re: Prayers D&D

Quoting Mel & a girl named Pey:" I believe it started because they believe when you sneezed your soul was trying to escape so saying ... [snip!] ... kept it in so it started out in a religious way but changed over time. lol Could be wrong but thats what I have always heard."

yeah this is what I have heard to

I just replace the word prayers with thoughts automatically. Everyone here is Cristian, so when my mom just had surgery today everyone was "thinking" of us. haha.
Whatever. Everyone thinks I am a weirdo for being Atheist, so I don't bring it up unless asked or unless someone looks on my Facebook profile.

<blockquote><b>Quoting S&T+1:</b>" No. lol That's more of a "manners" type thing to me. I don't even understand why you'd need to be blessed just because you sneezed? lol"</blockquote>




Correct me if I'm wrong but I remember someone telling me that when you sneeze your heart stops so people would say " god bless you" in fear that your heart wouldn't start beating again lol

Quoting ma ♥:" I've always wondered something like this too... Do people who are not religious get offended when strangers ... [snip!] ... you" after they sneeze? Because I mean, I've even caught people who claim to NOT be religious saying bless you to others. lol."

I chalk that up to good manners.
When someone sneezes you say "bless you."
It's like "thank you" and "you're welcome" to me.  

But, to answer the OP, it doesn't bother me, I thank the person for their thoughts, because to me prayers are like sending positive thoughts my way, I mean if I hear it in a condescending way, I might get irritated, but if it's to be nice or out of the goodness of their heart, I don't see why that should offend me, regardless of my lack of faith.

Quoting *~Stella's Momma~*:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Mommeee™:</b>" But why? They aren't asking you to pray ... [snip!] ... Because I respect their beliefs, they should respect mine. Is it hard to say something like, I'll be thinking of you?"

They are not dragging you into their belief though, or asking you to pray for them. Why would the fact that someone is wanting to do something positive upset you even if you dont believe in it? I can see if its done in a condensending manner, but if its only done because they love you and care for you, why get upset over something like that.

As silly and ridiculous as I think it is, it doesn't bother me. Pray your guts out- its not my time being wasted.

Quoting S&T+1:" No. lol That's more of a "manners" type thing to me. I don't even understand why you'd need to be blessed just because you sneezed? lol"

See that's the thing, most people are so uneducated & when they're not religious them saying bless you just makes them look silly.. IMO.

It came from way back when people thought a sneeze was the souls way of escaping the body, & saying "bless you" would stop the devil from claiming the persons soul.

Quoting Mel & a girl named Pey:" I believe it started because they believe when you sneezed your soul was trying to escape so saying ... [snip!] ... kept it in so it started out in a religious way but changed over time. lol Could be wrong but thats what I have always heard."

Oh wow! lol
I thought it was "blesh you" until I was like 10. haha.

Quoting ♥vetoURface:" I chalk that up to good manners. When someone sneezes you say "bless you." It's like "thank you" and ... [snip!] ... it's to be nice or out of the goodness of their heart, I don't see why that should offend me, regardless of my lack of faith."

Now I could see someone getting offended like that. Like those who tell someone they don't believe in God and the person is like "I will be praying for you!" That is definitely rude and I get it. I am glad you don't take the other way offensively.  

Quoting ma ♥:" I've always wondered something like this too... Do people who are not religious get offended when strangers ... [snip!] ... you" after they sneeze? Because I mean, I've even caught people who claim to NOT be religious saying bless you to others. lol."

I say bless you because it is what I had instilled in my mind since I was little. I never even thought of it as being a religious thing until I learned more about religion in high school. (As stupid as that sounds to me now.) So I still say bless you. When someone says "God Bless You" I get it a lot at work. I just say and you too, thank you.

Quoting S&T+1:" Oh wow! lol I thought it was "blesh you" until I was like 10. haha."

hehe! I have had moments like that...especially in songs. I am like "Oh...its not saying .... it's saying....!" Hope no one ever heard me! lol

Quoting Mel & a girl named Pey:" Now I could see someone getting offended like that. Like those who tell someone they don't believe in ... [snip!] ... like "I will be praying for you!" That is definitely rude and I get it. I am glad you don't take the other way offensively.  "

Yeah, it's irritating, but really unless you want to go the childish route the only thing you can do is say "Thanks man, I appreciate it."

Quoting [JadeLee]:" I say bless you because it is what I had instilled in my mind since I was little. I never even thought ... [snip!] ... me now.) So I still say bless you. When someone says "God Bless You" I get it a lot at work. I just say and you too, thank you."

Well not days it's not said much for religious reasons anyway. It's just good manners now days.

Quoting ♥vetoURface:" Yeah, it's irritating, but really unless you want to go the childish route the only thing you can do is say "Thanks man, I appreciate it.""

Exactly! I am a Christian but I would never go there. I do send prayers out to people who are hurting because it's my belief but I will never push it on others who don't believe. People who do that get on my last nerve.

In thinking about it- if its someone who knows I'm a staunch atheist, it still doesn't bother me per se- but it does make me wonder what they'd say if the situation were reversed and I said "I'm not praying for you." Or "im not actually gonna do anything to help you but maybe my imaginary friend will" Or "hope ya don't die!" Or whatever.


No animosity or anything, just wondering what would happen if the customary "I'll pray for you" were replaced with something else.