You're making me uncomfortable!

United States
March 24, 2017 1:19am CST
In Irish, when you say hello to someone, you are literally saying "God be with you." The most common response, again in the Irish language, is "God and Mary be with you." (or is it Mary and Joseph? I can't remember). "Dia Dhuit" is "God be with you." or "hello" in Irish. In the English Language, it is common to say "Bless you" after someone sneezes. Though, I've always said "Gesundheit" instead (it's German) because that's just what I picked up from family. I think even "Salu" in spanish is "bless you" but don't quote me on that because I don't rightly remember. Those things, are just a part of life, so they don't make me uncomfortable. However, and I think atleast some of you can agree with me here, other similar instances DO make me cringe. Say you are talking to someone (online or off) and they say "Oh bless you." or "I'll pray for you." or "You're in my thoughts and prayers." It's just what they were taught, or perhaps they are religious and it's their nature to do these things. I don't begrudge anyone their beliefs.. However, it makes me uncomfortable when people say things like that because I don't know what to say back... I am not religious. I don't mind if people pray for me, if that's what they want to do. I feel even more uncomfortable when someone says things like "Just leave it to God." Again, I know it's their religion but I feel as if they are pushing that on to me. Now, I know, in most cases, thats not what they are doing. I just feel like we are such a vast and diverse group, with so many of us not practicing any religion at all... I just feel as if it's time we fall away from saying these types of things to one another. Atleast in situations where we don't know that person very well. We don't know how we might be making another person uncomfortable. With all of this being said, I am a bit of a hypocrite. I will, sometimes say, "God will handle it." I'm not trying to be sacrilege here. I try to say those things to people I know will appreciate it. For the most part, I'll say something very.. vague like "It is how it is." Nothing that is affiliated or influenced by a religious practice or belief... but something that might be of comfort to the person I am talking with. Does that make sense? In any case, I wanted to bring this up... Do you feel uncomfortable when someone says "God Bless You" or "I'll pray for you." Or encourges you to "Let Go and Let God." ?
7 people like this
8 responses
• United States
24 Mar 17
I'm not very religious But if someone says please keep them in their prayers or what not. I'll pray and hope all goes well But when someone says something religious to me, I don't really know how to answer back. Usually just oh okay.
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Mar 17
That is one thing I will do... I mean I am not religious but I will pray for someone if someone says "please keep me" or "pleas keep such and such." in your prayers. I guess that's just weird... It actually makes me think of a conversation me and ex boyfriend once had. He was talking about positive vibrations in the world and how a "prayer" is just many people affirming something... putting it "out there" to the universe.
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Mar 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum I personally never asked anyone to pray for me , even if something is wrong. I don't like putting it out there, but that's me. Maybe in their culture, relationship you are supposed to seek people to pray for one another? I have no clue I will just say somethings wrong & hope all goes well. But I can't physically bring myself to tell people to pray. But I don't mind if people ask though either. But the whole bless you and god, stuff or anything dealing with that ~ I don't know. I don't get it. I just go okay, but I guess some expect us to be the same religion as them perhaps?
• United States
24 Mar 17
@infatuatedbby You know, I don't think they expect us to be the same religion. Maybe they did back... forty years ago? Probably even further back then that. My aunt is religious somewhat, then there's my great aunts that are very religious. I guess I am used to hearing them say things like "I'll pray for you." In that situation it's easy to know what to say. They are family so I say "Thank you, I love you." and that's that. But like you were saying, in every other situation it's hard to decide. You don't know whether to say "Oh thank you" or whether you should explain how it makes you uncomfortable. It's deciding between letting them keep believing it's okay for them say it, and offending them or embarrassing them for bringing up that it makes you uncomfortable. Then you have the type of people who you feel "judge" you because you aren't religious. So I guess it's half "habit" and half "full blown religious" people who say things like "I'll pray for you." I think here in the "bible belt" people are most likely to judge you if you say you aren't religious, or that saying things like "I'll pray for you" makes you uncomfortable.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43567)
• Denver, Colorado
24 Mar 17
I'm an athiest. It doesn't really bother me. I just thank them.
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Mar 17
I am more of an agnostic myself...
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43567)
• Denver, Colorado
24 Mar 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum - I once had an extremely drunk girl tell me she was going to convert me by the end of the night. She passed out. Husband apologized.
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
24 Mar 17
Depends on the person. So many times there are people who say it and do not really mean it which makes it hard for us people who do.
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Mar 17
Yes, but on the other side of that, are the people who feel uncomfortable when those who are more religious than them say these things. That's why I feel it's better left to be said to people you know will appreciate it.
@silvermist (19701)
• India
24 Mar 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum I am not religious and I do not pray.But if somebody wants me to pray,I will just send positive thoughts for them.All the rest,I do not know what to say.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
30 Mar 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum I do not welcome it.But I would not let them know that and make them uncomfortable.
• United States
24 Mar 17
So you've never felt uncomfortable if someone says they'll pray for you? or says "God Bless You." ?
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
24 Mar 17
I don't mind people commenting these things, but like you I don't often know how to respond. What gets my goat a little more is religious posts proclaiming that God is good and whatnot. I steer clear of those, even when occasionally written by folk I follow.
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Mar 17
Yes, I steer clear of them as well... Or if a post starts turning religious, I tend to steer clear of it. I live in the "bible belt." You really can't get away from people saying things like "bless you" or 'I'll pray for you." Or trying to get you to go to church etc. It has gotten better over the years, but maybe that's because any errands I have to run are done later at night so I don't run into these people...
@thelme55 (79311)
• Germany
24 Mar 17
No, I don't feel uncomfortable when people said those to me. I appreciate when someone prays for me and my family. Btw, I say Gesundheit when somebody is sneezing.
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Mar 17
Yes, I've always said "Gesundheit" after someone sneezes. I couldn't tell you who started saying it first, or how it was picked up. We have Germanic roots but not so close in relation... I'd say probably the 1700's atleast...
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
25 Mar 17
Nah, I don't read too much into it anymore. Maybe I used to, but all my years of socializing online has taught me to just ignore that sort of thing. Plus, I'm sort of in between on the religious thing..
• United States
25 Mar 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum Yeah, I mean I don't even react to it anymore. I guess just Thanks is good enough..
• United States
25 Mar 17
I do ignore it... I just can't help but feel awkward about it though. I guess I feel as if I should say something, but not sure what that is. I work third shift (or part of 2nd sometimes now) so I don't come across it that much, but used to come across people saying things like "god bless you" to me and I'm like.. eek uh thanks?
• Banks, Oregon
25 Mar 17
I am not super religious and i do see where you are coming from but i always say bless you, or say i will pray for you, or god will look out for you, to me it's being respectful and i genuinely will pray for that sick child, or that person whom lost there grandmother to me it isn't just words i am saying.... whereas it may make you feel uncomfertable if you are not religious you atleast know that person does care right? what upsets me is when i say god bless you and the person gets angry at me for saying it because there not religious, i then get tongue tied i dont know how to show how much i care other then crying or hugging someone to someone online, saying i am thinking of you, or if you need anything just ask to me dont sound sincere enough.