grunion
Penultimate Amazing
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2003
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As a lifelong athiest I have always been perplexed about the meaning of the word "bless." The first definition in the dictionary defines it as "to make something holy."
I suppose when a Priest might use the phrase "Bless you, my child" they are invoking some magic holy protection order that you may not come to harm, or rather, that you come to less harm than you might otherwise come to as the result of the erroneous direction to which your free will might lead you. That the Priest has put you under the protection of a diety, not complete protection, but by having a diety help you make the right choices.
When invoked by well-wishers after a sneeze I've heard that the ancients believed that your holy spirit left your body for an instant, and that the blessing was to assure that evil spirits did not take advantage of its absence and protection.
But what about when referring to a country? Does "bless" mean "approve of our actions?" That the diety should know that we are doing what we think is right and we hope you'll agree? Does it have the first sense of meaning, that is "make us holy?" Give us godly powers to vanquish our enemies?
The second line of the famous hymn says "stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above," which only adds to my confusion. I interpret "stand beside" as not to lead but to bear witness, but "guide" has a thoroughly different meaning. The rest of the line I interpret as a prayer to imbue us with an artificial sense of hope to help us make it through dark times. To get involved in a way that lets us know of your presence. But to me that seems to nullify the importance of faith as part of religion, as it is imploring the deity to provide evidence.
Are we asking for permission to do wrong and be forgiven in the afterlife? Are we asking for good health as we undergo whatever mission we undertake? What do believers think they are asking for when they use this phrase?
I suppose when a Priest might use the phrase "Bless you, my child" they are invoking some magic holy protection order that you may not come to harm, or rather, that you come to less harm than you might otherwise come to as the result of the erroneous direction to which your free will might lead you. That the Priest has put you under the protection of a diety, not complete protection, but by having a diety help you make the right choices.
When invoked by well-wishers after a sneeze I've heard that the ancients believed that your holy spirit left your body for an instant, and that the blessing was to assure that evil spirits did not take advantage of its absence and protection.
But what about when referring to a country? Does "bless" mean "approve of our actions?" That the diety should know that we are doing what we think is right and we hope you'll agree? Does it have the first sense of meaning, that is "make us holy?" Give us godly powers to vanquish our enemies?
The second line of the famous hymn says "stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above," which only adds to my confusion. I interpret "stand beside" as not to lead but to bear witness, but "guide" has a thoroughly different meaning. The rest of the line I interpret as a prayer to imbue us with an artificial sense of hope to help us make it through dark times. To get involved in a way that lets us know of your presence. But to me that seems to nullify the importance of faith as part of religion, as it is imploring the deity to provide evidence.
Are we asking for permission to do wrong and be forgiven in the afterlife? Are we asking for good health as we undergo whatever mission we undertake? What do believers think they are asking for when they use this phrase?
but IIRC 'bless' is related to Old French 'blesser,' or wound, draw blood(?). If correct would make sense for it to be adopted as a term, relating to Jesus' ordeal and then drifting into other metaphorical derivations.