Today at work my office manager said something incredibly sweet to me. She sincerely said "I thank god for you every day". I can't be offended by that. It's in instances like this where religious differences should be set aside. We're all only human and not one of us is better than another.
Just wanted to share, and also humblebrag about kicking butt at work.
Personally, I think atheists who get their knickers in a knot over stuff like this aren't doing us any favors. It's just an expression for many people, no more religious than "thank God it's Friday," and even if it isn't, what's the harm in it? They're acknowledging gratitude for your work.
I think the same, like when I sneeze and someone says "Bless you!" I know they're just trying to be nice. I myself try to eradicate religious speech from my habits though. I usually say "Gesundheit!" when someone sneezes, both because it's a common alternative in the area I live in (which has a lot of German heritage) and because it's not religious (it means "health" and if you think it's weird to shout health at someone, then good luck finding a better alternative).
Religious speak or "god speak" permeates language & even the non-religious use it. Unless someone is uber religious, I dismiss god speak as almost a colloquialism.
Good job. I got a $5 tip yesterday for being nice.
Yep, she could be a believer or not. I say thank god and OMG all the time. I feel like it's just "thank the natural order of things" or just an ingrained way of being thankful that would take more effort than its worth to stop doing! Believer or not it's nice that you are appreciated!
You could have responded "I thank Science for you every day too!" haha South Park really had a good one with that reversal of science and god.
Why thank God?
Can't just thank you directly?
Congrats though
Her saying "I thank God" amounts to the same thing as my saying "omigod" if I'm startled. Of course, you may know her to be religious person or not, but you didn't make that distinction. In any case, you're right, it seemed she offered you a heartelt compliment.