I'm only posting this here because I'm new and I can't post in the "Life as an atheist" or "religion" boards.
Anyway, I've grown to like the phrase "God bless you". Often, I'll say it as a farewell, sometimes I'll say it when someone is going through something unfortunate. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with me saying this phrase, even though I'm an atheist now and I don't think there's any god out there to do any such blessing. I say it to believers because they believe that god will bless them, and so they're grateful for me wishing those blessings upon them.
But, it's also come to mean something to me and I'm not sure how to communicate that sentiment any way aside from "god bless you". What would I say to a fellow atheist who I think is wonderful and is a good example of what a person should do/be? To a believer, I'd say "god bless you", because it communicates this feeling of praise I have for them, indicating that I think they're "worthy" of blessings from their deity because of their outstanding behavior.
So, what "religious" phrases have you given up? What new phrases have you come up with to replace them? Any suggestions for what to say to replace "god bless you"? I suppose the problem is that it works in so many different situations. I did find a thread on here where someone asked a similar question, but the entire thread was limited to the case where it is said immediately following a sneeze, which is yet another usage of this versatile phrase.
Funnily enough I was thinking about this the other day. One guy said "god be with you" to me online and I replied "you too", which made me feel a bit odd. I usually don't even give these sorts of phases second thought, though. They don't have any religious connotation to me, but they're still appropriate for certain situations.
I usually say "take care of yourself" or something along those lines. Or, if it's someone I really care about, I think a good ol' fashioned "love you" is the best parting words you can say.
Same with Juliet. I would just feel awkward saying "God bless you."
We can always put our farewells in quantum context like "good luck." ;D
Quote from: wildfire_emissary on December 07, 2011, 01:33:11 AM
We can always put our farewells in quantum context like "good luck." ;D
"may the cosmic dice be with you" ;)
To men I say, "Good man!"
To women, I say, "You are a treasure!"
To my cat I say, "Greatest of all!"
+1 for Juliet's and Wildfire's suggestions.
I don't do live long and prosper much in life but in forums I do.
I like the sentiment "I wish you well."
Does "be good" have a be well meaning?
If "god bless you" is a reward, you could just say well done, great work.
Thanks for all the input. I do use "have fun" and "take care" as my most common words of farewell.
Another phrase that people say all the time, though, is "I'll pray for you" (or some variant). When people say that to me, I'm quite indifferent. I don't believe it will do any good, so I find their actions futile, but at the same time, I think it's the thought that counts and the fact that they're praying for me means they want what's best for me, so I always reply with expressions of gratitude. But, I've also found myself wanting to say that phrase when believers tell me their problems in life. I want to express sympathy and/or empathy and "I'll pray for you" is one of the statements that pops up. I usually don't say it, though, and I don't think I should, since I really won't pray for them and I don't know if they'd take it well, knowing that I don't believe in god anymore.
Quote from: keithpenrod on December 07, 2011, 03:45:52 AM
Thanks for all the input. I do use "have fun" and "take care" as my most common words of farewell.
Another phrase that people say all the time, though, is "I'll pray for you" (or some variant). When people say that to me, I'm quite indifferent. I don't believe it will do any good, so I find their actions futile, but at the same time, I think it's the thought that counts and the fact that they're praying for me means they want what's best for me, so I always reply with expressions of gratitude. But, I've also found myself wanting to say that phrase when believers tell me their problems in life. I want to express sympathy and/or empathy and "I'll pray for you" is one of the statements that pops up. I usually don't say it, though, and I don't think I should, since I really won't pray for them and I don't know if they'd take it well, knowing that I don't believe in god anymore.
For the "I'll pray for you" thing, try maybe, "I'm rooting for you" Or "I'm here for you". Even though I'm a Christian, I typically hate using the who "God bless" or "I'll pray for you" hooks because 9 times out of 10, when I say them I mean it as an insult.
It's become a deeply-ingrained habit with me to say "thank god for that" and similar short phrases. I try not to, but they're in the auto-pilot bit of my brain. But it seems to me that just about everyone does the same in England, and there's nothing religious about them any more. I have a book of very naughty army songs called "For Gawd's Sake Don't Take Me" - definitely not hymns!
And we all use phrases like Crikey, Cripes, Gosh, Gordon Bennet, Jeepers, Gee Whillikins. All these are or once were euphemisms to avoid blasphemy.
For chrissake, who cares.
I auto-say "bless you" when someone sneezes. Need to get out of that habit.
But when I see someone I want to really avoid, I say "jesus fucking christ on a cracker" just to annoy any religious person around.
Quote from: Sweetdeath on December 07, 2011, 05:23:05 PM
I auto-say "bless you" when someone sneezes. Need to get out of that habit.
But when I see someone I want to really avoid, I say "jesus fucking christ on a cracker" just to annoy any religious person around.
I say the same thing, minus the fucking. The fucking makes it to long in my opinion.
I think it is a matter of habit. Using phrases that include gods or prophets in everyday situations is not something I do, mostly because I do not see such as appropriate or meaningful in regular conversation.
However, I also think that one should not put too much stock in which expression someone chooses as a "good luck" or after you've sneezed - they are just words without that much meaning attached.
Quote from: Budhorse4 on December 07, 2011, 05:25:11 PM
Quote from: Sweetdeath on December 07, 2011, 05:23:05 PM
I auto-say "bless you" when someone sneezes. Need to get out of that habit.
But when I see someone I want to really avoid, I say "jesus fucking christ on a cracker" just to annoy any religious person around.
I say the same thing, minus the fucking. The fucking makes it to long in my opinion.
Yay~
I kinda laugh when people say I am blasphomis, because if I don't believe in it, how do I offend?
Quote from: Sweetdeath on December 07, 2011, 05:33:17 PM
Quote from: Budhorse4 on December 07, 2011, 05:25:11 PM
Quote from: Sweetdeath on December 07, 2011, 05:23:05 PM
I auto-say "bless you" when someone sneezes. Need to get out of that habit.
But when I see someone I want to really avoid, I say "jesus fucking christ on a cracker" just to annoy any religious person around.
I say the same thing, minus the fucking. The fucking makes it to long in my opinion.
Yay~
I kinda laugh when people say I am blasphomis, because if I don't believe in it, how do I offend?
I'm not sure, I think that if jeebus were on a cracker, that would make him small and weak in their minds. Or I'm just over thinking it.
But I do know that saying "Jesus Christ on a cracker" makes me laugh just because of the mental image.
Quote from: Sweetdeath on December 07, 2011, 05:23:05 PM
I auto-say "bless you" when someone sneezes. Need to get out of that habit.
But when I see someone I want to really avoid, I say "jesus fucking christ on a cracker" just to annoy any religious person around.
I think it's really funny when I'm teaching class and I sneeze because at least 10 people in the class will say "bless you". If there were a god, sneezy teachers would be very blessed.
I'd never heard the Jesus Christ on a cracker one before. That's kind of funny.
Quote from: Budhorse4 on December 07, 2011, 05:40:46 PM
But I do know that saying "Jesus Christ on a cracker" makes me laugh just because of the mental image.
How about "oh, sweet chocolate Jesus on a pogo stick"?
I pretty much fell out of the habit of referencing god or Jesus long ago. If someone is going thru a rough spot then, other than finding out if there's something concrete I can do to help, I just say they'll be in my thoughts. It's true enough and people seem to find it comforting.
Quote from: BooksCatsEtc on December 07, 2011, 08:15:00 PM
Quote from: Budhorse4 on December 07, 2011, 05:40:46 PM
But I do know that saying "Jesus Christ on a cracker" makes me laugh just because of the mental image.
How about "oh, sweet chocolate Jesus on a pogo stick"?
Both I mush try in church one day. :D
Jesus Harold Christ on a fucking rubber crutch.. - Natural born killers.
Quote from: Scissorlegs on December 07, 2011, 08:33:07 PM
Jesus Harold Christ on a fucking rubber crutch.. - Natural born killers.
It's not Jesus Harold...
It's Jesus Hector.
Jesus Hector Marcos Cortez Riviara Lopez Covas Sanchez Fernandes Delgadillo Izquierdo Ramirez Criado Rodriguez Christo! ;D
Quote from: not your typical...Jesus Hector Marcos Cortez Riviara Lopez Covas Sanchez Fernandes Delgadillo Izquierdo Ramirez Criado Rodriguez Christo!
This may be over-egging it just a teensy weensy bit. ;D
Quote from: OldGit on December 07, 2011, 09:52:36 PM
Quote from: not your typical...Jesus Hector Marcos Cortez Riviara Lopez Covas Sanchez Fernandes Delgadillo Izquierdo Ramirez Criado Rodriguez Christo!
This may be over-egging it just a teensy weensy bit. ;D
Hehehehe. I'm making my friend name her first born that, regardless of gender. ;D
Quote from: not your typical... on December 07, 2011, 08:35:57 PM
Quote from: Scissorlegs on December 07, 2011, 08:33:07 PM
Jesus Harold Christ on a fucking rubber crutch.. - Natural born killers.
It's not Jesus Harold...
It's Jesus Hector.
Jesus Hector Marcos Cortez Riviara Lopez Covas Sanchez Fernandes Delgadillo Izquierdo Ramirez Criado Rodriguez Christo! ;D
*brain borked*
Quote from: Budhorse4 on December 07, 2011, 09:56:07 PM
Quote from: not your typical... on December 07, 2011, 08:35:57 PM
Quote from: Scissorlegs on December 07, 2011, 08:33:07 PM
Jesus Harold Christ on a fucking rubber crutch.. - Natural born killers.
It's not Jesus Harold...
It's Jesus Hector.
Jesus Hector Marcos Cortez Riviara Lopez Covas Sanchez Fernandes Delgadillo Izquierdo Ramirez Criado Rodriguez Christo! ;D
*brain borked*
But is is funny, no?
Quote from: not your typical... on December 07, 2011, 09:55:09 PM
Quote from: OldGit on December 07, 2011, 09:52:36 PM
Quote from: not your typical...Jesus Hector Marcos Cortez Riviara Lopez Covas Sanchez Fernandes Delgadillo Izquierdo Ramirez Criado Rodriguez Christo!
This may be over-egging it just a teensy weensy bit. ;D
Hehehehe. I'm making my friend name her first born that, regardless of gender. ;D
I think that's child abuse. XDD
Quote from: not your typical... on December 07, 2011, 09:59:07 PM
Quote from: Budhorse4 on December 07, 2011, 09:56:07 PM
Quote from: not your typical... on December 07, 2011, 08:35:57 PM
Quote from: Scissorlegs on December 07, 2011, 08:33:07 PM
Jesus Harold Christ on a fucking rubber crutch.. - Natural born killers.
It's not Jesus Harold...
It's Jesus Hector.
Jesus Hector Marcos Cortez Riviara Lopez Covas Sanchez Fernandes Delgadillo Izquierdo Ramirez Criado Rodriguez Christo! ;D
*brain borked*
But is is funny, no?
Maybe their nickname could be Bob. Yea, that sounds good.
Quote from: Sweetdeath on December 07, 2011, 10:00:26 PM
Quote from: not your typical... on December 07, 2011, 09:55:09 PM
Quote from: OldGit on December 07, 2011, 09:52:36 PM
Quote from: not your typical...Jesus Hector Marcos Cortez Riviara Lopez Covas Sanchez Fernandes Delgadillo Izquierdo Ramirez Criado Rodriguez Christo!
This may be over-egging it just a teensy weensy bit. ;D
Hehehehe. I'm making my friend name her first born that, regardless of gender. ;D
I think that's child abuse. XDD
It no child abuse. It's good comedy. And besides, at least they're real names, instead of Lafondequisha. (I legit know a chick with that name.)
Quote from: not your typical... on December 07, 2011, 10:08:46 PM
Quote from: Sweetdeath on December 07, 2011, 10:00:26 PM
Quote from: not your typical... on December 07, 2011, 09:55:09 PM
Quote from: OldGit on December 07, 2011, 09:52:36 PM
Quote from: not your typical...Jesus Hector Marcos Cortez Riviara Lopez Covas Sanchez Fernandes Delgadillo Izquierdo Ramirez Criado Rodriguez Christo!
This may be over-egging it just a teensy weensy bit. ;D
Hehehehe. I'm making my friend name her first born that, regardless of gender. ;D
I think that's child abuse. XDD
It no child abuse. It's good comedy. And besides, at least they're real names, instead of Lafondequisha. (I legit know a chick with that name.)
Or Shithead, no seriously, it was pronounced She-theed
Quote from: Budhorse4 on December 07, 2011, 10:12:47 PM
Quote from: not your typical... on December 07, 2011, 10:08:46 PM
Quote from: Sweetdeath on December 07, 2011, 10:00:26 PM
Quote from: not your typical... on December 07, 2011, 09:55:09 PM
Quote from: OldGit on December 07, 2011, 09:52:36 PM
Quote from: not your typical...Jesus Hector Marcos Cortez Riviara Lopez Covas Sanchez Fernandes Delgadillo Izquierdo Ramirez Criado Rodriguez Christo!
This may be over-egging it just a teensy weensy bit. ;D
Hehehehe. I'm making my friend name her first born that, regardless of gender. ;D
I think that's child abuse. XDD
It no child abuse. It's good comedy. And besides, at least they're real names, instead of Lafondequisha. (I legit know a chick with that name.)
Or Shithead, no seriously, it was pronounced She-theed
Hahaha. Or Orangejello and Lemonjello. (Or-ang-allo. Le-mang-allo) And Mothafer
Quote from: not your typical... on December 07, 2011, 10:18:13 PM
Quote from: Budhorse4 on December 07, 2011, 10:12:47 PM
Quote from: not your typical... on December 07, 2011, 10:08:46 PM
Quote from: Sweetdeath on December 07, 2011, 10:00:26 PM
Quote from: not your typical... on December 07, 2011, 09:55:09 PM
Quote from: OldGit on December 07, 2011, 09:52:36 PM
Quote from: not your typical...Jesus Hector Marcos Cortez Riviara Lopez Covas Sanchez Fernandes Delgadillo Izquierdo Ramirez Criado Rodriguez Christo!
This may be over-egging it just a teensy weensy bit. ;D
Hehehehe. I'm making my friend name her first born that, regardless of gender. ;D
I think that's child abuse. XDD
It no child abuse. It's good comedy. And besides, at least they're real names, instead of Lafondequisha. (I legit know a chick with that name.)
Or Shithead, no seriously, it was pronounced She-theed
Hahaha. Or Orangejello and Lemonjello. (Or-ang-allo. Le-mang-allo) And Mothafer
...Wow. I bet the mother was hungry when she named them. Mothafer is just cruel
Quote from: Budhorse4 on December 07, 2011, 10:21:57 PM
Quote from: not your typical... on December 07, 2011, 10:18:13 PM
Quote from: Budhorse4 on December 07, 2011, 10:12:47 PM
Quote from: not your typical... on December 07, 2011, 10:08:46 PM
Quote from: Sweetdeath on December 07, 2011, 10:00:26 PM
Quote from: not your typical... on December 07, 2011, 09:55:09 PM
Quote from: OldGit on December 07, 2011, 09:52:36 PM
Quote from: not your typical...Jesus Hector Marcos Cortez Riviara Lopez Covas Sanchez Fernandes Delgadillo Izquierdo Ramirez Criado Rodriguez Christo!
This may be over-egging it just a teensy weensy bit. ;D
Hehehehe. I'm making my friend name her first born that, regardless of gender. ;D
I think that's child abuse. XDD
It no child abuse. It's good comedy. And besides, at least they're real names, instead of Lafondequisha. (I legit know a chick with that name.)
Or Shithead, no seriously, it was pronounced She-theed
Hahaha. Or Orangejello and Lemonjello. (Or-ang-allo. Le-mang-allo) And Mothafer
...Wow. I bet the mother was hungry when she named them. Mothafer is just cruel
Yeah, I know. we always used to call him MoFo or Muzzy but one day a new teacher did come in and say, "Who is Mother f'er?" Couldn't stop laughing!
Quote from: not your typical... on December 07, 2011, 10:28:20 PM
Yeah, I know. we always used to call him MoFo or Muzzy but one day a new teacher did come in and say, "Who is Mother f'er?" Couldn't stop laughing!
Oh man, I would have been crying from laughing so hard. You kinda have to feel bad for him though, it must suck having that name.
Quote from: Budhorse4 on December 07, 2011, 10:36:11 PM
Quote from: not your typical... on December 07, 2011, 10:28:20 PM
Yeah, I know. we always used to call him MoFo or Muzzy but one day a new teacher did come in and say, "Who is Mother f'er?" Couldn't stop laughing!
Oh man, I would have been crying from laughing so hard. You kinda have to feel bad for him though, it must suck having that name.
Oh it does. now eveytime some one says mother f'er, he looks up thinking they're talking to him. :P
Sorry I'm late (and not been posting much these days). I have friends (who are pagan/agnostic) who usually say when someone sneezes in our group "Out out Foul Demon". It's quite funny.
And in as far as ridiculous names, I was doing data entry years ago and came across the name Harry Moron. And nearly died laughing. Worse yet, Harry Moron was getting a speeding ticket, double humiliation.
If we are still talking funny names, I just got a text from my mom telling me that she is currently taking care of a patient named Harry Johnson. It was not short for anything. She told me she was having a hard time keeping a straight face while seeing him. :D
Quote from: Budhorse4 on December 08, 2011, 04:35:11 PM
If we are still talking funny names, I just got a text from my mom telling me that she is currently taking care of a patient named Harry Johnson. It was not short for anything. She told me she was having a hard time keeping a straight face while seeing him. :D
LMFAO!!!! XD You're kidding, right? Who would be that cruel to their kid?
Quote from: not your typical... on December 09, 2011, 12:12:52 AM
Quote from: Budhorse4 on December 08, 2011, 04:35:11 PM
If we are still talking funny names, I just got a text from my mom telling me that she is currently taking care of a patient named Harry Johnson. It was not short for anything. She told me she was having a hard time keeping a straight face while seeing him. :D
LMFAO!!!! XD You're kidding, right? Who would be that cruel to their kid?
No, it was this old man. I just feel bad for him, all of the nurses in the break room were laughing their asses off.
Quote from: Budhorse4 on December 09, 2011, 12:19:26 AM
No, it was this old man. I just feel bad for him, all of the nurses in the break room were laughing their asses off.
sorry to say, but i prolly would too. It's sad that he was labeled that all his life but..... smh. xD
Quote from: RunFromMyLife on December 09, 2011, 12:45:37 AM
...but I do love the bit he does about saying "when you die nothing happens" to atheists after they sneeze.
Ooh! Along the same lines, but cooler sounding, I think, would be to say after they sneeze, "Annihilation!"
Or, "Oblivion!"
When someone sneezes, in Spanish you say, "salud" which means health, or you can say, "Jesus." When I was little, a man sneezed and I said, "Jesus" he looked at me and said, "I am a Jew, and I have nothing to do with that man!" Ever since, I have never said anything to anybody when they sneeze. :-X
Quote from: magdalena on January 14, 2012, 05:33:12 AM
When someone sneezes, in Spanish you say, "salud" which means health, or you can say, "Jesus." When I was little, a man sneezed and I said, "Jesus" he looked at me and said, "I am a Jew, and I have nothing to do with that man!" Ever since, I have never said anything to anybody when they sneeze. :-X
Lol, sorry to laugh at you, but that man is kinda awesome.
Also, I never quite understood the socialogical obligation to say something when someone sneezes. I think i'm going to stop saying anything all together.
Quote from: Sweetdeath on January 14, 2012, 09:32:34 PM
Also, I never quite understood the socialogical obligation to say something when someone sneezes. I think i'm going to stop saying anything all together.
I find some people get offended when they're not blessed after sneezing, as if I were secretly wishing them bad health. I just say "bless you" and leave god out of it.
Quote from: BooksCatsEtc on January 14, 2012, 10:05:15 PM
Quote from: Sweetdeath on January 14, 2012, 09:32:34 PM
Also, I never quite understood the socialogical obligation to say something when someone sneezes. I think i'm going to stop saying anything all together.
I find some people get offended when they're not blessed after sneezing, as if I were secretly wishing them bad health. I just say "bless you" and leave god out of it.
If they are offended. Too bad.
I don't like the words "bless you" either because it's laced with holy superstition.
Quote from: BooksCatsEtc on January 14, 2012, 10:05:15 PM
I find some people get offended when they're not blessed after sneezing, as if I were secretly wishing them bad health.
But it's worse than that, after a sneeze a person is vulnerable to possession by a demonic spirit.
Your failure to bless leaves them wide open to possession.
Perhaps we should ask sneezers if they have been possessed by a demon.
Applications for various things should ask:
Have you since your last exorcism sneezed?
If so did someone bless you to ward off possession?
If no do you have the ability to read the line second from the bottom on the chart behind you without turning?
The next time someone gets offended that I dont say "bless you" I am going to sprinkle some water on them. XD
Quote from: Sweetdeath on January 14, 2012, 09:32:34 PM
Quote from: magdalena on January 14, 2012, 05:33:12 AM
When someone sneezes, in Spanish you say, "salud" which means health, or you can say, "Jesus." When I was little, a man sneezed and I said, "Jesus" he looked at me and said, "I am a Jew, and I have nothing to do with that man!" Ever since, I have never said anything to anybody when they sneeze. :-X
Lol, sorry to laugh at you, but that man is kinda awesome.
Also, I never quite understood the socialogical obligation to say something when someone sneezes. I think i'm going to stop saying anything all together.
It's ok, laugh, before that, I said "salud" to someone else after they sneezed and they said, "Salud? (health), that is not health, that is a disease." :-\
Another time, someone sneezed and I said nothing. She said, "It is so sad to sneeze in a barn." Meaning there were only animals around who didn't know they're supposed to say bless you when one sneezes. >:(
I have had enough bad experiences with this absurd custom. >:(
Poor magdalena!!
That second guy was rude. I'm kinda quick to snippy responses, so I prolly would of said domething along the lines of " I know, there's a talking ass here."
Pffft, get over yourself mr.man. >___<
No one days shit when I cough or fart, lol!!
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on January 15, 2012, 02:03:45 AM
Perhaps we should ask sneezers if they have been possessed by a demon.
Hmmm. That might be considered a little personal. Also, if they
have been possessed by a demon things could get nasty very quickly. Maybe a concerned look and an "are you all right?" would cover it without invoking the supernatural.
Quote from: Sweetdeath on January 15, 2012, 11:01:04 AM
No one days shit when I cough or fart, lol!!
Why is that, I've always wondered? You're expelling air violently in all three cases so why are only sneezes blessed?
I like the Seinfeld response to sneezing. "You are soooo good looking!" I doubt anyone would get offended then. :D
My family always said either "Bless you" or "Gesundheit" after sneezing, the latter meaning "health" in German, apparently. I'm not sure where they got that from.
I still say "Bless you" even now. My wife (who's a secular muslim) got really confused when she heard myself and the rest of my secular jewish family saying "Jesus Christ!" or "Jesus!" in response to something surprising. Had never really thought about it before, but then I realized how weird it really does seem, so now I'm trying to avoid saying it. I think I've mostly settled on "Holy shit!" :) Though then again, maybe that could still have some religious overtone...
As far as weird names, in my mind nothing beats former New Hampshire Congressman Dick Swett
Quote from: Ali on January 15, 2012, 07:08:17 PM
I like the Seinfeld response to sneezing. "You are soooo good looking!" I doubt anyone would get offended then. :D
I love that episode so much. xD!!
Wonder how this whole saying something to someone who sneezes thing start... What ever compelled people to say anything at all in such an event? Except perhaps "Want a tissue?"
I still say "God Bless You" when someone sneezes and my atheist roommates kind of make fun of me for that but I am really just saying it out of habit. When people say that they will pray for me or tell me "God be with you" I try to take it as a positive thing but it all depends on context. I have had people use religious phrases without knowing it, or using it to convey a positive feeling towards me. But every now and then I hear someone condescend to me when saying that they will pray for me, or that jesus loves me.
I also like saying peace instead of goodbye. Its a secular equivalent to alot of the religious farewells, god bless yous, blessed bes, and it seems less permanent than a simple goodbye, it also leaves them with a good feeling
Quote from: Asmodean on January 15, 2012, 10:06:40 PM
Wonder how this whole saying something to someone who sneezes thing start... What ever compelled people to say anything at all in such an event? Except perhaps "Want a tissue?"
I have a feeling it started in the middle ages. I don't know why. I just feel it did. xD
Quote from: Sweetdeath on January 16, 2012, 01:48:54 AM
Quote from: Asmodean on January 15, 2012, 10:06:40 PM
Wonder how this whole saying something to someone who sneezes thing start... What ever compelled people to say anything at all in such an event? Except perhaps "Want a tissue?"
I have a feeling it started in the middle ages. I don't know why. I just feel it did. xD
I believe it started because in that split second you sneeze, your heart stops beating.
I guess out of fear that your heart will not beat again after sneezing people began, in a way, asking god to help you.
Quote from: magdalena on January 16, 2012, 06:04:13 AM
I believe it started because in that split second you sneeze, your heart stops beating.
I guess out of fear that your heart will not beat again after sneezing people began, in a way, asking god to help you.
Obviously, some sort of evil pre-pacemaker and defibrilator implant technology. ???
http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/respiratory/sneezing.htm
QuoteWishing someone well after they sneeze probably originated thousands of years ago. The Romans would say "Jupiter preserve you" or "Salve," which meant "good health to you," and the Greeks would wish each other "long life." The phrase "God bless you" is attributed to Pope Gregory the Great, who uttered it in the sixth century during a bubonic plague epidemic (sneezing is an obvious symptom of one form of the plague).
The exchangeable term "gesundheit" comes from Germany, and it literally means "health." The idea is that a sneeze typically precedes illness. It entered the English language in the early part of the 20th century, brought to the United States by German-speaking immigrants.
Virtually every country around the globe has its own way of wishing sneezers well. People in Arabic countries say, "Alhamdulillah," which means, "praise be to God." Hindus say, "Live!" or "Live well!" Some countries have special sneezing responses for children. In Russia, after children are given the traditional response, "bud zdorov" ("be healthy"), they are also told "rosti bolshoi" ("grow big"). When a child sneezes in China, he or she will hear "bai sui," which means, "may you live 100 years."
For the most part, the various sneeze responses originated from ancient superstitions. Some people believed that a sneeze causes the soul to escape the body through the nose. Saying "bless you" would stop the devil from claiming the person's freed soul. Others believed the opposite: that evil spirits use the sneeze as an opportunity to enter a person's body. There was also the misconception that the heart momentarily stops during a sneeze (it doesn't), and that saying "bless you" was a way of welcoming the person back to life.
I'm most familiar with the evil spirit invasion theory.
Hmm... How come The Asmo never tried to posess a sneezing thrall..? :-\
Maybe that explains the poor rates of success...
Quote from: Asmodean on January 16, 2012, 08:29:34 AM
Hmm... How come The Asmo never tried to posess a sneezing thrall..? :-\
Maybe that explains the poor rates of success...
You have no nose so who knows if you'd had a nose you might have considered it.
Quote from: Tank on January 16, 2012, 10:53:49 AM
Quote from: Asmodean on January 16, 2012, 08:29:34 AM
Hmm... How come The Asmo never tried to posess a sneezing thrall..? :-\
Maybe that explains the poor rates of success...
You have no nose so who knows if you'd had a nose you might have considered it.
Has nose. Pudding made. Doesn't help though - have no nasal hair.
When someone sneezes, I say 'gesundheit' - as someone else noted, it just means 'good health' in German. Occasionally if they sneeze several times in a row, I'll ask if they're OK, and hold out a kleenex box. :P
When saying goodbye to someone, if it's someone I'm close with, I say 'love you', because saying it's important to me. If it's someone I don't know as well, I very often say 'take care', 'have a good one!', or 'drive safe', depending on the situation.
And finally, if someone's going through a really rough, difficult time, I almost always say 'I'm thinking of you', or 'I'll be keeping you in my thoughts', and if it's someone I know well, I say 'call me anytime you need anything'... and they KNOW I mean that. I've gotten my share of 4 am calls just to talk, and that's great with me.
Interesting fact: the phrase "God Bless You" started around the time of the Black Plague. Priests would go around the city and when they heard someone sneeze they would say "God Bless You" hoping they wouldn't catch the Plague.
Quote from: Mocha Chief on February 01, 2012, 11:57:58 PM
Interesting fact: the phrase "God Bless You" started around the time of the Black Plague. Priests would go around the city and when they heard someone sneeze they would say "God Bless You" hoping they wouldn't catch the Plague.
Nice, didn't know that.