"Have a blessed day"

[BurtWorm]

Any ideas for alternatives to this? "Have a rational day"?

[KitchenWitch]

1. have a scientific day!

dunno, just does not roll off the tongue very well!

[tjwmason]

2. Thankfully this hasn't crossed the Atlantic

I would be tempted to respond 'piss off' to it.

'Rational' day doesn't work, a day could be very rational yet still a total bitch of a day.

'Have a gay day' might work, especially if said with a tad of abiguity. They'd never know whether one was using the term in its old or modern sense.

[Dorian Gray]

93. I've never been told this...

Is it a common greeting here? In NYC, I don't know anyone who would say it. It may throw me for a loop, as it sounds awkward, but I don't think that it would offend me. It's a nice sentiment, even if you aren't religious. I would just say, "thanks. You too."

[McDoomfook]

136. Wouldn't know to make of it

here in Aberdeen...probably would think you were crazy or drunk.

[punpirate]

3. Trying to remember exactly...

... the Tom Waits line from an early album, but, to paraphrase, it would be something like, "Have a Deuteronomously epitomably day."

[terrya]

4. "Have an evolutionary day!"

[Beware the Beast Man]

5. What's wrong with a little blessing?

If someone wishes you well, than what's the difference? :shrug:

[KittyWampus]

6. Really. Some People Have Massive Chips On Their Shoulders.

[arwalden]

22. Personally, I Think It Sounds A Bit Pretentious...

... and a little creepy. That's just a bit too familiar for comfort. One doesn't necessarily have to have a "chip-on-their-shoulder" to be made to feel incomfortable when people say things like that.

[Beware the Beast Man]

25. Hey, a blessing is better than a curse in my book.

I think it goes beyond the simple argument of its meaning. We, as Dems, left-leaning independents, etc., have been painted so far into the corner that we now question everybody's motive in just about everything, including simple greetings. I don't care if someone wishes me "peace," "shalom," "salaam," "namaste" or "God be with you," if it's positive, and I feel their intentions are true, than so be it.

[annabanana]

37. I think the discomfort comes in..

in the assumption on the part of the "blesser" that they are in the positon to be able to bestow blessings..

I also find it a little creepy


edit: spel & tipe

[arwalden]

38. "Curse" like in "Gypsy-Curse"... or as in "@#$%" ??

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by being "painted into a corner"... but I certainly have no guilt about questioning people's motives.

I may not always question them outright or publicly, but I'm often cautious and I often analyze what people say and why they say it.

I see overt "blessings" like that as being a bit too forward and in-your-face. It's unwelcome passive-aggressive behavior. Then if ever questioned about it, they can always choose the "passive" and claim to be misunderstood or persecuted for just being nice. Sigh.

I often wonder what they're trying to compensate for... what are they hiding... what are they trying to sell me... etc.

[Beware the Beast Man]

43. Damn you, Bob Ross; damn you!!!!!

You and your "good luck and God bless" and your "happy little trees." You're a Wingnut shill!!!!



:bounce:

[arwalden]

49. LMAO!! -- You forgot Red Skelton.

[BurtWorm]

53. Curse you, you made me laugh!

"Happy little trees!"

I preferred that socialist secular humanist Bill Alexander and his happy little clouds, anyway.

[AngryBrooklynGal]

114. thank you

This is one of the best things I've seen in a long time - I couldn't share your sentiments more...:evilgrin:

[BurtWorm]

44. I think we're sharp enough to tell the difference between kind wishes

and smug self-righteousness, thank you very much.

[yardwork]

131. That's the point, isn't it?

Down here in the southlands, most people who say "Bless you!" or "Have a blessed day" mean well. They aren't trying to shove their religion down anyone's throat. They genuinely want you to have a nice day and it's their way of saying it.

One of the people who says this most frequently to me is a strong liberal Democrat. In fact, he has Socialist leanings. He happens to be a very committed Christian. The two often go together down here.

Pagans sometimes say "Blessed be."

It would be churlish to respond to a kindly meant gesture with something, well, churlish.

On the other hand, if somebody says "Have a blessed day" in a belligerent manner like they're trying to start something, by all means respond by hoping that they have an evolutionary day.

[Mad_Dem_X]

108. I have no problem with this

If someone says it to me, I just say, "You, too," and leave it at that. :shrug:

[MemphisTiger]

7. I'm with you.

It's not like they are knocking on your door, or passing out liturature. Just say thank you. They mean well. Some people are so sensitive.

[BurtWorm]

11. Fortunately I live in a city where people don't even wish each other

"have a nice day." I couldn't stomach hearing "blessed day" over and over.

[Princess Turandot]

118. I live in America's Sodom and Gemorrah East....

(forgive any misspellings) aka Bin Laden's favorite target aka NYC.

When someone sneezes here, 90% of the populace based upon my unscientific but rational recollection, say.......
"God bless you". The other 10% say 'Gesunheit', which being Yiddish, and thus almost always associated with Jews is equally politically incorrect I suppose.

Get a grip.

[BurtWorm]

119. I live on the Upper West Side of Gomorrah

:eyes:

[Princess Turandot]

128. Then I won't run into you..

being East Village born and boarded.

:eyes:

[Danmel]

138. Gesundheit is German too

And means "Good Health". Not terribly offensive in my book. Hey if someone isn't cursing me out or being nasty, I just say Thanks, you too. That stuff doesn't bother me.

[BurtWorm]

8. It's usually a wingnut who wishes this, and there's always a knife

hidden under the sugar-coating, a little threat that if you don't have their kind of blessed day eventually, you're going to roast in the lakes of hellfire while the blessing wisher laughs at you by Jesus's side for all eternity.

[Beware the Beast Man]

10. Funny, I don't see it that way.

When someone wishes me a blessed day, they're usually sincere.

[BurtWorm]

12. I only hear it coming from wing nuts on CSPAN.

Bad association.

[Beware the Beast Man]

15. Well, that's C-SPAN,

Not everybody has a serect agenda when they wish someone well in their own special way.

[Left Is Write]

18. I agree with you.

Of course, I live in a conservative, religious area, and no one has EVER wished me "a blessed day" ever. Not once. I never heard "Have a Blessed Christmas" this year either.

[Beware the Beast Man]

32. Not to generalize,

but when I worked as a call center rep, I received "blessed day" greetings almost exclusively from African-American callers. Whether I believed or not, it always made me feel good.

[BurtWorm]

51. My wife, who is a social worker, also says many of her African American

clients say it, and they're the only ones she hears it from. As an atheist, she says it doesn't make it any more stomachable (if that can be a word for this purpose) coming from urban African Americans than it would from rural white folk. :shrug:

[Lisa0825]

59. My SIL, who is black, says it, and I have exclusively heard it from

African Americans. Not sure why that is, but it is.

[BurtWorm]

70. Confession: I love the gospel song "We are blessed."

But I would rather not associate with people who pepper their everyday speech with "bless" this and "blessed" that.

[Lisa0825]

81. The people I know who say itdon't overuse it.

I have only heard my SIL use it on her answering machine, never in person. I make a lot of phone calls, and have a LOT of African Americans on my call list (I work for a state employment office, in case you wonder), and I hear that as a closing on many answering machines here in the Houston area. It doesn't bother me. "God Bless" would annoy me.

BTW, since I have only heard it from African Americans, I assume it's mostly Democrats saying it. So I don't see it as a "fundie" thing!:-)

[BurtWorm]

83. Well, you are blessed in that.

;)

[Dorian Gray]

109. Nor should it make a difference....

If you don't like the saying, it shouldn't matter if a black man/woman were saying it or a white man/woman. If it offends you, it should be offensive, no matter what. If it doesn't bother you, it should not bother you, no matter who is saying it.

[AngryOldDem]

134. That is just damned sad, IMO

I, too, hear "Have a blessed day" from many of the homeless I work with. Whenever I hear it, it makes me pause and think just how blessed I REALLY am.

I pray I NEVER get this cynical.

[liberalpress]

139. That seems to be their fault, not yours.

Don't let them play you, don't let them control the debate. Wish them a blessed day right back.... with knobs on it!

[StopTheMorans]

14. it's essentially throwing God in someone's face

they are making a deliberate and definitely NOT nuanced attempt at throwing God into a phrase where it is certainly not necessary (i.e. "have a nice day", "have a great day", etc...). if the inverse were true and atheists went around saying "have a godless day", i don't think that Christians would see it the same. just my $.02.

[Modem Butterfly]

19. In some parts of the country, you'd get punched in the mouth

[StopTheMorans]

26. in some parts of the country, i'd carry a gun

:evilgrin:

[Modem Butterfly]

29. LOL!

Remind me to stay out the PigglyWiggly on grocery day!

[Beware the Beast Man]

20. Baloney.

"blessed" could mean a multitude of different things, whether it be blessing from God, or wishes of good fortune. Have we as liberals become this stilted and paranoid that we think everybody has some secret agenda for us?

[arwalden]

24. Yes... I Suppose It Could Mean A Multitude Of Different Things...

... but honestly now... come on! Do you really think that it means anything OTHER than the way it's being taken?

[StopTheMorans]

28. "paranoid"? have you seen the religious right lately?

"realistic" is the term i'd use.

on edit: and, these people are making a point of using "blessed" as a cute little phrase that is supposed to intone God, but doesn't necessarily have to. that way they can have it both ways when someone calls them out on it. some people may just be doing it in a totally secular fashion, but i sincerely doubt it given the push the religious right has made lately to inject God into all facets of modern American life...

[Guaranteed]

30. Seriously, come on. People that say that are pushing God on you.

I wouldn't really care all that much, but it's tacky as hell to do that to people, say, at the check-out counter, when you don't even know them. It's not "wrong," just- socially inept, I guess is the way to put it.

[Beware the Beast Man]

33. "May God pound a cross into your ass."

That, to me is forceful. "Have a blessed day" is not.

[Guaranteed]

36. It's not the force of it, it's just bringing up religion in that kind of

situation. There's just no need for it.

[arwalden]

40. Oooo... Not TOO Big, I Hope :-)

[Modem Butterfly]

71. Best. Comeback. On. Thread.

You're KILLING me!

[Mad_Dem_X]

110. Thank you!

I just see it as a different way of saying, "Have a nice day." Someone wishing you well. Don't read so much into it!

[BurtWorm]

21. Thank you.

You're .02 cents is worth a lot to me. :hi:

[tjwmason]

31. I agree

I'm a good Catholic boy (well actually a terrible Catholic boy but that's another story), but the whole parading religion thing strikes me as distasteful (partially and English-American thing going on here).

Also, it sounds so tacky, trite and meaningless. If I want somebody to have a blessed day then I'll pray a decade of the Rosary for them, or something like that; certainly trot out a standard phrase so frequently that it becomes meaningless.

Which leads me to my final point, and a Theological one here. If somebody is to have a blessed day, then surely it is a matter of God bestowing the blessings on him or her. My wishes expressed to him or her have nothing to do with it.

I know I said that the one above was my final point, but what is wrong with 'good bye' which is merely a corruption over time of 'God be with you'?

[OldLeftieLawyer]

126. Bingo

Exactly. It's an insidious, passive-aggressive stab and these things have a way of getting bigger, so I'm all for nipping this uninvited religious intrusion in the bud.

I've had someone say it to me. I have the luxury of time, plus I'm a professional irritant, so I stopped and asked her what she meant by "blessed."

She said she hoped God's blessing would rain down on me that day.

I asked her if she knew that I was a Satanist.

She looked scared.

I asked her how she'd feel if I had wished her "a gloriously Satanic day."

She didn't answer.

I was only a little ashamed of myself, but this crap does not fly with me.

And, yes, the truth is that all lawyers ARE Satanists. They make us convert in law school. :evilgrin:

[SmokingJacket]

94. They're not telling you to have a good day; they're telling you

what kind of good day to have: one blessed by their own personal savior. It's pushy and rude.

Frankly, if anyone said that to me I'd internally roll my eyes and move on.

But saying "piss off" is perfectly justified.

[Mad_Dem_X]

111. ???????

Unless they are saying specifically, "May God bless you today," I don't see the problem.

[SmokingJacket]

115. Come on. Who's going to bless you but God? It's just rude IMHOnt

[JanMichael]

127. I don't want nor do I need your, I repeat your, "blessing".

Got it?

[Maple]

9. 'Live long

and prosper' is what I say.

The hand movement isn't necessary.

[Modem Butterfly]

13. I live in the Bible belt and hear this all the time.

I just look at them like they're insane and say, "O-kaaaaay," Usually they look embarassed and blush. If I encounter those folks again, they usually just tell me to have a nice day.

[arwalden]

27. I Like That Response... It Says A Lot Without Saying Much

It kind of lets the other person fill in the blanks. A generic response like that "could mean a multitude of different things".

[progmom]

16. I guess I would just say: "Uh...thanks."

I know that sometimes you're right, there's a little hint of "I'm holier than you" hidden in the subtext. But often it's just someone's sugar-coated greeting. No more harmful than strangers calling you "honey" or "sweetie" (which, honestly, I cringe at!).

[Cocoa]

17. how about "thank you"

:shrug:

[noonwitch]

23. Does it really bother you that much?

I work in Detroit, this is a standard phrase used by many. The person saying it is wishing good things for you.

[Guaranteed]

35. I think it's a social faux-pas.

It's not immoral or anything, but when someone says that to you, you know damned well what they mean, and it's really not their place to be bringing religion into the relationship if you don't know them.

If you know someone fairly well, I don't see anything wrong with it, even if it's known by the well-wishing party that the person they're saying it to isn't Christian. You can bring up religion at that point, if you like.

But it definitely shouldn't be used in place of "Have a good day" or other farewells strangers make use of with each other. It's just tacky.

[Crankie Avalon]

34. It depends on the attitude they're giving off when saying it...

...if it's said at the end of a neutral or even pleasant interaction, then I would take it as someone trying to say something nice.

If it comes at the end of an unpleasant interaction and you can tell it's a Holy Roller trying to be condescending, answer, "And you have a day that will live in infamy," or something.

[BurtWorm]

77. Bless you

for saying that, Crankie. I totally agree. :evilfrown:

[Crankie Avalon]

89. I'm not sure I like the way you said that...

Bless me? Hey, Burt--BLESS YOU!!!! :evilgrin:

[BurtWorm]

92. You blessin' me? Are you blessin' ME? You think I'M blessed?

[Modem Butterfly]

102. Bless ME? Bless YOU, Pal!

[Crankie Avalon]

137. I don't see anybody else, here...

...you MUST be blessing me...

heh.:D

[Done]

39. As long as someone respects you, respect them back.

Don't be so easily offended. I agree that it depends on how they say it...if they say it respectfully.

If a Muslim told me, "May Allah bless you", I would not be offended.

If a Hindu told me, "May you return as a prince", I would not be offended.

A person's religion will certainly influence how they see the world, and what they say to you...but as long as they are respectful and polite, what's the problem?

[BurtWorm]

42. No shit?

Thanks for the moral advice. :hi:

[louis-t]

41. When I ask: "How are you ?"

and the response is: "blessed", I feel like that person is saying he/she is blessed and I'm not! Of course, it's usually said with a glazed look on the face.

[arwalden]

45. Your Powers Of Observation Are Keen

:hi:

[Zenlitened]

46. Possible response: "May the goddess bless us all"

How they react will reveal a lot about their intent.

[Done]

50. Good answer

Repond with a greeting that reflects your own belief. Most evangelicals won't like that at all.

[Beware the Beast Man]

47. Okay, since blessings cheese a lot of you off:

"Fuck all y'all! I hope you choke on your lunches!"

:evilgrin:

[arwalden]

52. May The Fleas Of A Thousand Camels Infest Your Carpets

[Radical Activist]

48. How about "Go fuck yourself!"

It works for me and Cheney.

[Renew Deal]

74. Go to hell

Oh well

[TXlib]

54. My $0.02

Are we talking about "Have a blessed day" being said through clenched teeth in a manner that leads you to believe this is really their way of saying "Get lost"?

If so, then they're controlling their urge to say something nasty in the interest of civility, and you ought to do the same.

If not, then it is a general expression of greeting or well-wishing, and you should respond in kind.

I really don't get why so many people here are so anti-theistic.

I, myself, am a non-theist, but I don't see the point of being antagonistic.

Be polite. Be pleasant. Stop taking every human encounter as a confrontation, and save your energy for when it really counts.

[BurtWorm]

55. If we can't let loose and vent our feelings about such things here

where can we? Belief.net? ;)

[TXlib]

58. I suppose

But there are so many bigger things to vent about, IMHO.

[Shrek]

56. Thanks for a little perspective

The hypersensitivity around here is astounding at times.

:eyes:

[BurtWorm]

57. And goes two ways.

For some reason godless folks are expected to not be hypersensitive, but it's okay if you're a theist. :shrug:

[Shrek]

60. Blessings aren't necessarily religious in nature

The preamble to the Constitution references the "blessings of liberty" without mentioning a deity of any kind.

It's a word. Just a word.

Someone who wishes you a "blessed day" is most likely trying to be friendly and has no desire to drag you into a church and force you to speak in tongues. Take it as it is intended and don't try to spot some secret agenda where none exists.

[BurtWorm]

62. This shouldn't have to be said, but I'll say it again.

If someone means you kindness, it's usually obvious and not a problem. But whenever I hjave heard it, it hasn't sound like kindness. It has sounded like religion on the sleeve, as neutral as a flag button on the lapel or a God Bless America magnet on the back of a Hummer. I have yet to hear it being said as naturally as a second breath. Of course it's possible people have said it to me and I haven't noticed, which is how I'd prefer to hear.

[TXlib]

65. I can only think of one instance

in my whole life where somebody said "Bless you", and by the tone of their voice and the context of the comment, meant it as a polite form of "F*** you".

Every other instance was either an automatic response (i.e.-- I have atheist acquaintances who reflexively say "God bless you" in response to a sneeze), or as a genuine sentiment of greeting or well-wishing.

And I live in a profoundly baptist area of the country. The movie "Saved" could have easily been about one of the neighborhoods within 10 miles of my own.

Are you sure you're not just overly sensitive/paranoid about this?

[BurtWorm]

68. I live in a very secular, very ethnically diverse city

People don't say things like "blessed day" here unless they're trying to get in your face with their own "blessedness."

I tend only to hear this salutation when I'm listening to C-SPAN, so admittedly, I strongly associate it with the people who praise Bush for being a "strong Christian man."

[Modem Butterfly]

64. Some folks consider it rude to have religion injected into their day

And wishing someone a "blessed day" is certainly religious in nature, even if it isn't limited to a particular religion.

I don't think the people who say "Have a blessed day" are trying to drag me into church. But they are assuming that I share some of their religious beliefs (i.e., that there is something that is capable of providing a blessed day). And that's just rude. I don't go around wishing people to have a "Democrat day" or a "Gynecological afternoon". Why? Because it's rude. Weird, too, come to that.

[TXlib]

67. And some folks consider it rude...

to have their well-wishing flung back into their face with a "F*** you!"

Christianity teaches its adherants that the best form of proselytising is simply being an example of a life well-lived.

Perhaps *we* should preach tolerance by actually being tolerant of the views and beliefs of others, when they don't materially harm us.

[Modem Butterfly]

69. Please

I don't think anyone here is seriously advocating replying "Fuck you" to "Have a blessed day,", although there may very well be circumstance when it's appropriate.

I have no problem being tolerant of theists. I'd just like to know when they're going to start being tolerant of me.

Sound of a woman checking her watch.

[TXlib]

75. Perhaps not

They aren't seriously advocating dropping the F-bomb, but they are advocating a flip response that may well be taken to be rude.

I've had many a theist acquaintance change their attitude (or, at least, their outward expression of their attitude) to my atheism simply by being pleasant and patient.

[Modem Butterfly]

79. Gee, I guess some people are tired of turning the other cheek

Some theists are polite and sensitive when confronted with a free-thinker. Others aren't. I refuse to be a good little atheist and sit on my hands politely, hoping someday, if I'm very, very good, they'll accept me. If they can't deal with me as an atheist, that's their problem.

[progmom]

151. free-thinkers and theists

Wouldn't you agree that most theists who post on DU are fairly free-thinking? I hope that theists and free-thinkers aren't mutally exclusive. Christians with a thirst for knowledge and understanding about other cultures, religions, lifestyles are very common. They just don't get the press.

[BurtWorm]

82. I think theists who are getting their hackles up over this thread

are experiencing something similar to what I feel when I hear "blessed day." My original post only asked for "alternatives" to it. It didn't say anything about why I would want alternatives to it. But right away people were taking offense at the very idea of alternatives to "have a blessed day."

Kind of an odd reaction, isn't it, in a country where we're supposedly free to worship or not worship as we please?

[TXlib]

63. $0.01 change from my $0.02

Freedom or religion does not mean freedom from religion.

We laugh and tell the right to change the channel when they find TV programming offensive. Perhaps we need to follow our own advice and ignore religion, to the extent it is not infringing (seriously) on anybody's rights.

I don't believe any rational person would feel oppressed if, in court, the judge says "God bless you" in response to a sneeze. Being offered a Bible to swear on similarly should not be considered an assault; if you were forced to swear on the Christian Bible regardless of your religion (or lack of it), that would be a different matter.

Holiday displays of mistletoe, holly wreaths, generic Christmas trees, and the like shouldn't get anybody's dander up... these are all symbols associated with winter solstice festivities that predate Christianity.

Rather than trying to purge any semblance of faith or religion from the public view, I think it makes sense to concentrate our energy only on issues where it constitutes a serious threat to civil liberties.

Fighting religion every step of the way only gives the opposition just cause to paint us as theophobic nuts, and makes the general public less sympathetic to our cause when we DO have cause for real concern.

It's draining, also, to attempt to plug 1000 trickles, and be spread too thin to catch the deluge.

[Modem Butterfly]

66. There is no freedom of religion if there is no freedom from religion

How can you say that people have freedom of religion if they are forced to have religion?

if you were forced to swear on the Christian Bible regardless of your religion (or lack of it), that would be a different matter.

It wasn't so long ago that people were, in fact, forced to swear on a Xian Bible, and atheists were not able to testify or serve on juries.

Rather than trying to purge any semblance of faith or religion from the public view, I think it makes sense to concentrate our energy only on issues where it constitutes a serious threat to civil liberties.

Come now. Exactly who is trying to "purge any semblance of faith or religion from public view"? And anyway, if religionists want to put their faith and religion on public view, why shouldn't the public be able to react?

[TXlib]

72. Response

How can you say that people have freedom of religion if they are forced to have religion?

if you were forced to swear on the Christian Bible regardless of your religion (or lack of it), that would be a different matter.

It wasn't so long ago that people were, in fact, forced to swear on a Xian Bible, and atheists were not able to testify or serve on juries.

Fight where religion is genuinely being imposed on you (by the government). A neighbor or coworker who casually says "Have a blessed day" is not imposing religion on you.

Regarding atheists not being allowed to testify or serve on juries, that matter has been resolved through the use of appropriate activism.

My understanding is that in Texas, still, an atheist may not serve in elected office. That, to me, is a good fight to take up. And I'm more likely to get a positive response from people who wish me a blessed day if I don't turn into an asshole every time they say it.

[Modem Butterfly]

78. Again I ask:

How can there be freedom of religion if there is no freedom from religion?

I would like a response to this question.

You say that we should "fight where religion is genuninely being imposed on you (by the government)." I am sorry to inform you, but government is not the only entity that can impose religion on us. For instance, I was once fired by an employer who found out I'm an atheist. As another example, when my partner, Will, was recovering from cranial surgery, I had to continually shoo away members of the clergy from imposing themselves on him in the hospital. Now perhaps you think a man seriously ill should welcome attempts at conversion with open arms and a big smile, but not everyone shares your point of view. Unfortunately for us however, the hospital did.

[Mad_Dem_X]

112. I totally agree

"Stop taking every human encounter as a confrontation, and save your energy for when it really counts."

Good point! :thumbsup:

[greyfox]

61. Somethnig wrong with it as it is?

Have a blessed day.

[BurtWorm]

84. Thanks for that totally nonhostile wish.

;)

[greyfox]

85. Of course....

heheeheh ;)

[NoSheep]

73. Go fuck yourself! sorry, I hate that shit. n/t

[Book Lover]

76. "Oh, I'm not religious but thank you. Have a great day" is what I say

I have gotten a range of responses, but not yet gotten a rude one. Yet.

[Modem Butterfly]

80. That's a good one!

I like to say something like that when I'm invited to church. "Thanks, but I'm not a religious person,". Only once have I had someone push beyond that point.

[greyfox]

Jesus was

not a "religious" person either. I doubt he would be offended by being asked to church however... religious or not.

[Book Lover]

91. We really don't have any way of knowing how Jesus felt,

if he really existed. I would gently suggest that the four gospels that made it into the bible should be read through the prism of metaphor, temporal distance (between the events and the recording of the events), and propaganda.

[greyfox]

96. Excuse me, but...er...

blah blah blah....

[Book Lover]

99. Thank you for your reasoned reply

How I appreciate it when someone takes the time to read and think about what I have to say, rather than dismissing it out of hand.

And theists wonder why we get so pissed off.....

[greyfox]

116. No need to get "pissed off" at all...

you gave the same tired rhetoric that always comes through here and I just responded. There was nothing to "think out" at all. Jesus is real and that ends that. Thus, anything otherwise is..well... blah blah blah....

[Book Lover]

117. Wow - i unignored you for this?

Yawn indeed. Enjoy playing with your friend in the sky.

[greyfox]

123. Thanks....

will do...

[RandomKoolzip]

86. As an atheist, I just say "yeah, you too."

It doesn't bother me. There are bigger issues.

[BurtWorm]

87. Fuck you! There are not!

;)

[RandomKoolzip]

88. Sure there are: Pitt/Aniston, to name just one.....

Socks without partners, etc.

[BurtWorm]

90. I guess you're right.

Bless you! Gesundheit!

[RandomKoolzip]

97. :

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2906852

[BurtWorm]

101. Why can't people be tolerant of religious intolerance?

:crazy:

[RandomKoolzip]

103. Because of HOW we express it.

Most messages are 70% tone.

The left needs all the friends it can get right now. Why make those religious liberals feel like they don't belong on the boat?

[Modem Butterfly]

106. Most of the religious liberals I know understand our frustration

They feel it too. Plus they have the added embarassment of occasionally being lumped in with these people.

[Az]

95. If I have a mind to respond I usually say "And may reason be with you"

Though this is better suited for the "God be with you" or "God Bless you" comment. They mean well. No reason to be snippy. Just remind them there are other paths in the world.

[sonicx]

98. "OK. But if my day sucks, I'll blame God for it."

[BurtWorm]

100. That's a keeper!

:thumbsup:

[SiouxJ]

104. I would probably just say, "whatever"

surprisingly I have not run into this yet. I live in a very religious rural town too. Hmmm. Thanks for the heads up, now I have a response ready.

[ldf]

105. excuse me?

they are "flaunting" their damn lifestyle.

and i am not the slightest bit interested in their announcement (because the IS what it is) that they are a born-again, accepting jayzuss as their personal savior, christian. pardon me, but who cares. i sure don't.

i get it here in nyc. i purposely don't respond. really ticks me off.

being an atheist, i am apparently hypersensitive. but this little well-wish didn't come about until we started having the shove-it-in-your-face fundies feel that they should share, minute by minute, their personal relationship with their god with everyone within hearing range.

and they get upset if i hold my partner's hand in public.

geez.

:grr:

[BurtWorm]

107. Amen!

(So to speak.) :toast:

[AngryBrooklynGal]

113. I see your point

Some groups' identities and languages are definitely privileged over others'...seems like a lot of folks are totally unconscious of the way they reinforce privilege through their language.

I get totally pissed when I have to listen to folks spewing religious rationals for political oppressions (e.g., banning abortion)

That being said, I wonder if the simple way to respond to or replace the statement, "have a blessed day," might just be, "have a nice day" --- or, how about just walking away?

[rasputin1952]

157. Welcome to DU AngryBrooklynGal !!!!!

:hi:

[madison2000]

120. How about "Have a bitchin' day!"

I mean, in a good way! :smoke:

[Dukkha]

121. some people actually get made at me

because I refuse to say "bless you" when they sneeze.
I usually reply snidely "Why, is your soul escaping?"

[ldf]

149. that's another thing i ignore

i sneeze, they bless me, i say "don't waste your breath", or just ignore them.

and of course i absolutely refuse to bless someone for sneezing, or for anything else, for that matter.

my coworkers all know not to bless me when i sneeze.

EVERYONE knows that i'm a bleeding heart liberal queer atheist.

and i am NOT a bitch. so stop saying that. i am actually quite fun to work with.

really.

:-)

[BurtWorm]

122. "Blessed be"

The Alistair Crowley solution! :thumbsup:

[CornField]

124. Wow -- I've never known Xtians to say that, just pagans

Blessings to you... Blessed be... May the Goddess Bless You and Yours... Merry Meet... Have a Blessed Day

This could very well explain why I've been led to believe the pagan population in Iowa to be exploding.

[liontamer]

129. That's what I thought too

I lived in the bible belt and am a christian and I've only heard things like "have a blessed day" from witches

[BurtWorm]

144. That's what I'll say to the next Christian who wishes this to me!

"Are you a Wiccan! Cool!"
:thumbsup:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

125. Encarta says

blessed

bless·ed < bléssəd >

adjective

1. religion holy: made holy


2. christianity beatified: declared holy by the pope, usually as the first stage toward being declared a saint


3. bestowing joy: bringing happiness or good luck
The rain has brought farmers blessed relief from the long drought.

adjective,

adverb

used for emphasis: used to add emphasis in an expression of annoyance ( informal )
She wouldn’t say a blessed thing about it.

bless·ed·ly adverb
bless·ed·ness noun
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The 3rd definition works for me.

[BurtWorm]

145. All right, I'll take it that way.

May joy be bestowed upon thou.

[yellowdogintexas]

130. The phrase is becoming more and more common here in

North Texas.

I first heard it from African American women, mostly. Then I started hearing it from conservative ..probably fundamentalist.. white Christians.

But the expression really did just seem to sort of surface all of a sudden around here, couple of years ago or so.

some people appear to be just saying it as a reflex, like "Have a good day", and others do sound as if they have some sort of cosmic influence and you are better off because they said it than you would have been otherwise.

It doesn't make me mad, or get me all riled up, but I am gettin' kinda tired of it, y'know?

NOT as tired as I am of the "Christian" investment company, and the "Christian" exterminator and the "Christian" carpet cleaner...

this kind of thing to me is trying to exploit something that ought not to be exploited.

[Carson]

132. For BurtWorm....see my post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x2412680

Take people at their good intentions. I'd bet only a very small percentage mean anything snarky with such a comment.

[vetwife]

133. Not me Kid..Blessed is better than rational anyday ...

Red Skelton used to end his show with May God Bless. I am sure there were aethists then too.
With Blessed..you know you got good..rational would depend on a person's idea of rational.
My grandfather used to say...How smart you are depends on where you are standing. I would think that would depend on rationality as well. It was perfectly rational to beat and stone the women in Afghanistan. IN THEIR MIND.
Nope...I'll take the blessings.
There was this fellow named Jacob and....he wrestled..never mind.

[mattclearing]

135. "Have a wretched day?"

:evilgrin:

[baldguy]

140. May Shoggoth devour you last.

[Buns_of_Fire]

141. After considering this carefully...

I have come to the conclusion that I prefer "Have a blessed day" to "Eat shit and die," "Against the wall and assume the position," or "Hand over your wallet, asshole."

But that's just me. :shrug:

[Strawman]

142. Give 'em the goat horns and say "balls to the wall!"

Not really. I don't care unless I can sense the person is foaming at the mouth to "save" me. Usually I just think "this place is creepy. I shouldn't be shopping at Walmart."

[BurtWorm]

143. That's a blessed picture of Lou Reed.

Bless you for you having it. Have a blessed day.

[Strawman]

147. And you have an enlightened day rooted in empiricism

I may try that one out just to get a reaction next time. Or I might just start saying at the end of my conversations with customers at work.

Point taken. It can be annoying. I would probably be more annoyed by it if I heard it more often. I hear it maybe once or twice a year usually from some old er person trying to be friendly.

[Bouncy Ball]

146. I was once in a particularly foul mood when this was said to me

and I turned around, smiled a really smart ass smile and said "Actually I am trying to have a SUPREMELY SHITTY day, so I'd appreciate it if you'd take the blessed stuff back."

Not very nice of me and way out of character. I normally just say "Thanks, have a good day!"

On edit, I live in North Texas and hear it quite a bit. It honestly doesn't even hit my radar anymore.

When you've heard things like "why are you an unpatriotic un-American socialist?" then "have a blessed day" becomes pretty mild in comparison.

:shrug:

[Rob H.]

148. If I really wanted to mess with "blessed day"-wishers...

I'd say something like "If Cthulhu wills it, it will be so." :evilgrin:

[smedwed]

150. Good morning :P

[kwassa]

152. Y'all need to get a life, and get your heads out of your derrieres

I have been trying to avoid responding to this thread, but reaaallllyyy folks.

When someone wishes me to have a blessed day, I take it in the spirit that it is given. This other person is wishing me the best for my day, because they believe in blessings, and what they see as the grace of God.

They aren't trying to sell you their religion, they are not trying to force something on you, they are sincerely wishing you to have a great day. That is all. That is it.

I have never seen so much extreme anti-religious paranoia that is COMPLETELY unwarranted, as I have seen in this thread.

But then, I'm new around here. I thought the word "liberal" meant open-minded.

[Zenlitened]

153. Well if the paranoia is COMPLETELY unwarranted, that settles it, I guess

Thanks for clearing that up for us.

:hi:

[Bouncy Ball]

154. LMAO

[kwassa]

156. You're welcome, always happy to enlighten the clueless

lotta theological illiteracy around this place

[Misunderestimator]

155. I usually say Gesundheit in response...

at least I'm wishing them good health instead of blessings from/for whatever.

(And I agree that it's a blatant exhibition of one's piety to use the term. I also despise "God Bless You" when someone sneezes. What an odd thing to say about a sneeze.)