what do you think? is it bad when...

Tonight, my lady and I are having drinks at a bar , when suddenly a guy SNEEZED and my girlfriend says "Bless you"... the guy replies "no thanks" -PAUSE- "I'm atheist" and that's all he said. I was saddened by this... It struck me as unfair that I don't go around telling people I'm Christian (everyone's knows the different views people have in life and what they are compiled of). We leave and on our way out I felt compelled to say something, so I did... "Good Luck with that". What I'm trying to say is... Why couldn't the guy just simply be thankful that someone cared enough to excuse them in a polite gesture, rather than to into a belief thing? When people come at me bashing my faith I don't say anything (weather they know me or not)... they've made there choice so be it. I get offended all the time... DEAL with it!

drustyle
Tonight, my lady and I are having drinks at a bar , when suddenly a guy SNEEZED and my girlfriend says "Bless you"... the guy replies "no thanks" -PAUSE- "I'm atheist" and that's all he said. I was saddened

by this... It struck me as unfair that I don't go around telling people I'm Christian (everyone's knows the different views people have in life and what they are compiled of). We leave and on our way out I felt compelled to say something, so I did... "Good Luck with that". What I'm trying to say is... Why couldn't the guy just simply be thankful that someone cared enough to excuse them in a polite gesture, rather than to into a belief thing? When people come at me bashing my faith I don't say anything (weather they know me or not)... they've made there choice so be it. I get offended all the time... DEAL with it!

I am thinking the guy said that for the same reason you felt compelled to respond.
Control

I'm not religious but I don't take any offence if some one says bless you. In fact I say it myself, more out of habit and good manners that anything. In this day and age I think most people know that sneezing has nothing to do with the devil so it's more superstition than anything. I think the comment was unnessisary and just trying to get a reaction. Live and let live, as long as you aren't hurting anyone else

That's Fair... And I did see a Dane Cook opportunity there , Honestly though I can see it.

I could see it if she had said God "bless you" but by just saying "bless you" then it could mean anything...

Like may the dirt "bless you " or may the sons of anarchy "bless you"

People..its what makes the world go round.

Anyone that chooses to label or categorize themselves in such a manner (a stranger, in a public environment, overtly) would set alarm bells off for me.

I'd say he would have bigger issues just under the surface.

Just for kicks, you should have asked him "what's an atheist?" - since those that claim as much, rarely know the actual definition.

reply to post by TheDualityExperience


Star for you! I could not have said it any better.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INPUT

I don't understand how you claim the person to be "bashing your faith." He never said anything hurtful. At least they had the manners to say no thanks, then explain why your girlfriends statement wouldn't effect him.

Sure, he didn't exactly need to bring up the fact he was an atheist, but it didn't help your case when you felt the need to chime in after seeing the exchange and say "Good luck with that." By the looks of it, it doesn't seem like you were saying that sincerely.

How about you and your GF stop saying things like bless you, to stop you getting offended by someone who was polite and just said "nope".
So stop offending Atheists please with your religious stuff.
Works both ways doesn't it....

Iam not an atheist but I stop people when they say stuff like "bless you" or "I will pray for you"....not your job and your not a priest and I do not need praying for.

You are in the wrong..by going back and turning it into something it wasn't.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but...

Is it possible the guy was simply using it as a clever opportunity to implant the seed into your mind that stipulates archaic adages as well as superstitious behavior should no longer be allowed as "customary" and we should instead use more care when saying things like "God bless America." Like, really? God bless America? Pretty greedy, America. I'm sure there are a few third world countries that might need that blessing just a little more than we do.

Don't think about it, it doesn't mean anything. Just like saying things like [God] 'bless you' and 'I'm an atheist.' It sounds good, but doesn't mean anything.

Just in case someone hasn't seen it. This is Dane Cook's story about a similar situation.


I would've said "well no one's perfect". At least that doesn't come off condescending or judgmental.

I think Penn Jillette has the best attitude on this type of thing. He says that , he has been touched by many Christians who have said they would pray for him because while he doesn't believe, it can be an act of compassion and caring by someone who does.

She was being polite and said it out of habit. It's not like she prayed at him while saying it ....
The guy was a D***. Being at a bar, he was probably a bit tipsy which brought out the cranky-ness in him.

Are you sure this happened to you and not some internet troll bait? lol its a very common topic to start a Atheist Vs Theist thread.

Out of all Atheist i know, no one would say that in return if someone say bless you.

However, i never say "bless you" if someone sneezed, i kinda brushed it like the weather huh? or allergies kicking in? etc etc lol.



I never understood the "bless you" part? does that mean that the person saying that is some sort of saint, like "i bless you" kinda.

reply to post by boymonkey74


Tho i was never directly told "i pray for you" for no reason but i have heard it before. I would be greatly offended by that. To me it feels like im some sort of lower lifeforms that they need to prayed for.

luciddream
Out of all Atheist i know, no one would say that in return if someone say bless you.

Me either. However, they were in a bar .. and people who have been drinking can be really stupid and cranky.

The word 'bless' comes with certain religious connotations, specifically christian. I wouldn't even notice someone saying it to me, but someone else may have a problem with you presenting your religious affiliation in public (as you discovered).

As long as he didn't sneeze in your face and covered his mouth, I'm not sure it required a 'blessing'.

reply to post by luciddream

I never understood the "bless you" part? does that mean that the person saying that is some sort of saint, like "i bless you" kinda.

I was told when I was very little and asked why we say "bless you" when someone sneezes is that it was once believed that a person's heart could stop by sneezing...(now proven wrong)...

but, I looked it up and snopes says that there are a variety of 'explanations' but no clear origin of WHY. www.snopes.com...
(not able to copy/paste, sorry)....

reply to post by drustyle


Some people are just jerks. I have a feeling that if you asked him "what's your beef?", he would have made sure to tell you he's a vegetarian. He's also probably one of those people who corrects people when they with him a Merry Christmas (yes, it's not just Christians who fight a "war on Christmas")

I wouldn't take this as a bash on your religion. He is most likely just one of those types that need to stand out so he uses any chance he gets to alert those around him of how he is not like them. You know those people who have some mild disorder that doesn't really negatively impact them in a huge way but they mention it within 90 seconds to every person they meet? He might be like one of those people.

It's obviously okay to be an atheist (or a vegetarian, for that matter!) but this guy just needed to drive spikes into "the man" who is probably anybody who fits a majority portion of any demographic.

If you are in a bar with a bunch of drunk people (especially if you are one of them), the best thing to do is just smile and say "fair enough". He'll leave that bar without the satisfaction of garnering interest in his "uniqueness" and also give him less reasons to label people like you.

Purplefowler
I'm not religious but I don't take any offence if some one says bless you. In fact I say it myself, more out of habit and good manners that anything.

EXACTLY! My Christian friends always get a kick out of it when I say "bless you". I say it when somebody farts, even. How it could be offensive is beyond me... I mean, it's not like it's just a Christian thing. I begin most of my rituals by verbally saying "blessed be" this and "blessed be" that and nearly everybody has their own equivalent.

I JUST HAD AN AWESOME IDEA! Next time somebody says "excuse you" after I sneeze, I'm going to say "I don't believe in excuses". Hah!