Happy Atheist Forum

I have been saying things like "Bless you" when people sneeze for twenty some years.  How do I stop that?  What should I say instead?  

How about things like "for christ's sake" (yes, I was a sinning christian!).

I thought about saying something atheistic in another language for the sneezing, maybe something most people wouldn't undertand but thank me for.

i just hand them a bottle of hand sanitizer. (yes i keep one in my pocket.  ocd style.)

I see no need to reply to a sneeze, so I say nothing.  

Ha I won't tell you what I say.But I don't see why you should have to change things that you say.I say bless you,along with the occasional Jesus H. Christ.

I say "salute", which is a common reply in Spanish and other Latin based languages. It has absolutely no theological connotations and is generally understood.

I do still say "god damn it" from time to time, but it's more of an exclamation.

I say "bless you" and "oh my god" (occasionally, I just recently de-converted and that one is a big no-no) and I'm not planning on skipping the "Merry Christmas" to my (Christian) family. It's too much of an inconvenience to break life-long habits, as stuck-up as that sounds. But it's completely up to you. If you don't want to say "bless you", "salute" (as Will suggested) or "gesundheit" would be interesting alternatives. "For goodness sake" is a good alternative to "for Christ's sake" (shame shame!). You choose where to draw the line.

Gesundheit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gesundheit) is a common response to a sneeze (the German word for "health").

I still find myself saying "bless you", even though it does not have a deeper meaning to me than just politeness.  I have also been known to say "god dammit" and "oh lord".  I assume I just absorbed it from other people and TV.

Do like Dane Cook suggested, say "Nothing happens when you die."

LOL

But seriously, I usually don't say anything.

Quote from: "susangail"I say "bless you" and "oh my god" (occasionally, I just recently de-converted and that one is a big no-no) and I'm not planning on skipping the "Merry Christmas" to my (Christian) family. It's too much of an inconvenience to break life-long habits, as stuck-up as that sounds. But it's completely up to you. If you don't want to say "bless you", "salute" (as Will suggested) or "gesundheit" would be interesting alternatives. "For goodness sake" is a good alternative to "for Christ's sake" (shame shame!). You choose where to draw the line.

There is really nothing wrong with wishing someone a merry Christmas. For me, Christmas have always meant being free from school/work, sitting at home and watchign crappy TV shows. And I have always taken "Merry Christmas" to mean the same as "Have fun sitting on your lazy behind in front of the screens"

Oh, and I use to say "my f****** god" too sometimes. But that is usually deliberate when discussing something with theists  

Quote from: "Chimera"Do like Dane Cook suggested, say "Nothing happens when you die."

LOL

I love that one! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L0G1DGCWwI

Quote from: "Asmodean"There is really nothing wrong with wishing someone a merry Christmas. For me, Christmas have always meant being free from school/work, sitting at home and watchign crappy TV shows. And I have always taken "Merry Christmas" to mean the same as "Have fun sitting on your lazy behind in front of the screens"

Yeah, I find nothing wrong with it either. Some insist on "Happy holidays" though, to be "politically correct". I alternate, keep it exciting.

Quote from: "Atheist Mother"I have been saying things like "Bless you" when people sneeze for twenty some years.  How do I stop that?  What should I say instead?  

How about things like "for christ's sake" (yes, I was a sinning christian!).

I thought about saying something atheistic in another language for the sneezing, maybe something most people wouldn't undertand but thank me for.

"If you want to make a person feel better after they sneeze, you shouldn't say 'God bless you.' You should say 'You're so good looking!'"
    - Jerry Seinfeld, in "The Good Samaritan" episode.

Yes, I say it. It turns heads like you wouldn't believe. And my wife hates it, which makes it even more fun.  

I either say 'gesundheit' or nothing at all, depending upon the situation.

I also say "Gesundheit", because I'm living in Germany. When I'm visiting my relatives in the Netherlands, I either say "gezondheid" or "proost" (which is the Dutch word for cheers).

well i will say "bless u" and I will yell "jesus" when Im angry, but I dont actually say it cause I believe in them. Its just a habit, and a "matter-of-speach" same as ehm well "fuck you" we dont actually mean we wanna have sex with the person (most of thetimes at least )

Well, for a sneeze, I usually say "all right?"  (as in "are you all right?, not as in "woohoo! Allright!!"   Not as a sub for "bless you" - but just because it seems polite to inquire after their health/ show sympathy if they're all sick or hayfever-y.

For the other, you could take a page from the Irish, who really like "For F**k's Sake!"  

I think you should say whatever you want to say or not say what you don't want to say.

Terms, such as "bless you" have taken on such a secular usage that they maintain little of their original intent (they use to think that when you sneeze demons could get into you...so they said bless you as a protective phrase).  Now it is just something people say out of tradition and to be polite.  

You could say Gesundheit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gesundheit) instead of bless you.  I had a friend who did that because he thought the story behind why people say bless you was stupid (which it is).

If saying words with a religious background bothers you, try what some suggest for bad habbits  Place a rubber band on your wrist and if you catch yourself saying a word you don't want to use snap yourself with the rubber band.  The intent is not to inflict pain, just to associate a slightly negative feeling with the use of those words.

Quote from: "laetusatheos"If saying words with a religious background bothers you, try what some suggest for bad habbits  Place a rubber band on your wrist and if you catch yourself saying a word you don't want to use snap yourself with the rubber band.  The intent is not to inflict pain, just to associate a slightly negative feeling with the use of those words.

Sort of like a shock collar...  good advice.  


Thanks for the advice guys.  I hate feeling more hypocritical then I need to.  Secular or not, saying the words "bless you" makes me feel like a hypocrite.

Quote from: "Atheist Mother"

Quote from: "laetusatheos"If saying words with a religious background bothers you, try what some suggest for bad habbits  Place a rubber band on your wrist and if you catch yourself saying a word you don't want to use snap yourself with the rubber band.  The intent is not to inflict pain, just to associate a slightly negative feeling with the use of those words.

Sort of like a shock collar...  good advice.  


Thanks for the advice guys.  I hate feeling more hypocritical then I need to.  Secular or not, saying the words "bless you" makes me feel like a hypocrite.

No need in feeling hypocritical. The American heritage Dictionary, 4th ed., lists "bless you" as an idiom:
 
"bless you
 Used to wish good health to a person who has just sneezed."

There's no religious connotation involved.

Quote from: "Smallville"

Quote from: "Atheist Mother"I hate feeling more hypocritical then I need to.  Secular or not, saying the words "bless you" makes me feel like a hypocrite.

No need in feeling hypocritical. The American heritage Dictionary, 4th ed., lists "bless you" as an idiom:
 
"bless you
 Used to wish good health to a person who has just sneezed."

There's no religious connotation involved.

I agree. I think "God bless you" could be seen as hypocritical, but hardly anyone sees "bless you" as a religious phrase. It seems like almost a good luck thing or tradition maybe. I find it hilarious actually.

Come to think of it... How's about "Devil bless you"? Devils are cool, no?  

Quote from: "Asmodean"Come to think of it... How's about "Devil bless you"? Devils are cool, no?  

Sweet!  

"ah-choo!"
"Satan bless you."
*gasp!*  

Love it.

I do the same. I use "Bless you" Jesus Christ and OMG often. They don't have a have a religious meaning to me.

Quote from: "Msblue"I do the same. I use "Bless you" Jesus Christ and OMG often. They don't have a have a religious meaning to me.

Here, here!

They're just words that so happen to have symbolic (i.e. no intrinsic meaning) to some people and therefore shouldn't make you feel a hypocrite.  I use " Jesus F****** NAIL HOLES" as my expletive of choice, its very cathartic.