I don't think it's important enough to care about one way or the other. I see it as just a polite greeting; and if they mean more than that by it, that's their business. I don't care.

In addition, even if I know that they are devout religious types, it's okay. While I don't necessarily agree with their belief about it, I do appreciate the sentiment behind it. They are trying to wish me well in their own way, so I take the positive intent and leave the rest.

Of course, if they start proselytizing, all bets are off.

I will nod and smile out of respect.

It all swpends on the context of the statement sometimes it seems to be a force of habit than meant as an insult. It all depends on where it comes from

How close are you? She seems kind of obnoxious.

Do you return the “merry christmas” after thanking the person? I don’t and it makes people feel uncomfortable but it’s their fault they feel this way, not mine.

I agree with you and feel the exact same way, I respect any persons spiritual journey, What I don’t respect is hypocrisy

I think Stephen Fry sums up the correct attitude here.

I know let's ease it back a peg. We all acknowledge that there is a large proportion of the world's population that follow a religion. Would we not also be guilty of forcing our thoughts on others if we rebuke or negatively react to religious greetings. I reply to all greetings in kind. No harm done

I feel the same way. Any way one can find strength in this awful world is perfectly acceptable by me. It's the ones that thump their Bible and feel the need to save me that need to get on somewhere. It seems the loudest ones are the ones with the most skeletons in their closets at that.

I generally don't reply to god bless, and just reply happy holidays to the others. I'm not going to make a big deal of it unless they start trying to shove their religion down my throat.