Is it or could it be considered rude to say "Bless You" or "God Bless You" to someone who happens to not be Christian?? Could someone turn around and say it was offensive
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Someone could turn round and say that it is offensive, yes. On the other hand, it could be considered rude not to say it when someone sneezes. It's...a cultural thing really. I tend to say "gesundheit" to people I know really don't dig christianity, but the automatic "bless you" reaction doesn't seem to have garnered much objections in my own experience
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I'm an atheist and i say 'bless you'... *shrugs* i was brought up atheist and my parents always said it. Gesundheit is probably better as it's just German for "good Health"
As for cards.. well, like you, I'd find it ruder to miss someone out. Most relgions are understanding of Christmas as the hallmark holiday it is in this country. It's more about presents and santa than Jesus to most people, so I think most religious people from other cultures wouldn't be offended.
If we bring Jehovahs Witnesses in however, everything is offensive as far as I can gather. At my mum's nursery, JWs can't make cards for any festival, even mothers day etc, they can't join in assemblies and sing-songs and sure as hell can't be in the Christmas play.
So yes.. Everyone but the JWs are probably fine with it *shrugs* If someone sent me a divali card I wouldn't be upset.. I'd be kind of pleased.. a card is a card!!
I don't find "god bless you" offensive but it does make me cringe somewhat. I don't mind people saying it though; it's entirely up to them, just so long as they don't expect me to respond.
As for the cards; I don't give them but I'm certainly not offended if I receive them.
"Bless you" doesn't bother me; I say it myself. "God bless you" can be slightly creepy depending on who's saying it and it what context, though.
I tend to take the Amnesty International approach, and send non-religious cards that say something like "season's greetings". I was quite touched to get an Eid card from my friend Rabana at school.
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As for cards.. well, like you, I'd find it ruder to miss someone out. Most relgions are understanding of Christmas as the hallmark holiday it is in this country. It's more about presents and santa than Jesus to most people, so I think most religious people from other cultures wouldn't be offended.
If we bring Jehovahs Witnesses in however, everything is offensive as far as I can gather. At my mum's nursery, JWs can't make cards for any festival, even mothers day etc, they can't join in assemblies and sing-songs and sure as hell can't be in the Christmas play.
So yes.. Everyone but the JWs are probably fine with it *shrugs* If someone sent me a divali card I wouldn't be upset.. I'd be kind of pleased.. a card is a card!!
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As for the cards; I don't give them but I'm certainly not offended if I receive them.
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I tend to take the Amnesty International approach, and send non-religious cards that say something like "season's greetings". I was quite touched to get an Eid card from my friend Rabana at school.
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