchange (see -- I told you I've maybe thought about this too much:) Also, along the same lines, I don't want my refusal to "bless" someone upon sneezing to be seen negatively either. So, bottom line: go ahead and say it if it makes you feel better, but I would hope the blesser doesn't judge someone's non-response or not similarly "blessing" upon sneezing. (Thanks for asking, though. That's very thoughtful.)
  • I think you should have said "God bless you". And no most wouldn't be. I'm agnostic, and have athiest friends. I think if someone said "God bless you believe in him or go to hell" they might be offended.
  • No. It's a part of American idiom. Just as I don't see christmas as a religious holiday, I don't see remnants of christianity in the language as significant.
  • I hope so.
  • I'm not. As one who does not believe in god, I understand that "bless you," and "god bless you," are parts of our language and culture.
  • Good Day to you Ronald Magnus. I am an Atheist. I pay more attention to peoples behavior more than their intention. If someone were to "Bless me" , or have God bless me, I would be thankful for it. In offerering that 'blessing" they are hoping for my goodwill. I dont really care why. I, myself offer a "bless you" to my friends sfter a sneeze. I am carefull though to balance the whole thing by throwing in an occasional "damn you" ....
  • Not me. Its just a common phrase I don't even think about.
  • Nah. Phrases like "bless you" or "g*ddammit" are just phrases that people use without considering their meaning, just like Christians might use the word "January" without thinking that it refers to the Roman god Janus.
  • Not offended, felling awkward. If we mention that we do not believe a sneeze is a sign of an evil spirit, as was what brought the custom about in the first place, it has the potential bring about a debate where it is not appropriate.
  • Mildly, so I usually give a reply of 'May the fleas of a thousand dogs infest your privates', it is rare that they say that to me again and they settle on "gensundtit". I also give the phrase "Doughnuts and Coffee" to those that sneeze.
  • I've grown up long ago past the point of being offended by such. Nowadays it is simply a wish or a kindness. and I try to reciprocate.
  • In my opinion, we should all just stick to Gesundtheit! ("Good health") :-)
  • I don't get offended at all, people mean well. That's all that really matters, right?
  • No. I'm not that hard. Besides, it's become such an automatic response that it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with God. However, I personally say GESUNDHEIT (good health) when someone sneezes.
  • No, I don't find it offensive. Most people truly mean well when they say that.
  • I hate polical correctness. It is soooo extremely boring! You don't need to actually say "God Bless You" when someone sneezes though if you're thinking is a nice Christian phrase to use as it stems from a pagan belief-- that when someone sneezes they are losing part of their soul and saying "God bless you" encourages the soul to return to the body. You might want to say Gezuntite (sorry for butchering the spelling!) as that means literally, in German, "go not sick" which is what you really probably mean. Ofcourse saying "God bless you" in a spirit of simply meaning for God to truly bless the person and keep them from getting sick is fine - by all means, bless away! Don't worry about being too PC - you can't please all of the people all of the time and if you try, you'll please noone most of the time. Just be true to yourself and let those who are offended by your sweet nature have that be their problem. Take no offense and just bless them anyway! IF you really want to worry about offending or not offending someone when you say "God bless you" then worry about offending God by stifling your faith in fear of rejection from those who are against God.
  • The reason "if you're a believer God Bless you" is offensive is that it can easily be interpreted to mean that your 'good wishes' apply to believers only, and not to unbelievers. A shorter version of: "if you're a believer God Bless you; but if you dont believe I hope God will make you suffer eternally". It is obvious that that is not what you meant, but I think that is what she read in it (and got offended by). You might say that your attempt to not offend by introducing a bit of political correctness had a sideeffect that made the phrase offensive. It sure is hard to be good sometimes ;-))
  • Annoying, but not offensive
  • Not at all, but would wonder if it sits squarely with such comments like "Thanks anyway", or "Thanks, but no thanks." In an adult 1-to-1 interaction, why bring in God, irrespective of whether either one believed in it? It would be far more polite, mature & "PC" to say: "I am grateful to you." "I wish you well" or "I commend what you have done for me / for someone else." Atheists are not allergic to compliments, although they wouldn't seek them actively, or read more into such vagaries as "God bless you."!
  • I'm not sure I understand your question. If you mean "I always say 'if you're a believer God Bless you ' " then I think you have a problem. The problem is, people listening will take it to mean, "I want my god to bless you only if you believe the way I do, and if you don't, then I DON'T want my god to bless you." Couldn't you just skip the blessing of strangers? Or say it silently to yourself? See Matthew 6:1-7. :)
  • No I'm not offended at all by it. I think in most cases it is very well meant, and a sweet thing for someone to say.
  • Of course not. Who can be offended by anyone who wishes you well? +3
  • I don't get offended. It's just a normal thing Americans say after you sneeze.
  • I would make a habit of saying "bless you" instead of saying "God bless you" but I'm not offended by any form of blessings. You're just trying to be nice after all.
  • which is right or wrong, english, french, spanish??? translate the remarks to your own belief system, god, allah, zorg or just the luck of the universe. be content in the knowledge that some cared in thier own way for you.
  • God ia above all. It is omnipresent and omnipotent. It is personal and formless. So when say God bless you, it has nothign to do with a particular belief or religion or Superhuman God or anything.
  • It's kind of similar to when someone says they'll pray for me. I don't necessarily think that's going to do anything, but it's the thought that counts. They're trying to be nice. Generally it's rude to rebuff someone who is genuine in their well-wishes. Smile and/or say thank you. (Unless someone is being obnoxious about this, which can happen. Making a point of the blessings and prayers because you're an unwashed unbeliever. Then, be as rude as you want.)

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