AspenMama

I've been doing this for a few years now. I avoid even saying "bless you" to people who sneeze. It perpetuates a strange mythology-- the prevention of devils flying down your throat when you sneeze! In my view, it is a way of fighting back the prevelant religiously infused culture.
Interesting! I never thought of that one.

azidhak

:notworthy
What about "MENDEL'S FUCKING PINK PEA BLOSSOMS!"?

Haakon - who's currently single

Jamie_L

As long as we're talking details...

God damn, God damn it, God fucking damn it, God mother fucking damn it, Mother God fucking damn it;
Mother of God, Mother of fucking God, Sweet Mother of God, Sweet Mother of fucking God, Sweet fucking Mother of God, Madre de Dios;
Christ, Jesus Christ, Jesus H Christ, Jesus fucking Christ, Jesus H fucking Christ, Mother of Christ, Mother of fucking Christ, Mother fucking Christ;

Yep. That pretty much covers it. Until I get really pissed and come up with a new one.

Interesting side note: These swears are usually reserved for when I'm alone and feeling unrestrained to vent. Just between me and God, you might say. Around other people, I tend to be a little more tatctful.

But on the internet...

Jamie

DamagedGoods

I know of some theists that look at non-Christians' use of religious blasphemy as 'proof' that said heathens really do believe in God (even though they don't think they do). The...ummm...logic....goes like this: on some level these people believe/know God exists, so they have to exert a lot of effort to keep from admitting this 'obvious truth' to themselves. So this 'constant internal conflict' comes out when they use religious blasphemy. There was also something about "having to curse the name of gawd to convince themselves he doesn't exist," and I'm sure the phrase "Freudian slip" was worked in there somehow, but trying to remember any more makes my head hurt, so I'll stop.

azazel

kee-rist! by the beard of the prophet! sweet mother of vishnu! son of a virgin!. one of many expletives I use in an attempt to phase out traditonal expletives as mentioned.

Amazon

I have tried to eliminate all references to theism in my exclamations, as well. I figure I should walk the walk, and I don't want anyone calling me a hypocrite for something as silly as a god-reference in a moment of frustration.

I have managed to make my lack of god-references habit, I'm happy to say.

I use these (which sometimes make me sound about 60 years older than I am):

Oh, for goodness' sake!

Goodness gracious!

Great mother of pearl!

and of course gesundheit , which just means "good health". Of course, I would be happier if people just stopped saying anything after sneezes. Ridiculous superstition.

Interesting side effect: my lack of swear words and lack of god-references has the occasional effect of convincing some people that I am very religious, and it surprises them even more when I tell them I'm an atheist. You should see the looks on their faces! Absolutely priceless.

lisarea

I consider passionate invocations to be ceremonial deism in its purest and most appropriate form, meant to fill in certain inarticulate blanks that nonetheless cry out for something. No problem with it whatever.

And I realized recently, that when a human sneezes, I tend to say "Gesundheit," but when my DOG sneezes, I consistently say "Bless you."

I have no idea why that is.

lisarea

It's just a social convention, though, really. I think it's sort of cute, for lack of a better word.

At an old workplace, we had an unwritten rule that the first two sneezes get a "Bless you" or "Gesundheit," while the third got you a "Shut up."

We were never able to get it codified, but the policy was strictly adhered to nonetheless.

GunnerJ

Atheist: "Goddamnit"

Theist: "Ah-hah! Why invoke 'God' if you don't believe in him?"

Atheist: "Hey, if I'd have said 'Holy Shit' would you say I worship manure?"

Buddrow_Wilson

I seriously hate when it when people say "bless you" after I sneeze. It is not a note-worthy event. Please just ignore my sneeze and go about your business, thank you.