Do you say "Bless You" when someone sneezes? I do not. Not only is it based on superstition, but the full phrase "God Bless You" is based on something I don't believe in. Nor do I believe in spirits that the body is trying to get rid of.
If someone asks, my reply is generally "I leave that to the professionals".
Thanks to everyone for the responses! I learned a few new words through these answers. I was always under the impression that Gesundeit translated into "God bless you", but I looked it up and saw that it means "good health". I still don't like that sneezing is the only condition we acknowledge (leaving out coughs and hiccups), as that is based on superstition.
I often say pointedly silent in protest to the antiquated saying. There are some countries where people don't say anything at all
I do but by habit and that's how ingrained religion is in society. I also say for god's sake and Christ and even Jesus.
If I'm moved to say anything at all it will be:
Salud
or
Gesundheit
I usually ignore it. I don't say anything when someone coughs, hiccups, or passes gas, so I'm unsure why sneezing earned itself such a revered place among bodily functions. (I've heard the story that it's because the heart stops when someone sneezes, but I don't believe there was a way hundreds of years ago to test that — if it's even true that it happens.)
"Curse you" seems too insensitive while "Get the hell away from me" implies a belief in something, therefore it's religious.
Yep. It comes from a long time ago when folks believed that when you sneezed, the Devil could get past your defences. I'm just trying to help my Believer friends and family avoid the potholes of life. They're having enogh trouble navigating the poisoned world their fellow Christian nut jobs are creating!
I say it when someone sneezes. A 50 year old habit is hard to break, but I absolutely hate it when someone says "have a blessed day".
I do, I don't see blessing as any more than wishing them well, no god needed or implied.