Christians: Per "Bless You!", how many of you believe that ones soul leaves the body momentarily in a sneeze ?

Question

Christians: Per "Bless You!", how many of you believe that ones soul leaves the body momentarily in a sneeze ?

Answer 1

I don't. And that was never the reason for saying it in the first place.

Christians in the Middle Ages thought that evil spirits were leaving your body when you sneezed, it never had anything to do with your soul leaving your body.

The only reason I say it now is because it is the polite thing to do.

Answer 2

soul IS the body!!

and He made man a living soul.."

Answer 3

the term "Bless You" is said because it was originally thought that sneezing was the body expelling and evil spirit

Answer 4

The only thing that leaves my body when I sneeze is vapor and sometimes mucus, and whatever irritant caused the sneeze in the first place.

Answer 5

?

none

Answer 6

Hello,

I haven't heard of that. Last I checked God Bless you came from the times of the bubonic plague in Europe where in the 1300's, 1/3 of the population of Europe died. One of the early symptoms was a constant cough or sneeze, hence the saying.

Cheers,

Michael Kelly  

Answer 7

In my country when someone sneezes, we say what would be translated as "Be healthy!" - makes a lot more sense, doesn't it?

Anyways, as far as I've heard, the expression "Bless you!" comes from the time when sneezing was a symptom of having the plague... i think. So I guess people back then *really* panicked and said that to... send off the goners?

Answer 8

Not me.  Got a source that anyone who said this ever did?  I was taught this came from the plague, which had as a first symptom the sneeze.

I mean other than what wiki has.

Answer 9

it's just as expression.  Even some nonChristians have admitted to using it.

Answer 10

An atheist told me bless you after I sneezed.....I guess there's hope for all of us. I hope my dumb answer compliments your dumb question.

Answer 11

I do not say bless you d/t the belief that sneezing had something to do with evil spirits which is ridiculous. It probably goes back to the times when people thought that all illnesses were caused by evil spirits and not germs. I thank people when they say "bless you," but I never reciprocate because it's a silly practice. I was raised to say "excuse me" when I sneeze, to which the proper response is "you're excused."

Answer 12

I would guess that probably .0000001% of Christians believe that.  And that person is also insane.

Answer 13

um... no one?  

God Bless you- I had always heard refers to people getting sick and the hope that God will help keep them healthy.

Answer 14

No Christian believes that. It was an old superstition.

Answer 15

That is the origin of the saying from the middle ages. I do not believe your soul leaves your body until you have died.

Answer 16

That's not what we think. There used to be an old tail that said when you sneeze, it's the devil "bugging" (for lack of a better word) you.

Answer 17

The soul leaves the body at death.

Answer 18

I have heard that before.. I have also heard that when you sneeze it's getting rid of the evil.  

Honestly I doubt it.