Sly Bald Guys Forum

Discussions About Being Bald => General Discussion => Topic started by: Mr. Wilson on November 23, 2008, 03:52:28 PM

Title: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: Mr. Wilson on November 23, 2008, 03:52:28 PM
Very rarely has someone told me those words and most of the time someone does say that to me, they are a bit messed up in the head.  I mean, they just say it to me out of the blue and they are complete strangers whom I've never talked to or done anything for.  Whenever someone says, "God bless you,"  I respond with "God bless you too."  But every time I've done it, the person would just look at me like I'm strange.  So that brings me to asking you all, what do you respond with when someone says "God bless you" and do you ever feel uncomfortable when they say it to you?

Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: Brkeatr on November 23, 2008, 03:59:54 PM
I don't feel funny at all when someone says "God Bless you". Most of the time it was said because of sneezing or on the way out of church or something. I usually say thank you or God Bless you also. Nothing strange about that to me....... O0
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: Alexander215 on November 23, 2008, 04:14:06 PM
I give them an appreciative nod, I'm not a Christian but it doesn't make me uncomfortable.
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: SLYinKC on November 23, 2008, 04:34:52 PM
I don't feel funny at all when someone says "God Bless you". Most of the time it was said because of sneezing or on the way out of church or something. I usually say thank you or God Bless you also. Nothing strange about that to me....... O0

I'm with Brkeatr.  But I think it all depends on the context of which they say it in.  Bottom line is that it is a statement that is meant as a blessing and I can't think of any negative connotations to hearing it.
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: Timmay on November 23, 2008, 04:57:11 PM
I usually say God Bless you as well.
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: TheSlyBear on November 23, 2008, 05:17:57 PM
Regardless of what you believe, you take it in the spirit it was intended and say "Thank you".
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: wpruitt on November 23, 2008, 05:18:49 PM
Regardless of what you believe, you take it in the spirit it was intended and say "Thank you".
Very good BootedBear
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: hammerdrill376 on November 23, 2008, 05:36:20 PM
Let me offer something you might find interesting. One of the definitions for the word "bless" in Hebrew actually means to empower to prosper. Often we say these words without really understanding the implication of what is being said. I believe in the power of words both from a spiritual standpoint as well as what science has discovered via quantum physics. So when someone says "God bless you" to me I willingly recieve it and return the same to them.

If your faith is not Christian just accept it as that individual wishing your diety to bless you.
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: schro on November 23, 2008, 06:44:06 PM
Regardless of what you believe, you take it in the spirit it was intended and say "Thank you".

Agree 100%, BB.
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: andrew on November 23, 2008, 09:44:04 PM
Regardless of what you believe, you take it in the spirit it was intended and say "Thank you".

Exactly ...
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: BlackJamesRackham on November 23, 2008, 09:48:36 PM
yeah a simple thank you is all i ever say
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: (|8-) on November 24, 2008, 12:06:33 AM
"Thank you" is all that's expected. 

It's like many other ritual pairs that you shouldn't think about too hard or answer literally. 


Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: The Scottish Ambassador on November 24, 2008, 12:15:31 PM
I usually reply "may God bless us both"
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: PE#1 on November 25, 2008, 10:06:05 AM
Regardless of what you believe, you take it in the spirit it was intended and say "Thank you".

 O0
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: warhawk on November 25, 2008, 10:09:49 AM
Regardless of what you believe, you take it in the spirit it was intended and say "Thank you".
bear hits nail on the head. O0

WARHAWK O0
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: GASlick on November 26, 2008, 08:45:33 PM
Regardless of what you believe, you take it in the spirit it was intended and say "Thank you".
bear hits nail on the head. O0

WARHAWK O0

Absolutely.
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: xnewyawka on December 18, 2008, 11:14:07 AM
I echo GA and the quotes above. A simple thank you is all that's needed.
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: tomgallagher on December 18, 2008, 12:05:52 PM
I usually reply "and you also". What is that back and forth that Muslim's say "salamalekhum" (forgive the spelling) and the response is.?
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: D.A.L.U.I. on December 19, 2008, 01:38:19 PM
I usually reply "and you also". What is that back and forth that Muslim's say "salamalekhum" (forgive the spelling) and the response is.?

"And also w/ you" in Arabic and I'm not going to try to transliterate it.  What I find interesting about it is that this exchange is used repeatedly in Christian liturgies of the Eucharist, and I am betting that it also is part of the Jewish ritual too.  The irony of it is that although it is oft stated by people around the world of all faiths, no one seems to be listening considering the warfare that is going on.  Sad, maybe the holidays will refocus us all.
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: tomgallagher on December 19, 2008, 02:20:28 PM
Someday somebody will have to sit down and figure out hqw many people have been killed in the name of religion since the beginning of recorded history.
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: hammerdrill376 on December 21, 2008, 08:39:29 AM
Agreed..If people of different faiths would read out of their holy texts what it teaches without unbiased fundamentalism mixed in and practice it wars would stop immediately.
One key common denominator among all religous faiths is the teachings of kindness and forgiveness.
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: PBurke on December 22, 2008, 02:13:47 AM
why is there enough religion to incite war, but not enough to instill peace?
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: Brkeatr on December 22, 2008, 03:48:56 AM
I think it has to do with Man's fallen nature.
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: Papa Don on December 22, 2008, 09:25:28 AM
Simple manners have gone out the door.  I think "God Bless You" is a thoughtful way of saying that someone cares.  How many times have you opened or held a door for someone and not even get a Thank You?  A simple response to someone's kindness and thoughtfulness doesn't cost much. Compassion in the World seems to be a thing of the past.
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: Shaf on December 22, 2008, 03:48:12 PM
I usually reply "and you also". What is that back and forth that Muslim's say "salamalekhum" (forgive the spelling) and the response is.?



'Wa alaikum asalaam' which means 'and peace be upon you.'   As beautiful to hear as 'God bless you'
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: kenrh on December 22, 2008, 09:44:42 PM
While I absolutely agree that all of us are entitled to our own faiths, some of the replies have touched a raw nerve.  History shows us that the primary reason for starting all religions is control of the masses through placing power in the hands of the chosen few.  If all the deaths due to religious wars was to be totalled there is little doubt that it would exceed all other non-natural causes of death.
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: Turk on December 23, 2008, 11:11:55 AM
While I absolutely agree that all of us are entitled to our own faiths, some of the replies have touched a raw nerve.  History shows us that the primary reason for starting all religions is control of the masses through placing power in the hands of the chosen few.  If all the deaths due to religious wars was to be totalled there is little doubt that it would exceed all other non-natural causes of death.

Agreed, but at the same time, we have to remember that not all religious people are brainwashed zealots. I'm not saying that you were implying that, and at the same time I certainly do believe that religion was made for that cause. However, I believe that peering endlessly at the negative aspect of it is where the line should be drawn. While they may be slim, some wonderful things have been done in the name of religion or God or whatever. And while they may be outweighed by the murders and tortures in the name of God, they still deserve some recognition.

Wow, we went way off topic, didn't we?  :-X
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: Robmeister on December 23, 2008, 05:04:29 PM
I think it has to do with Man's fallen nature.

 O0 O0 O0 O0
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: hammerdrill376 on December 23, 2008, 05:21:01 PM
why is there enough religion to incite war, but not enough to instill peace?

Because religon has nothing to do with true spirituality. The basic tenants of all the major faiths of the world, be they Christian, Islam, Buddism, Taoism, Jewish, or Hindu teach peace. If people of different faiths would study and follow what their Holy scriptures say wars would most certainly become a thing of the past almost immediately. I believe or at least it has been my observation, that "religon" (which I can best define as thinking I am right..you are wrong..believe my way or else)  has done more to destroy people on a personal, community and national level that it has ever helped. But in the midst of all that, out of all the wars, economy problems and so forth an ever increasing number of people of all faiths are reaching out for true spirituality that is not confined behind stained glass windows or several services per week.   
Title: Re: How do you respond to "God bless you?"
Post by: The Scottish Ambassador on December 26, 2008, 01:51:20 AM
why is there enough religion to incite war, but not enough to instill peace?

Because religon has nothing to do with true spirituality. The basic tenants of all the major faiths of the world, be they Christian, Islam, Buddism, Taoism, Jewish, or Hindu teach peace. If people of different faiths would study and follow what their Holy scriptures say wars would most certainly become a thing of the past almost immediately. I believe or at least it has been my observation, that "religon" (which I can best define as thinking I am right..you are wrong..believe my way or else)  has done more to destroy people on a personal, community and national level that it has ever helped. But in the midst of all that, out of all the wars, economy problems and so forth an ever increasing number of people of all faiths are reaching out for true spirituality that is not confined behind stained glass windows or several services per week.   

Spot on Hammer. I attended a course run by Church of Scotland called "Church without Walls". This was aimed at encouraging us to show our faith by our actions as well as by going to church every week (altho I still do). We have to remember, without the people a church/mosque/whatever becomes a building. The church is the people. I am rambling here. Hope you guys get what I mean.