do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

but when people use the word "God" to us, we are uncomfortable with it.

(I include myself in this) I just think it's so weird. one would think the opposite were true no...since most of us are of monotheistic religions...that God wouldn't be a "bad" word...

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

I am not uncomfortable with the use of the word God, unless it is taken in vain. I guess I am not following your thought here.

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

I was actually thinking about this. I am Jewish, I believe in G-d, yet if someone said "G-d bless" to me, it always catches me off guard. I certainly don't think of it as a bad thing, but I guess b/c I don't generally speak like that, and most people I know don't speak like that, it startles me.

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

Posted by Superkat

I am not uncomfortable with the use of the word God, unless it is taken in vain. I guess I am not following your thought here.

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

I find it sad, actually. Maybe it's my many, many years of Catholic school, but the word God doesn't make me uncomfortable. Hearing "God bless you" or "have a blessed day" doesn't make me uncomfortable. Talking about God doesn't make me uncomfortable. It shouldn't!

Don't get me wrong, I'm all about separation of church and state and freedom of religion (including freedom to not associate with any religion or believe in a god or gods at all)... but it still saddens me that people who DO believe in God are uncomfortable talking about it.

I have nothing but respect for people who do NOT believe in God. However, that doesn't mean that I need to act as if I also don't believe in God. (Sorry - tangent...)

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

Posted by Superkat

I am not uncomfortable with the use of the word God, unless it is taken in vain. I guess I am not following your thought here.

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

I get taken aback when someone says something to me, not offended. I actually really like it when someone says "God Bless You" when I handed them money on the street or when I sneeze. It makes me feel GOOD.

I do say God Bless You when someone sneezes, which is really just force of habit. I do feel a little bad when I do it, because what if that person doesn't want to be blessed by God? And really, its an old supersition, why we do it in the first place.

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

Posted by Kara

Posted by Superkat

I am not uncomfortable with the use of the word God, unless it is taken in vain. I guess I am not following your thought here.

See the "what do you say to a child" thread...

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

Posted by LaurenExp

Posted by Jax430

I was actually thinking about this. I am Jewish, I believe in G-d, yet if someone said "G-d bless" to me, it always catches me off guard. I certainly don't think of it as a bad thing, but I guess b/c I don't generally speak like that, and most people I know don't speak like that, it startles me.

Do you know, I had absolutely no idea that Jewish people don't say God Bless You. That's good to know in situations. I thought it was kind of universal for those that believe in God. Man, am I sheltered Thanks for posting this!

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

Posted by Bxgell2

Posted by LaurenExp

Posted by Jax430

I was actually thinking about this. I am Jewish, I believe in G-d, yet if someone said "G-d bless" to me, it always catches me off guard. I certainly don't think of it as a bad thing, but I guess b/c I don't generally speak like that, and most people I know don't speak like that, it startles me.

Do you know, I had absolutely no idea that Jewish people don't say God Bless You. That's good to know in situations. I thought it was kind of universal for those that believe in God. Man, am I sheltered Thanks for posting this!

You know, thinking about it, I've never heard a jewish person say god bless you, unless in reference to sneezing. In fact, I don't think I ever really heard many references to "god" and "bless" growing up when I was in synogogue. But then again, maybe that's because most of our prayers are in hebrew?

For myself, I do associate myself as jewish, but for me, it's more of a cultural attachment - in fact, I'm agnostic and I don't believe any of the tenets of the jewish religion, other than the fact that when we die, we die and that's it. Some may see it as hypocritical to identify myself as jewish but at the same time be agnostic, but I think, at least, for judaism, there is a significant cultural attachment to the religion.

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

Posted by LaurenExp

Posted by Bxgell2

Posted by LaurenExp

Posted by Jax430

I was actually thinking about this. I am Jewish, I believe in G-d, yet if someone said "G-d bless" to me, it always catches me off guard. I certainly don't think of it as a bad thing, but I guess b/c I don't generally speak like that, and most people I know don't speak like that, it startles me.

Do you know, I had absolutely no idea that Jewish people don't say God Bless You. That's good to know in situations. I thought it was kind of universal for those that believe in God. Man, am I sheltered Thanks for posting this!

You know, thinking about it, I've never heard a jewish person say god bless you, unless in reference to sneezing. In fact, I don't think I ever really heard many references to "god" and "bless" growing up when I was in synogogue. But then again, maybe that's because most of our prayers are in hebrew?

For myself, I do associate myself as jewish, but for me, it's more of a cultural attachment - in fact, I'm agnostic and I don't believe any of the tenets of the jewish religion, other than the fact that when we die, we die and that's it. Some may see it as hypocritical to identify myself as jewish but at the same time be agnostic, but I think, at least, for judaism, there is a significant cultural attachment to the religion.

Okay, I'm a moron. I thought Jax was saying that Jews don't say "God Bless You" after a sneeze! Yeah, I'm a little slow today...check please!

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

Posted by Superkat

Posted by Kara

Posted by Superkat

I am not uncomfortable with the use of the word God, unless it is taken in vain. I guess I am not following your thought here.

See the "what do you say to a child" thread...

Ahh! Thanks for the insight. I don't have as much time on the boards anymore so I missed that thread.

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

There was always the adage to not discuss politics and religion but between the need to be sensitive to other people's possible different beliefs and that church & state need to be seperate, God & religion seems more taboo then it used to be.

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

As the lone Jew in the land of Catholics (NC) I have learned to embrass all sayings with "g-d" and "jesus". I know that the NC people do not have evil intentions so I usually say "Thank you" and move on. Bless your heart, G-d bless, Praise Jesus, yada yada...it is all good to me.

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

It doesn't startle or bother me at all... I think it's nice!

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

I don't think of it as a bad word. But I try not to bring in religion into other people's lives. It's not my place.

I know some religions depends on spreading the word. I like the sentiment behind it - they think they're going saving someone from hell but in the end but I find some people too pushy with it.

Also who am I tell God to bless someone...maybe God thinks they're an idiot.

Message edited 12/5/2008 1:44:36 PM.

Message edited 1/7/2010 10:18:30 AM.

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

Posted by tourist

Posted by nrthshgrl

Also who am I tell God to bless someone...maybe God thinks they're an idiot.

That's always how I thought of it. I thought it was something that only priests/nuns/reverands, etc should say.

I was all thrown when the Episcopal priest who married us would say it to us as a parting greeting when we had meetings with her. I never knew what to say. She'd pause--I'd say thank you, and DH would say you too.

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

Posted by Kara

Posted by tourist

Posted by nrthshgrl

Also who am I tell God to bless someone...maybe God thinks they're an idiot.

That's always how I thought of it. I thought it was something that only priests/nuns/reverands, etc should say.

I was all thrown when the Episcopal priest who married us would say it to us as a parting greeting when we had meetings with her. I never knew what to say. She'd pause--I'd say thank you, and DH would say you too.

"God Bless you" isn't an order to God. It's like saying "May God bless you and keep you." It's more of a prayer that God will bless you or a request that God will bless you. It's not a command to God.

Re: do you find it interesting that most of us on the boards associate ourselves with a particular religion

Posted by tourist

Posted by Kara

Posted by tourist

Posted by nrthshgrl

Also who am I tell God to bless someone...maybe God thinks they're an idiot.

That's always how I thought of it. I thought it was something that only priests/nuns/reverands, etc should say.

I was all thrown when the Episcopal priest who married us would say it to us as a parting greeting when we had meetings with her. I never knew what to say. She'd pause--I'd say thank you, and DH would say you too.

"God Bless you" isn't an order to God. It's like saying "May God bless you and keep you." It's more of a prayer that God will bless you or a request that God will bless you. It's not a command to God.

Yeah, it's more of a request--but I don't know why, I always associated as coming from authority figures.

I don't come from one of those families that says it all the time & writes in in cards, so it just seems unnatural for me to say it, especially when it is a priest saying it to me first.

Yeah, I have issues.