"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?

capsium- maybe loving- but also a murderer- your evidence is there in your bible.

I take issue with people who kill babies.

www.catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2015/02/02/stephen-fry-is-wrong-without-god-there-would-actually-be-more-evil-in-the-world/
Love this article.

antumbra I find God most easily understood in Christ, who I believe is the embodiment of God. Christ healed, served, gave to people in need, raised from the dead and forgave.

I'm an atheist. Doesn't bother me. It's so common these days.

Just grit your teeth and carry on!

capsium- so you also find god's actions unacceptable?

I wonder why all these people who think God is a genocidal maniac are quite happy to get married, baptised, have their funerals etc in God's church. strange one.

I'm an atheist and I don't mind it, and also I don't really associate it with Christians wanting me to actually be blessed. Loads of people say it don't they, it's just a saying? It can actually be a bit patronising of a put-down "Bless him, he turned the gas on but forgot to light it" i.e. he's a bit clueless.

There's also "bless", I know some people hate it but I say it sometimes. It doesn't mean anything religious. Just "awww".

I think "I'll pray for you" is worse, if they are Christian and you're not, but I try to take that with a good grace (unless it's a really aggressive god-botherer)

I'm not, suggest! I dislike even going to weddings in church when the couple aren't christians, it's very annoying. For myself, I'd choose all of that to be non-religious and not in church.

antumbra No.

Stephen Fry's genocidal maniac speech seems to have become a much loved catch phrase amongst atheists.

It was a funny and very perceptive tirade. If you read the old testament, genocidal maniac is quite an accurate description. But the bit I liked best was "simply not acceptable!" So Supernanny!

"I wonder why all these people who think God is a genocidal maniac are quite happy to get married, baptised, have their funerals etc in God's church. strange one."

No they don't. I don't know of anyone who shares my view uses a church.

"I wonder why all these people who think God is a genocidal maniac are quite happy to get married, baptised, have their funerals etc in God's church. strange one."

No they don't. I don't know of anyone who shares my view uses a church.

Good, so they shouldnt if they share your views.

lots do though

I take issue with people who kill babies
So you do believe there is a God then, just one that you don't find acceptable?

You seem to be very angry concerning something you see as non-existent antumbra.

no reason to have a religious burial then either

Suggest

I don't think the people who think God is a genocidal maniac are happy to get married/baptised/buried in church's. Those who I know would actively go out of their way to avoid it!

Only the people who have never really given God much thought, think he's probably mythical, but enjoy tradition are actually happy to do so (afaik)

I think Stephen Fry's point was that if there is a god, all the supposed evidence indicates he's not very nice. So his response, if he met God, would be to challenge him as to why.

Taking that line does not mean you think there is a god. But you can take issue with that personage described in the bible and point out that they are a genocidal maniac - whether or not they actually exist.

I mean we all could decide to be very angry about Ogres, Boggarts, Brownies, Changelings, Werewolves, Vampires, Banshees, Wraiths...etc...etc.

I think the difference with them is that belief in them is not massively mainstream, something we are supposed to respect, that causes war and violence, that interferes with our kids' schooling, etc etc.

If it did, I'd be angry about them too.

We could get angry about ogres, werewolves and the like

But there aren't huge numbers of the population justifying their actions based on the worship of them.

"no reason to have a religious burial then either"

Of course. I arranged a secular funeral for my parent. No mention of god. Easy.

Good, I hope they state in their wills or wherever that they do not wish to have a religious burial ceremony when they die as it would be against their beliefs.

Zoom The Bible is a very complex book. There is layer upon layer of meaning and different interpretations and understandings of it. It folllows that it would bet a bit arrogant for someone, who does not believe in God, to attempt to define Him - essentially they are putting their own understanding and interpretation above everyone else's.