I am a complete Athiest and have asked people not to "bless" me after I sneeze, but that seems to have a reverse effect. They then seem to feel even more compelled to do so, as if to save me or something of that nature. Now if I get "blessed" I blatantly ignore it.

In the past it was believed that your heart stops when you sneeze. Although it has not found to be true it is still considered polite to bless someone. For the future, I am sorry if you ever sneeze in the store or walking down the street and someone blesses you, it might just be me... so once again...sorry. It's the way I was brought up.

RE: Robin

I really think it's a nice gesture and thank people when they do it in a public setting. As I wrote, I think it it starts to become ineffective in a work environment since you spend 8 hours a day with the same people and I would rather not have worry about blessing every sneeze or thanking every time some blesses me. I think it loses it's significance and starts to become a routine rather than a nice gesture.

Do others agree?

I agree with the bumper stkceir a bit, mind you. Get off your butt and work people don't wait for us to work for you and expect us to pay for things. The homeless are one thing, but there are too many people in my area who sit on their butts, drink their beer and I pay for their health insurance, their kids' health insurance and even for the cars they drive around. So Bah Humbug that people!!!(Hee. Hee. I bet that will rile a few of you up. And you'll have to wonder is she serious?!)