As an atheist, do you ever tell someone "God bless you."?

[blues runner]

I just had one of the most thoughtful, meaningful and intelligent discussions I think I've ever had with the Indian guard who works at my apartment building. We discussed life in general (a broad topic indeed), but his views, values and "life strategies" were so marvelous. I was truly impressed. At the end of our conversation, he said to me, "God bless you and your family." I told him the same. I knew he'd probably say something akin to that since he'd alluded to a belief of some kind throughout our talk, but...the thing is...he has no particular belief, or organized, labelled one anyway. But when he smiled and meant it as I shook his hand, I felt I'd reciprocate in the way he understood best.

Any of you had similar experiences?

JD

[Viti]

Only after sneezes and I omit the God part.

I think a parting "God bless you..." is just saying "My best wishes for you" or "I like you and hope the best for you". Some things are just social niceties with little literal meaning.

[AlexNJ]

No, I don't. I don't know what "god" is in any objective sense and I don't presume to think that the recipient of such a greeting would know either, much less believe the word carries some special meaning. "Have a nice day" usually suffices for me.

[Enlighten Me]

I would have said, "Thank you!"....but I understand why you felt compelled to respond as you did.

[blues runner]

I would have said, "Thank you!"....but I understand why you felt compelled to respond as you did.
Thank you. It was the first time, but it was a time when the semantic, intellecutal application of certain social niceties became negated, and I felt obliged.

Besides, at the end of the day, who cares what words were said? It's what we do and how we affect others that counts. The nuances of our personal philosophical thoughts IMO are made most evident by how we positively affect our immediate social circles.

[blues runner]

No, I don't. I don't know what "god" is in any objective sense and I don't presume to think that the recipient of such a greeting would know either, much less believe the word carries some special meaning. "Have a nice day" usually suffices for me.
Who cares if either recipient knows what "God" means? The important thing is to connect. If I steadfastly refused to honor our conversation just because of some personal intellectual pride in my being atheist I'd be just as guilty as some other judgmental mutherfuckers.

You know, some people aren't fortunate enough to get even a remote semblance of an education which would possibly even get them to the point to question theistic issues.

This is a good man, with a good life strategy, fine husband and father, hard-working, and thoughtful in how his actions and words affected me. I knew that he'd love to hear "God bless you." so that's what I told him. I don't believe in God, but I didn't think that was all too important at the time. At the time "God" became irrelevant. Human beings connecting in the most efficient way was the matter at hand.

I may be an atheist, but I'm not a fanatical atheist.

JD

[Spanish_Inquisitor]

I've only recently admitted to myself that I'm an atheist (I'm 50). Before that I was areligious, but never consciously confronted my discomfort with religion. I now think that I was always atheistic, but just wouldn't admit it to myself. One of the reasons I conclude that is that I never said "God Bless you" to anyone, because it just didn't sound or feel right to me. Not even when someone sneezed. It was probably my innate atheism rearing it's head to protect me from...whatever. It's still a bit of a mystery to me.

SI

[Autonemesis]

I once said Via con Dios to a Spanish-speaking friend when we parted ways, not realizing at the time what the translation meant.

[blues runner]

I've only recently admitted to myself that I'm an atheist (I'm 50). Before that I was areligious, but never consciously confronted my discomfort with religion. I now think that I was always atheistic, but just wouldn't admit it to myself. One of the reasons I conclude that is that I never said "God Bless you" to anyone, because it just didn't sound or feel right to me. Not even when someone sneezed. It was probably my innate atheism rearing it's head to protect me from...whatever. It's still a bit of a mystery to me.
SI
I know what you mean when you say it doesn't feel right, because it doesn't...not to me personally. I was doing it for this man because that was his language; that was the medium of our wonderful human rapport.

It's not that big of a deal. It was more of a feeling thing, than an ideological/philosophical quirk.

[Landis]

What an absurd question.

[Revolutionary]

I prefer Gesundheit myself since it includes no reference to the supernatural.

[DISSIDENT AGGRESSOR]

Only if ye haven't a ha'penny ;)

[sharon45]

As an atheist, do you ever tell someone "God bless you."?Any of you had similar experiences?Sorry, no and no.

[capsaicin67]

Never.

I do say goddamn, Jesusmotherfuckingchrist, oh my god, godawful, holy sweet goddamn, thank the gods, jeesh, godsforsaken, godsspeed etc....in select company. Because I know these are not taken as literal nor an endorsement of superstition.

[Rational BAC]

How about adieu?

[capsaicin67]

Not me---most people in the US would think that was snooty if they knew what you'd said at all. Besides, French isn't on the upswing here right now, popularity-wise. However, I might say "Freedom"!

[Biff the unclean]

Never.
In Irish you can hardly have a conversation without including God and His Mum. I tend to throw English words in to skip the more distasteful phrases.

[jaded_revenge]

"May Jupiter see you safely home"

[Queen of Swords]

Several phone conversations I've had (even when the other person knows I'm not a believer) have ended with, "God bless you". I just say, "Thank you."

[Eldarion Lathria]

I say Osasuna!, Gezondheid, or Good Health to you!, when someone sneezes.

BTW, I'm not an atheist, I'm an agnostic.


Eldarion Lathria

[IRON MAN]

What an absurd question.

I would not say so.

The use God in english pharases is deeply entrenched, so it does come up.

I often say stuff like:

Goddamn it! (I am asking someone I don't believe in to damn something, (something else I don't believe in)).

Good Lord! (Reading too many 1950's comics).

By the gods! (Watching too much Xena the Princess Warrior). ;)

Jesus-Tap-Dancing-Fucking Christ! (Watching too much South Park).

Jesus the Jew ... what the fuck is going on? (Picked that one up recently from Penn Jillette - love it). :rolling:

I would be eternally grateful ... (how the fuck can an atheist say that)? Love the little inflection that James Woods puts on that phrase when playing Hades in the Disney movie Hercules - some really good jokes like this in that film.

Oh My God!, (OMG), who doesn't use that?

I also refuse to swear on the bible in court. If I did, I figure I just lied before I started, what a hypocritical thing to do.

I also refer to my wife's god as, "your god":

Is that what your god told you?

Well, it's none of my business he's your god.

Your relationship with your god is your business, no one has any right to tell you otherwise, (in this oft repeated phrase I am reitterating that no church elder has any business telling her what god wants, or that she has to go through them to get to Him).

Shit. I hope your god is watching this.

Hey, next time you are praying do you reckon you could get your god to rustle me up a Midnight Blue Lotus Esprit V8? Thanks. (taken in the facetious spirit in which it is said). ... And a million bucks too.

Now that I think about it, this is just a way for me to distinguish the fact that although I don't share her belief I do not directly dispute her right to believe it. So I am being neither dismissive or her beliefs or operating under some hypocritical guise of accepting them.

So in that regard I would think it okay to say, "I hope your god blesses you", but not necessarily, "God bless you." If you see what I mean.

[cgordon]

My wife and I both use 'bless you', but it's more 'MY blessings to you' than any imaginary friend's.

Sneezes: Gesundheit! Works fine.

Greetings in the part of Germany are almost always either 'Gruess Gott' (God's greetings) or 'Servus' (from the Latin). Most younger folks use 'servus', or simply 'Hi!'

We tend to use 'Gruess Gott' with the elderly, though, out of politeness.

In parting, 'Tcheuss' or ' 'wiederschaun' (a contraction and regionalization of 'Auf Wiedersehen') is common as is the simpe 'Ciao!'.

In France, I use 'Au revoir' instead of 'adieu'. In Swabian Germany and in Baden, you'll hear something sounding like 'Aday' which is a corruption of 'Adieu', without the 'dieu' baggage.

Cursing: I tend to use the universal adjective more than any god's name ...

cg

[DougLDS]

What an absurd question.

What an absurd answer.

[blues runner]

It was a simple question.

My experience was unique; I was using someone else's "language" to convey sincerity as they would likely understand it best. Many poorer people here do not speak good English, as he did not.

I too say gesundheit when someone sneezes. I too say holy shit, jesus christ, etc.

One or two of you have been rather scathing in your replies. Most of you though, have been thoughtful and considerate; that's one thing I like about IIDB, as I think there's usually a lot of maturity to be found on this board.

Thank you for the replies,

JD

[Enlighten Me]

that's one thing I like about IIDB, as I think there's usually a lot of maturity to be found on this board.

JD

But you have to admit---sometimes the "immaturity" is a real hoot. I have often giggled at the unexpected humor of a post and felt a warm, fuzzy appreciation for the clever, silly atheist who wrote it. I CELEBRATE FREETHINKING, HONEST, INTELLIGENT, CLEVER ATHEISTS!!!!!!!!!

[IamMoose]

yeah I say it when someone sneezes but like Lady Shea, I don't say the God part. Or, if someone says 'god bless' to me I generally say 'you too.' Doesn't bother me, i just see it as a social courtesy thing.

[French Prometheus]

How about adieu?
That means 'farewell' in modern French.

When someone sneezes round here, we say something that translates as 'may your wishes come true'.

[premjan]

Why not just say "a tissue"? (that's a joke).