What is a blessing?

[Technosoul]

We all know the Pope blesses people.

But what is a blessing, this is a different topic then the other ones I have currently posted.

Should we "count blessings" and keep score?

Is a blessing a reward? Is a blessing something that comes about as a natural part of existance? something earned?

Is a blessing something granted by God and perhaps fowled by the Devil?

Or can people have "secular blessings" which have nothing to do with religions or belief systems?

Or is a blessing simply a attitude, a kind of perception one selects as an option when viewing life and one's personal situation?

Should people bless other people?

Is it a matter of "good luck" verses "bad luck"? Just how the chips fall, a way to compare your self to "the Jone's" to see if they are better off or worse off then you via a measurement of contrast?

I put a lot of angles into the OP but this might be a new topic for Volconvo debaters. Not sure. Got an over-all opinon? (other then a dictionary discription)

[Maryjane]

Should we count blessings and keep score?

Why would you want to? Just be thankful for what you have.

Or can people have "secular blessings" which have nothing to do with religions or belief systems?

I think you can. It's not a matter of being thankful for something that was bestowed upon you because you are affiliated with or ascribe to a certain belief. Being blessed, to a non believer, in certain situations is an appreciation of something you earned in some way or another. Winning the lottery isn't the work of a supernatural being, it's a matter of statistics. Why not me?

Is it a blessing to have the foresight to take the necessary steps to insure your security? No. It is a rational precautionary decision. You don't purchase insurance hoping you don't get in an accident do you? You will never hear me say...Thank GOD I had insurance!

I say "bless your heart" a lot. It's a Southern thing. It can mean a term of endearment or an appreciation of kindness. "Bless your heart" can also have a sarcastic meaning. It's a polite way of saying "you aren't half as special as you think you are".

I also say bless you when someone sneezes. I don't want to be rude and say nothing, it's kinda expected isn't it?


I grew up with 4 female siblings. My preference, when I had children, was boys. Do I say "Lucky me" I got my wish? or "I was blessed with three sons"? Do I feel better than someone that has three daughters knowing how much fun that can be? Jokingly I do, but it's really where the chips fall kinda thing. I would have loved a daughter just as much as my sons. She would have been a tom boy though!

[Jack]

I used to be a smartass and respond, "who made you the pope?" when someone said, "god bless you" to me after I sneezed. Now I just let it pass. I doubt the person who says it intends it to have any serious theological implications.

I think a blessing is just a kind thought, a wish for well being, a conferring of a positive attitude. It's a way of saying, "I wish you well".

In Western religion, a blessing is a benediction, an invocation of divine protection. In Buddhism, it's a way of awakening a greater sense of awareness.

[Kuldeep]

Quote by: Isherwood I think a blessing is just a kind thought, a wish for well being, a conferring of a positive attitude. It's a way of saying, "I wish you well".

Exactly, that is the literal meaning of blessing. The kind of thought usually originated from the minds of parents for their children, minds of elders for their sincere and obedient youngesters, minds of teachers for their students, minds of religious preachers for their followers and the like. Blessing can even be unspoken words of goodwishes or goodluck, just a silent thought well within the mind.

To specify yet another way of blessing, I would say it can be the feeling, which would be developed and come out of the mind as a throught from human, animal, bird or any living being for that matter towards the fellow for extending any type of comfort to it. For example, I am offering some money to a needy poor beggar. The feeling immediately rising in his mind for me is also blessing.

[doc303]

Technosoul,

Pardon if the my Bible becomes the best source of data re: blessings, but that is where I am grounded.

Outside of the Sermon on the Mount, the most astonishing blessing I have ever received occurs after communion at our little congregation. We celebrate His death but 4 times/year.

Following the recommendation of Christ in John 13:16-18, where Jesus states: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." (KJV), we wash feet.

However, the word in the original is "makarios" which also means blessed. Most all modern translations will say blessed rather than happy and I believe they are correct in that translation as that is how we feel after washing each others feet following communion.

This Biblical tradition has fallen out of favor except in Anabaptist circles. For this act the sexes are separated as is usual in those congregations, which is a good practice IMO. Soap is not applied, in case you wondered.

I have rarely enjoyed any Chrisrtian tradition as much as this one. The servant's heart is exercised - the blessings are many.

[kfinkelstein]

A blessing is abstract. The more you try to define it the further away from the definition you get.