"Bless you"

[Thistledew]

I'm not talking about a response to a sneeze, but AIBU to find it patronising and irritating to my atheist ears when people decide to "bless" me for just going about my daily life.

I have a couple of Christian relatives who do this. Some recent examples when they have let the need to say "bless you" have included me serving them lunch at my house, or telling them about time I have spent with an elderly and frail relative (not a chore, I enjoy spending time with them) or talking about a health problem that I am working to overcome. It seems I can't tell them about anything that is part of my daily life without them saying "Oh Bless you"! I don't need or want any special recognition for something that is quite ordinary to me.

I think it annoys me in part because amongst non Christians "Awww, bless!" is what you might say when seeing something cute and slightly daft, and it surprises me that my Christian relatives don't seem to realise this. Also, it seems to be part of a bigger picture of them being quite condescending about their faith any my lack of it, and it feels a bit like them saying "I'm Christian and wonderful and can hand out blessings when you manage so well at daily life despite your lack of faith".

So AIBU to be irritated by this? Should I feel grateful? Or do I just need to work harder at letting it fade into white noise?

from now on I'm going to use the phrases 'may the force be with you' and 'live long and prosper' at every opportunity

I think it is a phrase that carries warmth, appreciation and kindness.

Does it offend your atheist sensibilities when people sing "God save the Queen", too? YABVU.

God does not need to save the Queen. She's got bunkers.

I'm very atheist and say bless you to sneezes, that's not really an issue. But I do get annoyed when Christians usually of the Pentecostal/Evangelical type offer blessings.
It annoys me becuase these blessings tend to be a bit over the top for my liking "praise the lord Jesus bless you"
I'm happy for people to widh me well/thank me/wish me a happy christmas, I don't like them using it as a way to shoehorn in some of their own extra prayertime or advertising their own praise for their religion.
If it's a Friday I reply with shabat shaolm, that usually surprises them

I don't care about other people's beliefs.

But I attract super religious people and they shout mean things like the she devil thing at me.

A woman once came to the door at 7am preaching and I said I'm not interest politely. She told Me the devil was waiting for me.

I just must look like Satan

I really think that if we wanted to we could be irritated by lots of things on a day to day basis. But really, someone saying "bless you" has got to be at the lower end of the scale. There's far worse things. What if someone said "shut the fuck up" every time you sneezed, wouldn't that be worse?

YABU My grandmother always used it and a less religious person you would have to go a long way to find. It's an old fashioned way of expressing gratitude - nothing more.

salthill
Op its just a (nice) saying - I'm going to be paranoid every time I say it now to someone who's had a bad day or is apologising to me for something.
Its pure habit - on my part anyways.

another bash the Christians thread

"another bash the Christians thread"

I know- terrible- and what have they ever done to deserve it. Minding their own business, quietly praying away, never imposing themselves on others. Very unfair.

"Live long and prosper"

exactly antumbra

must be hard for all those atheists going to church weddings, baptisms, funerals, Remembrance day services, memorials etc if they do get bothered by interfering Christians there

It is bothersome for atheists who have to endure their kids being indoctrinated by religious crap at school.

I see what you mean, you're saying it's a bit patronising because the meaning is slightly different. I don't think they intend to be patronising tho, maybe just reply with 'but I'm dealing with it' and have another cup of tea. Or not discuss problems with them at all, just positive stuff.

probably best to ban Easter and Christmas celebrations really as they must be rather imposing. must be awful for those non Christians

Easter and Christmas- those lovely pagan celebrations you mean?

Santa Claus, Easter bunnies, christmas trees, easter eggs, and all those other things mentioned in the bible.

It does depend on how these phrases are said and to whom. I don't remember noticing whether my DM used to always end a phone call with 'God bless' before she knew I was an atheist but she certainly did after - she was Making a Point.

But the relatives in the OP it sounds more like a verbal habit - a bland 'thats nice' sort of thing.

It must be bothersome antumba. I expect a lot of kids must come home crying and screaming from school after daily brainwashing and non stop enforced indoctrination. is awful. Id say it was abuse

Yes those pagan festivals where we are all dancing round trees and maypoles. nothing to do with Jesus at all really. his name is barely mentioned during these times

jesus plays no part in my huge christmas festivities.