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Permalink Reply by Scarlette Blues on June 15, 2011 at 3:38pm

Welcome to world of atheism! As far as sneezing goes, I was brought up in a conservative Christian environment and I still haven't broken the habit of saying "bless you". I've heard it mentioned before that "Gesundheit" can be used as a replacement phrase. It simply means "health" in German.

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Permalink Reply by Ergaster on June 15, 2011 at 4:14pm

Hi Scarlette, thanks for the reply. I was going to write also "besides Gesundheit" LOL I had thought it might mean bless you in German but after you replied i translated it and it actually means "health" so i guess i can still use that. To tell you the truth though i'd like something better that that (no offense to Germans) There should be a universally accepted Atheist word for it!!!

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Permalink Reply by Jewelz on June 15, 2011 at 5:08pm

I've had several joking atheistic responses evolve over the years and I still use them on occasion for comedic effect, but usually I just say " Are you ok? Need a drink/tissue?" when someone coughs or sneezes. The knee jerk obligatory response out of "politeness" just doesn't make sense to me.

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Permalink Reply by Ergaster on June 15, 2011 at 5:21pm

I'm not sure but i think it has to do from something from the old days. Something about when you sneeze your heart stops briefly or something like that

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Permalink Reply by Jim Minion on June 15, 2011 at 5:53pm

During the Dark Ages sneezing was an early sign of the plague or you may be coming down with the plague so they would go get the priest to give you the last rites or "bless you". The saying goes back to about 550ad.

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Permalink Reply by oneinfinity on June 17, 2011 at 2:54pm

Here's an interesting article at Snopes. The version that I had heard was that we say "Bless You!" because when we sneeze our soul leaves our body for a second giving those pesky demons a chance to possess us, oh noes!

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Permalink Reply by Jim Minion on June 17, 2011 at 3:10pm

Sounds every bit as rational as the other.

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Permalink Reply by Loren on June 15, 2011 at 5:52pm

Sometimes I like to say "I quite agree" when someone sneezes. 

 

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Permalink Reply by oneinfinity on June 17, 2011 at 2:54pm

:D

 

[like]

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Permalink Reply by Lindsay Kreis on June 15, 2011 at 8:17pm

I haven't given up the habit either. If it makes someone else feel a little better when you say it, what's the harm? No one believes that a blessing is being put upon them. At least, I hope no one really believes that... I don't get offended when someone says "bless you" to me... but I'm a stickler for manners, so I find it nice that they said anything at all. People can be so rude! Haha! Other than saying something in another language, I can't think of anything else to say. I do like Jewelz "Do you need a tissue?"

Maybe a general question about their health would be appropriate?

But what would you say to a total stranger?

 

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Permalink Reply by James on June 15, 2011 at 10:37pm

I always use 'Gesundheit'.

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Permalink Reply by Kirk Augustine on June 15, 2011 at 10:50pm

I typically use Gesundheit as well.

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