When people say, "God bless you" does it seem a bit weird to you?

I mean... they can't order God to bless a person.

Does this phrase bug anybody else, or is it just me?

:shrug:

But that's because I'm an atheist.

I'm Christian. But I find it very presumptive and arrogant. It's especially annoying when a customer tells me that... I used to say, "God bless you, too." But you know what? I'm re-considering that. Why should I encourage that kind of behavior?

it sounds like a command and not a request.

I wonder how it translates to other cultures? Other languages? I wonder if it's unique to The U.S.?

Great word for it! :hi:

I wouldn't be too hard on people who say it; they mean well.

I just wonder.

:shrug:

Aside from the minority of asshole fundies, most christians are honestly good people who mean well.

upbeat sort of way as if the person saying it is just feeling great and wants you to as well.

Not ordering God to bless, but just plain saying you deserve it.

Otherwise I'm afraid that my patented "Huh?" look is directed at the speaker.

I know that it is intended as a positive wish but lately I've heard it from people who say it as reflexively as "Have a nice day," and the dilution of the value of the phrase seems lost to them.

I really don't like being preached at by people who think they're better than I am... even if they are! lol

unless of course it's in a business situation where that would be inappropriate.

PSA: you don't want me as your Poker partner. I have a very hard time suppressing facial expressions that reveal what I really think. :D

I'm not sure I should take it as a compliment though!

That's exactly what I think. I am surrounded by people on a daily basis who say that or "Have a blessed day." or if you ask they how they are they reply, "I'm blessed. How are you?" I just say, "I'm okay." They have no idea how trite and repetitive they sound.

I'm also a Christian, still...sort of. I don't know, anymore. These people have done more to drive me away from any type of spiritual inclination. I can almost see why the early Christians were persecuted. I don't think anyone should ever be persecuted for their chosen belief system, but damn they can be so obnoxious that you can almost place yourself back in time and understand it, ya know?

Hiya, Cuss. :hi:

Back to serious: I'm not offended by people offering me sincere good wishes in the customary form of their faith -- in fact I think it's rather nice that they are trying to share their joy. On the other hand, the robotic repetition of phrases like "Have a blessed day" just rubs me the wrong way.

but people who feel it's perfectly professional for me to "have a blessed day" irk and annoy me.

actually - i had to rethink - only when i sneeze does it not bother me. I had a caller say God Bless You ont he phone as we were signing off one night, and I didn't know what to say - so i said thanks. I shoulda said soemthing like Peace be Upon You or Walaikum A Salaam.

heh.

That one is just as bad.

:puke:

but yeah - you should give them a muslim greeting back.

"peace be upon you"

if you do it in English, it will take them a minute, if you do it in arabic they will think you are a terrorist.

both = awesome.

When they say God Bless You or Have A Blessed Day...
I smile and say.."Well,then...May the force be with you."

Most don't even hear what I said because...
...when someone caps off a seriously casual conversation they've had with you
by uttering some trite platitude...
...believe me it's all about them and now you're just standing in their way
of moving through the crowd.


Tikki

Thank you!!!

(I might be fired tomorrow! lol)

:rofl:

People usually don't place any real meaning behind the words.

I do think the idea of praying and blessing is kind of ridiculous though.

Now that I'm eating something, and my little buzz is wearing off, I realize I'm probably overreacting...
well, maybe.

:hi:

"God bless you" usually pops out of my mouth when someone sneezes, much as "you're welcome" is my reflexive response when someone says "thank you." We were simply taught that it was the polite response, and everyone did it, regardless of faith or faithlessness, or denomination. I never heard any talk in catechism class about the necessity of saying "God bless you" to a person who has sneezed. I think the origins are in some atavistic fear that one might be unintentionally expelling the breath of life with a sneeze. And given the mortality rates of our ancestors from common ailments, there may be some logic to it. But it is all about courtesy and not religion. It removes the onus on the sneezer to excuse themselves for unavoidable but unattractive expulsion, so it is kind of a nice thing to do. Better, say, than "okay, WHO FARTED in here?!!!"

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I sincerely wish I didn't post so much. And that is truly all I meant. I think it shows tremendous restraint to read more than post. To listen more than talk.

My apology to you. I did mean it as a compliment... I swear it!! :hug:

Why? :cry:

I feel so badly. Maybe I should just shut up now. :hug:

That is, if you are talking about what you feel; if you are talking about your competence at the act of feeling, then "badly" would be the proper word. And I don't think you are feeling badly at all; I think you are doing just fine at it and I appreciate that. :hug:

;-)

Thanks for the PM, btw. :hug:

We're having fun here for Christ's sake. Well, ummm, for our own sake, and for our children's sake and, dammit, for America's sake. Not just Christ's, but he's welcome too. I mean he IS a Democrat, y'know. :)

I say "thank you" if only to acknowledge the gesture.

Thank you! :hi:

yes - that's the word :O

Let's kick his ass

in the middle of a conversation that has NOTHING to do with the Virgin Mary.

That's funny!! And, btw, "hi" to Haruka! Miss you!! :hi:

So it's probably smart to randomly declare one's love. I love the Blessed Mother!

"Like they say at Communion, here's mud in your eye!"

It's a great way to spot Fundie Christians who sneak into bars.

:rofl:

I just usually say thank you or you too and walk away.

Hope I didn't start something there!

I just say thank you and go about my day.

Good to see you around! :hi:

:D

Good to see you, too. How's it going?

Still trying to learn how to ride proficiently (my Harley) and looking forward to cooler weather! :hi:

I want crisp air, colorful leaves and no more tourists!

and while I believe it's possible that there is no god, I lean toward believing there is one.

But my religious experience is very personal for me. It's very rare that I share my beliefs with others. I find it a little offensive that someone would assume that I believe in a god without even discussing it with me.

That said, when someone says "bless you" without the implied "god", it doesn't bother me.

I think one of the things that might be bothering me is the notion that they might presume I am a religious fundie or something.... if that makes sense. But, as I said up-thread, I'm already thinking about just saying "Thank you" and moving on. I can't let all these little things bother me... especially with my job! :hi:

just in case the person is a Buddist or something

One can feel blessed by circumstance. "Have a blessed day" is, to my mind, simply a wish for good fortune. But I can understand why some might not feel that way.

especially if they have NO idea what I believe...


at least they acknowledged my sneeze



:hi:


lost

It's after I've helped a customer at work, and they say, in a syrupy sweet way, "Good bye and God bless yeeew!" Ick. Uh oh, there I go again!

:hi:

And prayer for others is considered the correct way of praying, in some of the traditions that I've studied. You get what you give...

You get what you give. To an extent, anyway. :hi:

:hi:

I never say it.

and of the Seven Dwarfs, I'm Sneezy.

"Bless you" - yes, many times. But not with the 'god' in front of it. :shrug:



We're not that religious up here. :)

the thing is, i'm wearing headphones and i already have a hard time hearing people there. so when someone says "god bless you" and i don't respond, suddenly, i'm rude because i couldn't hear them mutter something i don't really care to hear anyway.

sanctimonious or self-righteous way.

Believe me, my radar is highly attuned to mealy-mouthed ultra-righteous pseudo-Christian crap.

I've never felt that way about a simple verbal ritual like this...

and it usually is, I'll joke about it.

"Yeah, I'll get those demons outta me eventually!"

:P

even minus the sneeze, but it's in a passive-aggressive kind of way. Rather enjoyable.