Most Americans prefer keeping a distance between church and state. Students are not permitted to pray in schools and one must be careful not to mix politics with religion. In spite of this distinct separation between the religious and the secular life, Americans are quick to call upon God's help and blessings in many social encounters.

The most obvious of these is the common blessing one receives when faced with the common cold and a fit of sneezing. During the cold winter months everyone sooner or later catches a cold. The symptoms of this seasonal affliction may be a running nose, followed by a general run-down feeling punctuated by sniffles and sneezes. When simple sniffles become full-blown sneezes, it is customary in America to say, "God bless you" to the person after he or she sneezes.

This custom of saying "God bless you" to someone suffering from a cold and given to the occasional sneeze goes back to an old belief. The essence of this superstition is centered in the belief that a demon lay within the sick person and causes the illness.
The soul of the sick person, it wasbelieved, was somehow possessed and needed to be exorcised. The only way to get rid of the demon was by sneezing but this also had inherent dangers. A person who sneezed was thought to be close to death because sneezing could also expel the soul from the body. Therefore, whenever someone sneezes, the name of God is evoked as a prayer and blessing that the demon and not the soul has been expelled.

In general, many Americans like to say "God bless you" in a variety of situations and at the slightest provocation. If a neighbor's child is hale and healthy and one hasn't seen him in a while, an American will comment on his healthy condition by saying something like, " He's such a good and healthy baby, God bless him." This is meant, of course, as a compliment and creates a warm feeling of good will with the best of intentions.

Pastors sometimes may end their Sunday sermons with such a blessing, and entertainers wishing their audience a safe trip home at the end of a concert may sign off with the signature, "God bless you and safe home!" This spoken gesture conveys the same sense of warmth and good intentions.

One does not have to necessarily believe in God to say "God bless you" and often one doesn't. It's something like a reflex action of sorts; a catch phrase which exudes good will and sincerity for the welfare of the other person.

There are also many homes where a religious picture of a saint or shrine may be hanging either in the kitchen or the living room with the words "God Bless Our Home," inscribed on it. Should one walk into a home where such a picture is displayed, one may very well feel the warmth of both hearth and home.