Tell them you hope they come back as a cow after death. That's the highest compliment for Hindus regarding reincarnation.

TBH, I'm usually okay with people blessing me. Though if they specify how (as in, "bless you in the light of Jesus the Christ Almighty, etc.), I usually return the blessing with one from the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and how I hope they are soon touched by his noodly appendage.

Me being a beta I just say ok, no sense antagonizing them over it. Also in my trade I would be dealing with a lot of churches and other religious properties , no need to say anything but thanks. Most of the time they mean well

I just nod and smile. I don’t see my role as converting anyone and anytime I can share a smile I’m in. I’m exhausted by the hate.

A simple thank you...I get it a lot. I had cancer and during my chemo and recovery I was "blessed" by many people. I realized that they did that in a sincere way. Perhaps the only way they knew to offer help. Also, their blessings were as much for themselves as for me. That's fine.

I think it's best to be respectful of their beliefs and say "Thank You." Their entitled to believe what they beleive just as anyone else does.

I just smile warmly and avoid saying thanks

I just say thanks. It pisses me off though if someone sneezes and they get upset with me if I don't say "bless you"

Say ""Im not religious". It can open up dialogue.

If it's a drive by blessing by a stranger I am polite and appreciate thier thoughts. My friends know I'm an antheist so it is not a problem. I only take issue with it when they are making a point of being snooty. Then it is time to educate them into submission. Sometime soon thereafter they get embarrissed at their ignorance and find a way to leave or change the subject.

Someone saying they are going to pray for me seems somehow condescending and I take a bit of offense to it personally. However, I don't know that they mean it that way - so I frankly choose to simply not respond at all.

depends on the situation.

When cashier said, "Have a blessed day.", I said, "I'm a nonbeliever. I'll have a good day, and I wish you a good day."

Stan Beattie

I thank them and than follow with "than I will think for you" seems only fitting being they can't think out of the religious box.

I tend to merely nod, and leave it at that.
However, if someone sneezes then I will say. "Bless you, May you live for a thousand years and grow to be truly obnoxious to all and sundry" It usually raises a smile.

Just say thanks.

It's hard to get out of the habit of saying "bless you" even someone sneezes. I've been known to say "devil be gone!" while my brother-in-law has taught his kids "salute!"

As far as people blessing me, it depends on the person saying it and my mood. I do not have a poker face - ever - so when I feel offended, they know with a look. I need to start saying, "That's okay. I'm good," or something to that effect.

Thanks, you can explain that your atheist if your asked why you didn’t say, “bless you” when they sneezed.

My wife and I almost always tell them “No thanks, we are Atheists” and leave it at that, if we get a rude reply, I usually give them an earful about how rude of a greeting it is and not everyone thinks their god is in fact a god. Then they turn red and hopefully open a book and learn some common sense.

I go for tollerance and politeness myself. I just say thank you and move on.

I've only ever had this happen to me once. A Muslim colleague said that she had prayed for me because of something difficult that I was going through. She knew that I'm not religious and I knew that her imaginary friend couldn't help me but I appreciated the sympathy that lay behind her words. "Thank you" seemed the appropriate response.

I’d say the latter. They’re giving you what they see as a gift. The fact that it does nothing is beside the point. However, if it’s delivered in that condescending tone (you know the one), then I think it’s fine to say whatever you damn well please.

I usually just say thanks and let it slide. I think most people mean it well, or it’s just how they were raised to express sympathy. They mean well, and there isn’t much to be gained from shutting them down.

Sometimes, I’ll say something if I think it’s someone with whom I might be able have a productive conversation. Or if they’re just a sanctimonious jerk, and I want an argument.

Depends. If it's a random stranger just thank them and move on, but if it's someone in your life, adding that you're not religious might discourage them from doing it again.

At least, that's what I started doing with my well-meaning relatives who sometimes post religious themes on Facebook.
My hope is that at least they'll make such posts "private" so I don't have to see them.

I have said thank you at times and I have always said things like "and may the Mother Goddess bless you also." The second response feels rude to me, but I say it anyway to help people understand that a blessing from a diety in which you do not belive is still a blessing, because the person giving you that blessing is showing care for you. I realize I "feel" rude giving my own blessing because I have been conditioned to think I have no right to offer my own views. Indoctrination from religious groups and their "right" to bless us without comment is a behavior I am addressing in my day to day interactions with them. I am thinking they will either no longer bless me as they see me, or will be gracious as we all have been and accept my own personal blessing.