Is it weird to say Have a Blessed Day?

How about “bless you” when someone sneezes?

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HampsterStyleTCB@reddit

It doesn’t matter what you may or may not believe, it only matters what is. You are free to think anything from someone trying to make small talk with you or asking if you need help at a store is rude, and they are free to fucking say whatever the fuck they want.

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PuppySnuggleTime@reddit

When you are working, you shouldn't push your religion on people. Period. And the fucking audacity of Christians never ceases to amaze. Because if a Satanist closed the convo by saying "Hail Satan!" they would lose their shit and try to get the person fired. But they feel free to essentially do the same and you're on here trying to defend it.

My parents and their circle (also in NC) started just using the single word “blessings” as a substitute for “goodbye” with everybody from the cashier at Wendy’s to their closest family members.

It’s hella weird to me.

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Substantial_Web3081@reddit

As an atheist, I hate it and don’t find it genuine at all. If they say it to everyone, how much can they really mean it?

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Euphoric_Ease4554@reddit

I genuinely wish you well. I also wish for peace.

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AlarmedTelephone5908@reddit

I have no doubt that there's a lot of pretenders out there.

But, you can be inauthentic whether or not religion is implied.

People who smile at you and say hello, how are you, or have a good day, etc, may not be sincere either.

I can see it rubbing people the wrong way. But what am I gonna do about it, lol? Yell at them for wishing me a blessed day? Ask them if they are true believers?

Plenty of things can be annoying. I just have more serious things in this world that worry me.

I know a lot of religious types who wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire.

But there are also good people who have different views than me.

If they say these things and pray for me, that's fine.

I wish them well also.

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OK_Stop_Already@reddit

People who smile at you and say hello, how are you, or have a good day, etc, may not be sincere either.

Exactly, I don't see anyone in the US getting weirded out by people asking "how are you" because people don't actually want to know the grim details of your horrible day or something. How are you is just a greeting, despite the original meaning of the words.

Same goes for 'have a blessed day'.

And while we're on the subject, people who get weird cult vibes from just a simple goodbye should examine the history of the word 'Goodbye'. It's a combination of the words 'God be with ye.'

Nope. I interpret "I'll pray for you" as judgmental and condescending.

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thesh019@reddit

Usually I've heard it like hoping something goes well, like if you're sick an old lady will say she's praying for you to feel better or something. But I could definitely see it being judgmental, in a "Hopefully God isn't too mad about all the bad choices you're making" way

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No_Satisfaction_7431@reddit

The thing is people usually say I'll pray for you in the context of chronic illness. Like hello chronic means chronic not acute. I'm never getting better. My flare might end but that just means less pain/symptoms not no symptoms/normal healthy. And then you explain that you might have periods of time that are better and periods that worse you aren't ever going to recover or get over it because its chronic, it doesn't go away no matter how much you pray or hope. Its usually well meaning but hurtful. Instead of offering to help they just want to pray.

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New_Average_3716@reddit

Having a chronic illness, I see your point, but on the other hand, how else would they imagine they could help with someone else’s chronic illness?

blondechick80@reddit

I'm also Northeast, and as a region we might be outliers compared to other regions. I also wouldn't want this said to me in a professional/business interaction

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lefactorybebe@reddit

Also northeast and have only heard it in person once in my life, and it took me by surprise. I've heard it on the phone a few times from call center workers and have assumed they were in a different region.

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Luuluuuuuuuuuuuuuu@reddit

Come to TN! Ppl always blessing hearts here, but sometimes it isn't genuine and can actually be an insult lol

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blondechick80@reddit

No thanks. Getting ma'am'd makes me twitchy.. one of the things I hate most.about the south..

It's beautiful and people are nice, but i can't handle all the ma'ams

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Many people find a Christian saying "I'll pray for you" offensive, especially if they aren't religious themselves.

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OK_Stop_Already@reddit

Yeah a lot of the time lately we see it as a "i'll pray for you, filth"
but there's context involved. If they say it in regard to something bad happening to you, it's sincere.

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goldjade13@reddit

Yeah generally makes me uncomfortable - and I grew up going to church!

Because many people have been traumatized by Christianity and it's followers. If you grew up around a bunch of religious people who use it like a weapon, then you would understand. Every experience that I have ever had with Christianity has been negative and hurtful. Using obviously religious terms with people who don't share your religion most definitely feels like a burden.

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goldjade13@reddit

Luckily I haven’t experienced it in a passive aggressive way, and I can always recognize that it’s being said with love but it always gives me that moment of super discomfort.

I am well. Thank you.

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stiletto929@reddit

Because I don’t want someone’s prayers. I can’t stop someone from praying about me but I don’t want to know about it.

Imagine how you’d feel if someone said they were going to masturbate to thoughts of you? Probably not something you want, right? Feels the say way to me. If you are going to do it, keep it to yourself.

It also feels to me like trying to get credit for helping even though IMO you are doing nothing useful whatsoever. Like offering “Thoughts and prayers” after mass shootings.

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Noah__Webster@reddit

I'm sorry, but comparing a person telling you they will pray for you and someone telling you they are going to masturbate to you is insane.

The former is someone that believes they are helping you, even in some small way. The latter is someone telling you that they will be using you/your image for their own gratification. The former is going into the interaction with positive intentions, believing they are helping you.

Again, this really feels like it simply boils down to you being uncomfortable with someone acknowledging that they are religious, specifically Christian. I strongly suspect that you also would be quick to condemn someone for having similar feelings towards another religion.

It also feels to me like trying to get credit for helping even though IMO you are doing nothing useful whatsoever. Like offering “Thoughts and prayers” after mass shootings.

It is your right to believe that. The people offering thoughts and prayers believe that is the best way they are able to help, and I cannot fault someone for that.

Do you get upset about armchair activism stuff like people changing their profile pictures or whatever after a tragedy? I don't think that does anything, but I do not fault people for thinking it might help in some small way that do that. I also just don't think a happy person, whether it's right or wrong, assumes the worst about people like that.

If someone is trying to do something nice, especially in the face of a tragedy like a school shooting, I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt. I would wager the vast majority of people, even ones you clearly have such a problem with, are also distressed by children being murdered and want to help in even small ways where they can.

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stiletto929@reddit

You are assuming that the motives of the masturbator are bad and that the motives of the Christian are good. It is entirely possible that the masturbator thinks they’re paying you a compliment about how hot you are. And that the Christian is just trying to get Brownie points for being a good person even if they aren’t. The Christian doesn’t have any God-given moral high ground here.

More to the point what matters here is the effect on the listener. Both the masturbator and the Christian have told me things that made me uncomfortable and irritated, and neither one has helped at all. But the truly obnoxious person here is the one who will try to justify his position. instead of apologizing for making someone uncomfortable.

I would be equally uncomfortable with having any religion pushed on me. It just so happens that Christians are the only ones who have ever done that.

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Noah__Webster@reddit

You are assuming that the motives of the masturbator are bad and that the motives of the Christian are good. It is entirely possible that the masturbator thinks they’re paying you a compliment about how hot you are. And that the Christian is just trying to get Brownie points for being a good person even if they aren’t. The Christian doesn’t have any God-given moral high ground here.

I thought I had mentioned it in our comment chain, but I mentioned it elsewhere. I've clarified that I don't agree with using religion as a passive-aggressive cudgel.

That said, I thought the context was pretty clearly someone saying they'll pray for your wellbeing in the face of some negative thing happening in your life. I think assuming it's "brownie points" or that they inherently have negative intentions while someone sexually harassing you is actually just a misunderstood person trying to flatter you is a bit disingenuous.

I would also argue that the Christian in this example is actually possibly attempting to genuinely be altruistic and kind. I don't think you can make the argument for the masturbator, though I would love to hear it lol.

I would be equally uncomfortable with having any religion pushed on me

Like I've mentioned, it's not having religion pushed on you, unless you think someone simply acknowledging they are religious in an interaction with you is doing that. It's not asking anything of you.

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masoleumofhope@reddit

It makes me uncomfortable too - outside of someone saying it following a traumatic event. Same with have a blessed day. It absolutely can be just a nice thought, but I am wary. Grew up in CA, relgious-ish but not Christian.

Oversimplified take: Part of it is not being part of the dominant religious group of this country and the social and political power that very often comes with being part of that dominant religious group. Despite the separation of church and state, Christianity can be very present in day to day life. People at work, school, etc can treat you differently if they determine you are not part of that religion either outright or perhaps more passively. School's not supposed to practice religion right? Why's my football team praying before games? I'm not Christian so I'm not going to participate, but I will be respectful. That choice can impact how people treat me. Why. Sometimes people in this group perhaps don't clock that this is happening.

Additionally there are a metric shitload of people proselytizing with varying levels of aggressiveness. I do not appreciate someone interrupting my day on the street telling me I'm going to hell because of my religion. I don't want them at my house telling me about why they're right. I've had old men screaming bible in hand at me as I biked by on my college campus. None of this is mutual respect and can feel very threatening.

I'm wary when people say outright religious things (that could be backhanded as well) because truthfully it could just be a nice thought or a nothing sandwich or it could be my clue that I'm going about to have to hear a bunch of stuff about why I'm wrong for whatever, that this person is going to think less of me (issue of long term relationships like coworkers), or that they're going to be an outright dick.

I just want to exist in peace. That expression can be the canary in a coalmine of having to deal with a bunch of bullshit, so it just makes me wary. Really depends on delivery and context.

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Before I address anything else, I agree with the passive aggressive aspect being inherently negative. I mentioned that elsewhere in the thread, and even as a Christian, I find it counterproductive, at best. I would never do that.

You mention it being something harmful. Outside of the context of someone using it as a cudgel (which, again, I agree is wrong), I just don't get where the harm is coming from.

As a Christian, I don't think a Muslim or Jew praying would really do anything for me, at least in a spiritual sense, but I would feel no harm from being told I was being prayed for by a Jew or Muslim. I would feel like they cared about me, at least in some small way, and they were trying to help in a way they felt like they could. I certainly wouldn't be offended. I also wouldn't view it as being roped into their religious practices, either.

It's kinda like someone I know isn't religious telling me that they'll be thinking about me, or whatever. I still find comfort in it, even if I think there's nothing to it. Or recently, I lost a beloved dog. One of the vet techs said something about "the universe simply decided" while comforting me in reference to her passing during treatment and not being euthanized. I felt very touched by that, even though I disagreed with the sentiment. I knew that she was attempting to comfort me in a very difficult moment, and I deeply appreciated it.

I get these aren't a 1:1 comparison, but I think what I'm attempting to get across here is that I'm not simply telling you that you need to just deal with it because it's what I believe in. I'm coming at it from the point of view that someone telling you to have a blessed day or that they will pray for you are genuinely attempting to comfort you in some way the majority of the time. I personally will always appreciate someone trying to be kind, even if it's not the way I would do it.

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Madreese@reddit

The problem is that it's based on an assumption that the person it is said to feels the same way about religion that you do. So yes, my religiosity does factor into it. It's kind of icky to me.

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Noah__Webster@reddit

The problem is that it's based on an assumption that the person it is said to feels the same way about religion that you do.

It really doesn't though. It's not "I hope you have a good day if you're also Christian" or "I hope you are partaking in Christianity today like me".

Like I said, it's literally just the Christian way of wishing someone to have a good day. My very religious mother recently has talked about how much of a blessing her new dog has been on multiple occasions, for example. It's religious in the sense that a Christian believes that happiness derives from God, but it really is no more than them simply saying they hope you have a good day.

Would you feel icky if a Muslim or Jew told you they would pray for you if you shared something hard going on in your life?

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Madreese@reddit

I don't differentiate between religions. I feel the same way about all of them. I think people with religious faith are lucky, but I don't participate. I find it very interesting that you would ask me about a Muslim or Jewish person telling me they would pray for me. I think that says more about you than me.

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Noah__Webster@reddit

I think people with religious faith are lucky, but I don't participate.

Like I said in my last comment, telling you to have a blessed day isn't an attempt to compel you to participate in any way.

I find it very interesting that you would ask me about a Muslim or Jewish person telling me they would pray for me. I think that says more about you than me.

Is this also commonly used by Muslims, similar to the phrase have a blessed day? Seems it translates to "May Allah bless you."

I am not Muslim, but I would think it was kind to be told this. I just can't imagine being upset about something like that unless it really is simply being uncomfortable with religion being acknowledged at all.

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Toadcola@reddit

“Bless you” for sneezing has been secularized. “Have a blessed day” hasn’t and it’s a weird thing to say. Just because it’s common in the south doesn’t make it less weird.

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turdferguson3891@reddit

I wouldn't put that much thought into it. They just say it to be nice. It's nicer than "Burn in hell, heretic!". Really I don't like it either but I sneeze and someone says "Bless You" I don't really worry about that either.

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SoulPhoenix@reddit

I don't think there's an assumption of belief in the same way that there's not an assumption that you WILL have a good day if you say "Have a Good Day" (which I imagine for people in the Northeast is not possible considering how miserable and mad they sound every time I've talked to them lol). I'd probably say it's more that they hope you have a blessed day in the same way as they would hope you have a good day.

It’s so performative. It’s like saying hey I’m such a good Christian. When wouldn’t a good Christian not have to like telegraph this. Isn’t it like a thing to just be kind and not look for a reward or be all peacocking about things?

Jbooxie@reddit

I don’t mind if people say it I’m just not religious just so I don’t respond the same way. I normally just say thanks or have a nice day and move on.

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CLG-BluntBSE@reddit

I would find it pretty unusual, and assume you were very Christian.

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quidpropho@reddit

Super common in the South. I don't even mind it anymore because the people who say it seem to really mean it.

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Clean-Fisherman-4601@reddit

That's stereotyping people. I'm not a subset Christian, I don't even go to church. When I wish someone a blessed day, I really want them to have a blessed, wonderful day.

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papercranium@reddit

It's not a stereotype, that's the legit origin of how the phrase came into common usage. The fact that you absorbed it without knowing the connotations of what you were saying doesn't change that.

It was incredibly weird how it swept the southern evangelical churches all at once. It didn't happen at all up north until it was already a status marker in the south, basically advertising that you were a part of the (super duper righteous, of course) club. So glad my time living in Texas was relatively short.

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GreenBeanTM@reddit

Eh, I wouldn’t use it in a professional context. Only takes so many Karen’s complaining before it’s bad news for you.

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PaRuSkLu@reddit

Pretty common in the suburbs of So Cal.

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qu33nof5pad35@reddit

No

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DonNadie2468@reddit

I find it pretty weird. It's a strong signal of religiosity and while I have no problem with religion, I really don't see why the supermarket cashier feels the need to convey to me that she's a Christian.

Having said that, it's not terrible or offensive. If you want to say it, say it.

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KevrobLurker@reddit

If I were managing that cashier, I'd retrain her or him to use secular language. No need to piss off the non-believers.

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december151791@reddit

Anyone who gets pissed off by that needs to reevaluate some things about their life.

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DonNadie2468@reddit

Well, probably so, but "Happy Holidays" certainly sent a lot of people in your part of the country into a total tizzy.

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bare_thoughts@reddit

Saying Happy Holidays was not the problem, the problem was pushing people to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas, that was the issue.

Mainly, people did not like being told what they should say instead of letting them choose for themselves which they most felt comfortable with.

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GreenBeanTM@reddit

Accept that was never the push outside of secular businesses that should be neutral with that sort of thing. Say Merry Christmas on your own time.

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fowmart@reddit

Thankfully Reddit comment sections almost never correlate with reality. There are some badly-adjusted people in here.

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KevrobLurker@reddit

In retail, that isn't up to you. You could open a Christian bookstore instead of a general trade bookstore, if you are as much about proselytizing as you are about selling books.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.

But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

Matt 6:5-6 if you follow that.

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opheliainwaders@reddit

Yeah, this is it for me - I'm not personally religious, but I come from a region and religious tradition where religion is personal, and it feels crass when people bring it into public life, even if they are well-intentioned. I'm not going to, like, say something rude in response, but I certainly will include that as a data point in how I think about them.

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No, they can learn. I promise

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LexiD523@reddit

As an atheist, I mostly agree, though I definitely feel better about it when it's said to me by a Black person than a white person. I'm a white queer person though, so that adds another dimension to it. A Black homophobe isn't likely to actually address those sentiments to me, but a white homophobe might.

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Can always tell a former Chick-fil-a employee at a non-Chik-fil-a.

I hear it occasionally when I'm working, usually from older black women.

I work in and around Detroit, so I have quite a few black clients. Knowing how religious older black folk are (and how many churches are in Detroit), I don't put much thought into it. Oddly enough, I also seem to have a lot of catholic clients. I also have clients that are Buddhist, Jainist, Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, etc.

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Particular-Coat-5892@reddit

I'm the night manager for my apartment complex and there's this tenant that just moved in a month ago. She has called the office phone day and night a total of 60 times so far. Whenever I've talked to her she's freaking out about something stupid, yells at me, cusses at me, talks over me, and then always ends the call with a very southern sounding "have a blessed day". We're in California and I just shake my head lol

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GreenBeanTM@reddit

“Blessing” = religious, and since the dominant religion here is Christianity “blessing” = Christianity in most cases.

And yea, pretty much outside of the south people won’t exactly be thrilled to hear it. Most of the time they’ll just nod and say nothing because they realize you’re trying to be nice, but catch the wrong person or just someone in the wrong mood and there’s a decent chance you’ll get told to shove it.

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Theslowestmarathoner@reddit

I am not Christian and find it offensive. I don’t want someone else projecting their beliefs on me. I also don’t want my child repeating. It is 100% a religious phrase

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BigBlaisanGirl@reddit

So many people answering here aren't from California and are dead wrong. I was going to scroll past this question but all these advisory comments might get you jumped some day.

The meaning of "Have a blessed day" in these parts depends on the person saying it and the context of the conversation. Outside of a church and religious folks, it's commonly used as an indirect way of getting a snarky last word in that SOUNDS like kind words but it means they want to hurl an insult at you.

For example, if you're dealing with someone being difficult but you're on the job and/or there's an authority figure around, you can dismiss a person by saying "have a blessed day" using a flat tone as your last words. It's basically a way to say "Fk you" or "you're a dumb motherf---ker" or "i don't want to talk to you anymore, gtfo here!" without actually saying those words because you will get in trouble if you do.

Another example: If I'm having a disagreement with someone in public space where I don't want to make scene, I would say "have a blessed day" with an attitude or using an unimpressed tone and disengage from the conversation entirely.

Like I said, or REALLY matters who said it under what circumstances. If the conversation was neutral or actually friendly or if it's someone you are on good terms with, or is actually religious, then it's just a nice thing to say.

What does Shabbat Shalom mean then?

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I might tell Mrs Kohn to have a nice Sabbath if I know she keeps it, and I have worked in shops where I would know that, but most often I would not.

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Neenknits@reddit

I’m Jewish. Jews don’t do this. Evangelical Christians do.

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Cause they caught 2 whales.

ya I’d think someone is religion pushing

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Deolater@reddit

It's a relatively normal thing to say around here, but most people around here are at least nominally Christians.

other religions too

You're right that there's nothing exclusively Christian to the concept of blessing. I doubt any religious person would be offended by it.

If it makes people uncomfortable, it's because they're uncomfortable with public expression of religion. Maybe they have good reasons, maybe not.

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jvc1011@reddit

Hi, I’m religious, and I consider it pushy. I’m not offended by it, but I’d absolutely assume you hate queer people like me and think we can’t be Christians (which I am).

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mediclawyer@reddit

Your comment is a whole world of juxtapositions….

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Altruistic_Role_9329@reddit

I lived in Georgia for 24 years, attended a Baptist Church regularly and never heard that phrase once. This is something new within the last 10-20 years. Folks used to simply say have a nice day or have a good day.

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Curmudgy@reddit

You're right that there's nothing exclusively Christian to the concept of blessing.

It’s trickier than that.

Growing up, the Hebrew-English prayer books I learned with would translate the Hebrew word baruch as “blessed”, but it was always in reference to G_d, so “Blessed art thou” was a very common phrase. My current, much newer prayer book translates the same word as “praised”, which seems like much better translation to me.

But what that means is that we almost never use a word that translates as the imperative “bless” in our prayers. We’ll use the English word blessing to describe prayers that begin that way, but in Hebrew they’re called brachot, so really statements of praise, given in gratitude.

I’m not going to claim I understand the deeper meaning behind blessings in Christianity. But I will say that in common usage, we don’t actually bless our food or generally bless people. There is one class of exceptions, which just illustrates the difficulty in translating words between languages when the meanings aren’t rigid.

What that means is that I’m not sure Judaism actually does have the same concept of blessing. But I’m not orthodox, and don’t know for sure how the orthodox would express a deep thanks to another person.

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princessglitterbutt@reddit

Saying “blessed day” is not something that Orthodox Jews tend to do although you can find a few old women who would thank you with a “bless you”.

You’re right that most brachos are more about praise than blessings, it’s really not a word that you can translate well into English without losing its complexities. In reality in some cases it means praise and in other it can mean blessed, and in some instances it means both. Like the word you would use to describe blessings, as in good things in your life, would still be “brachot”.

jthagler@reddit

It's not uncommon in the United States for someone to say this to you and I would definitely assume you're probably Christian. It does rub me the wrong way but I have very strong opinions about religion so that's mostly just me; I'm willing to bet the vast majority of people don't mind if they even notice at all.

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quietlywatching6@reddit

If you mean it nicely, 100% related to religion in the USA, but plenty would still question if you were being nice. In the south we can use that very sarcastically, and it's basically nicely telling you we hope every possible thing that can go wrong will go wrong for you. So some people might be upset about the religious meaning but I suspect more people are questioning whether or not you were telling them to go get f*ed in polite corporate language

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Alexdagreallygrate@reddit

In Western Washington I’d roll my eyes and say, “You as well.”

Whenever I hear it, it just makes me think they're a Protestant versus being a Catholic or Orthodox Christian.

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Disastrogirl@reddit

Im rewatching the Handmaids Tale and that gives me the ick. Under his eye.

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It sounds extremely weird to me, if I heard someone say that I'd assume they're some kind of religious fanatic or cultist.

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Dry-Tomorrow8531@reddit

State flair checks out

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Sensei_Fing_Doug@reddit

I'm pretty aggressive atheist. Only an idiot would take offense to that.

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Dry-Tomorrow8531@reddit

What is an aggressive atheist?

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_raytheist_@reddit

My main complaint about it is I keep spraining my eyeballs from the reflexive eye roll.

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dgillz@reddit

I think it is OK. Blessed does have religious overtones, but one of the dictionary definitions of blessed is completely secular:

bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune

It’s not weird in the sense that it’s something a lot of people say. It is weird in the sense that a random person thinks that they have any influence over such a thing.

It absolutely is a thing that Christian fundamentalists say.

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Spirited_Ingenuity89@reddit

You live in Kentucky, and you only think religious fanatics say it?

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MyUsername2459@reddit

Yes.

People who aren't devoutly religious don't say it.

When someone says it, that immediately clues me in that they're pretty dang religious.

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Spirited_Ingenuity89@reddit

I’m just saying that it’s fairly common in the South compared to other regions. “Religious fanatic” is also a pretty extreme term for something that’s fairly common.

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MyUsername2459@reddit

Religious fanaticism is pretty common around here.

notsosecretshipper@reddit

It's not wierd or unusual, but I definitely make assumptions about the type of person who says it. Depending on the company whose call center you work at, that assumption could affect your clientele a positive or negative way.

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ProfStacyCA@reddit

I'm in Canada and I always find it "weird" to use your word. Blessed is a term related to religion and faith, and so it adds a religious or faith element. I don't think it's kind or fair to add religion to an interaction with someone (when you don't already know their prerogative or belief).

Shiny_Mew76@reddit

And how exactly is this any different from any other group pushing their ideals onto children? Why is it exclusively Christians that you target with this reasoning? There are countless groups of people dedicated to pushing their values onto others. Why is it exclusively Christian ones that you call out?

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Arleare13@reddit

Again, Christian nationalists, not Christians. I’m not conflating them. There are numerous Christians who are good Americans who aren’t trying to hijack our country.

And why am I specifically focusing on them? Because they’re the ones in charge. They're the ones actually doing this. They’re the ones trying to make public schools teach the bible, and the ones saying that they should get to exclude the children of gay people from preschool, and the ones telling our soldiers that they’re fighting for Jesus.

Nobody else is trying to make this a Jewish country, or a Muslim country. It’s the Christian nationalists who are in power and are trying to force their ideology on everyone.

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Shiny_Mew76@reddit

That’s not my point.

You are attacking people because they are spreading the word of their beliefs and doing what they think is right.

You won’t bat an eye when they try to teach children about sexual topics in elementary school, I assume. Or what about CRT?

Nope? Nothing? Just you not liking Christians who spread their message the same way?

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Arleare13@reddit

They are not “spreading the word,” their are trying to impose their “word” by force of law.

But you seem to think that’s okay.

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Shiny_Mew76@reddit

Okay, so tell me why you aren’t upset with the other examples I just mentioned?

You seemed to have completely ignored them.

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Arleare13@reddit

Because I’m not taking the bait. Nobody’s teaching “critical race theory” to elementary schoolers. Nonsense like that is a bogeyman that the far right made up to scare low-information voters.

You know what’s not made up? My examples. Christian nationalists really are trying to teach the bible in public schools, or to exclude the children of same-sex parents from preschools. That’s not “spreading the word,” that’s putting Christianity legally above other religions. It’s gross and it’s un-American.

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Clean-Fisherman-4601@reddit

Exactly!

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Clean-Fisherman-4601@reddit

We just found the MAGA who's probably a Christian nationalist.

I mostly hear it from Christians.

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tbodillia@reddit

Friends that are Wiccan say it too. But, yea, reddit atheists hate when you say it.

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Realistic-Feature997@reddit

Weird but fine.

Pagans often say "blessed be" because blessings are just good things that happen and they don't want to sound like a Christian.

In the United States there are a lot of phrases so overused by toxic Christians (not saying that all Christine are that way) that they get a negative connotation. Some people will feel a bit gross hearing it.

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popdivtweet@reddit

I only use it the same way I use “Bless your Heart”

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If you’re not wishing (higher power) to bless this person today, don’t say it.

Don’t use religious coded greetings in professional settings (ever) or with anyone with whom a religious greeting would be inappropriate.

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queerkidxx@reddit

I am generally uncomfortable with folks seemingly like they are imposing their religion on me. I’m Jewish and it’s just constant.

I wouldn’t immediately hate you but it would give me that vibe and make me uncomfortable

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Dorsai56@reddit

It's not a weird thing to say, but you will be taken as a Christian offering a blessing by 90% of the people you say it to.

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burningmanonacid@reddit

It is certainly a Christian thing to say which will get you various reactions, depending on the part of the country the other person is from. For me, a brightly dyed hair LGBT person, I would be put off but not rude to you. More just assume you'd try to convert me if we talked too long so I'd make it a point to not converse too much. Lol. In the South that might be more normal though.

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HereandThere96@reddit

It kinda grosses me out when someone says it to me.

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averjam@reddit

It is commonly said down South. I was born and raised in East Texas, now residing in Southwest Virginia. I've heard it in both places and all points in between.

Is it weird? Well, that's subjective.

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Pol__Treidum@reddit

If a white person says it to me, I'm gonna have a yucky taste in my mouth for a couple hours.

If a black person says it to me, I'm legitimately going to have a better day or even weekend.

Living in the South and an atypical Redditor, it is common enough, I'll use it depending on who in talking to, and I have never received blowback or a weird look for it.

Yeah, it’s always a good idea for non-Americans to remember that this sub is extremely unrepresentative of the United States.

It’s a little weird to say it in the sense that it’s very much a Southern Christian thing to say. People will quickly make that assumption of you (and likely stereotypes that go along with that), so if that’s not your intention it probably makes sense to use a different phrase.

jvc1011@reddit

It marks people as a specific kind of Protestant, not just Christian. Catholics and Orthodox and Episcopalians don’t really say it.

In order to believe in a blessing, you have to believe in some kind of god or power who blesses.

It’s considered far from neutral in California. It signals that you probably want to “save” the person you are talking to, which is vaguely insulting.

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Substantial-Ad2200@reddit

Here in Texas they say this a lot and it definitely is Christian presumptive.

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MissingGrayMatter@reddit

As a non-religious person, I’d find it a bit off putting because it has religious connotations. But I wouldn’t say anything about it or find it weird because I’d realize you weren’t saying it in a malicious way. I grew up in the south and my family is very religious, so I’m used to hearing things like that.

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FondleGanoosh438@reddit

Not from like an old person or a priest. I also think it’s how it’s said.

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StewReddit2@reddit

We have the TRUTH.....

And we have what ppl "believe and feel"

Blessed is NOT an exclusively Christian concept, although many may "feel" their own the soapbox of hierarchy.

That phrase in particular has become a) very common and cliche...damn near a meme in particular communities, especially the South, Midwest and in the African American community "for sure"

Very much like saying "Bless you" to a sneeze it has become more routine than something "serious" or overly meaningful

As a secular, common usage it has evolved to being synonymous with wishing someone "luck" or "to be fortunate" NOT necessarily as religious as one may assume.

It has become used as a "wishing of well-being" which is a concept NOT exclusive to religion...at all.

**Now will a minute subset of ppl wanna get bent TF outta shape if someone utters the phrase? Sure ....but some schmucks will also cry 😢 about "Have a nice day" as well and be "offended" by that as well.....so no matter what you want WIN them all.

***I will say "Have a Blessed Day" is sorta old school and probably reached it Hey Day in the past....while still common it isn't as common/hip as it once was

Many ppl have moved on to more neutral or "modern" phrases if we're being honest

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Negative_Bar_9734@reddit

Yes, that is an extremely Christian phrase.

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Alternative_Risk4230@reddit

From New England. I don’t think I’ve ever heard it, even from religious people.

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distrucktocon@reddit

Only people who are gonna have an issue with it are miserable people looking for shit to stir up and devout atheists…

It’s definitely a southern thing, and it does come with a flair of Christianity. But it’s not JUST a Christian saying. You can be any religion and say it. It’s not like you’re saying “okay bye bye now, may the Christian lord baby Jesus bless your day.”

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stiletto929@reddit

Yeah, it’s a Christian thing. I’ll have whatever kind of day I want, thx anyway. ;)

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Creepy-Selection2423@reddit

It really depends on the context and how you say it.

Have a blessed day, can mean just that. That you hope the rest of someone's day is blessed and you wish them well.

Said with the right inflection, however, have a blessed day can also mean go fuck yourself. Usually said in a place where that would not be permissible to say otherwise.

It's all in how you say it and the context.

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Neither-Attention940@reddit

I worked with someone very Christian. She would say it to customers all the time. But generally the regulars she was more use to.

I do personally find it kinda weird like.. what do I say back?.. you too!?

If someone says ‘have a nice day’ or ‘have a good day’ it’s less awkward I guess

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Parking_Champion_740@reddit

I find it kind of weird and Christian in an icky way

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katmndoo@reddit

Comes off as christian.

I think it just reminds me to look for good in the day vs "have a nice day" which is more like it happens or not.

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VinRow@reddit

I assume you’re Christian and not someone to be myself around.

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Itsworth-gold4tome@reddit

You also get a certain type of person that can't even use the phrase correctly and says "have a bless day" it sounds even more stupid

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Spirited_Ingenuity89@reddit

Unless you’re inserting a glottal stop between the D of “blessed” and the D of “day,” it’s very easy for it to sound like the “-ed” was dropped. “Blest” an acceptable pronunciation of “blessed.”

CesarB2760@reddit

I dont know that I would think of it as a specifically Christian phrase, its just that, in America, the people most likely to insert religion into situations where it has no business being are Christian.

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calicoskiies@reddit

I think it’s weird bc of the religious connotation. Not everyone is Christian and it’s weird that other ppl assume so.

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Mouse-Direct@reddit

I am a Christian who loathes the idea of “blessing.” It’s a Christian concept that if you’re a Christian in good standing, God will bless you. Blessings can be wealth, health, children, happy marriage, etc. We all know that that most things in life are the result of privilege (born into wealth or a stable family) or luck (fertility, being at the right place) or hard work (academic achievement, dedication at job).

Just my two cents.

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Crayshack@reddit

While other religions might offer you some sort of blessing to your day, they typically have other ways of phrasing it. The specific phrase "have a blessed day" is typically associated with Christianity.

Also, for most people in the US, their only exposure to people being pushy about bringing religion into public spaces is Christianity. While this opinion is certainly not universal, many people prefer religion to be a private thing and don't appreciate strangers bringing religion into their day. When strangers do shove religion into things like that, it tends to be Christians here.

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hella_cutty@reddit

Just say it with a strong "southern" accent.

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silence_infidel@reddit

It probably depends on if it’s a normal saying where you live or not. Around me, it’s weird. I try to take it in the spirit it’s intended, but I’m definitely assuming things about the type of person to choose the religious version of the pleasantry over the regional default.

fowmart@reddit

If that's the worst and weirdest thing somebody hears, they've had a great life.

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LopsidedGrapefruit11@reddit

I find it cringy and inappropriate in a professional setting. I also think it’s a little funny because it makes me think of the Wicca saying blessed be lol

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I tell people to have a blessed day if they've been really nice to me or if they're old.

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GenericUsername19892@reddit

Heard it all the time in TX, whoever says it will be much more likely throw a bitch fit about dumb shit like happy holidays, Starbucks cups, etc. generally just easier to politely ignore folks that say it and move on.

I would definitely not use it in a professional capacity.

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Oliver_Dixon@reddit

I think it's pretty weird and kinda inappropriate to say to someone you don't know, but A LOT of ppl say it

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I would prefer not to hear it. I know people who say it mean well. But I would prefer not to have religion dragged into something out of the blue.

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Appropriate-Bid8671@reddit

Only religious freaks say that shit

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Pinwurm@reddit

Boston here. The only time I hear the phrase is after I tell a homeless fella “sorry, I don’t have any spare change”.

It’s just not something most folks say - and I would assume you work for a church.

stevepremo@reddit

I think it's fine, but it feels weird when they pronounce "blessed" (as an adjective for something that carries a blessing) as "blest" which is the past tense of "bless". That is, you can say "this day has been blest" so it's a "bless-ed day."

So used as an adjective, it should be pronounced as two syllables. Used as the past tense of the verb "to bless", it should be pronounced as one syllable. Someone wished me a "blest" day and it freaked me out a little.

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FUCancer_2008@reddit

I'm not Christian and find it rude when people assume.I don't want any of their awful Christianity around me

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rowsoflark@reddit

I always find it very kind even heartwarming. I almost only ever hear it traveling outside New York.

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cn45@reddit

not christian tinted just religiously tinted. but in america the majority are christian. so if there is an assumption made it’s like that you are religious and probably christian.

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Arleare13@reddit

not christian tinted just religiously tinted

Many religions use blessings. I have only heard “Have a blessed day” used by obnoxious, pushy, in your face, evangelical Christians. It’s fake niceness.

"Have a blessed day" bothers me because it makes me think "This person might be a religious nutter" and "Who do you think you are to be dispensing blessings?"

rlw21564@reddit

I would think less of the company and that you were being forced to say it as part of your script. I hate when companies force religious stuff on their employees. Might be even worse when employees freelance their religion with the customers when the employers don't know that might be offensive.

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Dawashingtonian@reddit

not weird as in abnormal but as someone who is kind of frustrated with how freakishly religious everything has been getting i would be rolling my eyes.

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DiscordDucky@reddit

As an atheist, I just roll my eyes and think less of you.

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grey_canvas_@reddit

I was baptized in a Baptist church, dad was full Catholic.

Not weird. It's commonly seen as just a nice thing to say.

There is a religious connotation to "blessed" but if it's being said kindly, whatever.

Could also be used in a sarcastic tone to not be nice. All about the delivery.

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zekewithabeard@reddit

Fire back a bless your heart…

In a business setting, avoid it.

Very unprofessional on off putting to those not Christian.

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ylylychee@reddit

Its not weird to me. I hear this kind of language a lot but I live in a lower income community with lots of churches. Nobody is crazy religious tho. It's just a part of life.

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LABELyourPHOTOS@reddit

It is to me. I don't like it.

I grew up forced into religion and got out.

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searchableusername@reddit

it gives the impression that you are making an effort to signal that you are a christian, so yes it's weird

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Puzzled-Bench2805@reddit

It can apply to other religions, but that is specifically a Christian saying in the states. I wouldn’t use it if you don’t mean it that way. I’m always polite, but it does rub me wrong when people say it to me. Like ah, I appreciate the sentiment but also..

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PantsDontHaveAnswers@reddit

I would love if someone told me sincerely to have a blessed day.

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stroppo@reddit

I hate anything that brings religion into day to day living. I would never, ever say anything like this myself, and if I met someone who talked this way I'd know we could not be friends. No, it's not weird if you don't want to say it. In fact, I'd encourage you not to say it.

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