Recovery Board
: RfM
Recovery from Mormonism (RfM) discussion forum.
What am I doing? I don't believe in God or a god/gods.
I've blessed Hindus, Muslims, Mormons, Evangelicals, Catholics, Lutherans, Baptists, Non-denominational Christians, and Pagans and those are the ones I know their beliefs.
What exactly am I doing? Invoking a blessing from their beliefs?
I don't pray. I don't find spiritual enlightenment in anything immaterial. Yoga is about as much in that direction I go.
But I can't stop blessing people. Maybe my LDS Priesthood is making me? Will I start to fling olive oil at them?
Yee gads!
I've blessed Hindus, Muslims, Mormons, Evangelicals, Catholics, Lutherans, Baptists, Non-denominational Christians, and Pagans and those are the ones I know their beliefs.
What exactly am I doing? Invoking a blessing from their beliefs?
I don't pray. I don't find spiritual enlightenment in anything immaterial. Yoga is about as much in that direction I go.
But I can't stop blessing people. Maybe my LDS Priesthood is making me? Will I start to fling olive oil at them?
Yee gads!
I'm guessing you mean, "I wish you well."
A nice sentiment, I think.
And while I know very well that our ingrained word usage can be hard to change, I still think that for you (and I!), actually saying "I wish you well" instead of "bless you" is both more accurate and more meaningful, to both the "blesser" and "blessee" :)
A nice sentiment, I think.
And while I know very well that our ingrained word usage can be hard to change, I still think that for you (and I!), actually saying "I wish you well" instead of "bless you" is both more accurate and more meaningful, to both the "blesser" and "blessee" :)
ificouldhietokolob Wrote:
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> I'm guessing you mean, "I wish you well."
I guess I do but it seems more like an automatic response for me.
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> I'm guessing you mean, "I wish you well."
I guess I do but it seems more like an automatic response for me.
Words have meanings, but these meanings are not absolute, nor set in stone. The meanings fluctuate and change over time. Your "bless you" has become a friendly, polite phrase in most instances, without any religious connotations. Just like christmas is no longer the yuletide or saturnalia it originally was, and easter is no longer new year's day.
Or to quote Condoleezza Rice: "When the Founding Fathers wrote 'We the People', they didn't mean me."
Or to quote Condoleezza Rice: "When the Founding Fathers wrote 'We the People', they didn't mean me."
>>"What am I doing? I don't believe in God or a god/gods."
You're just giving a conditioned response. I don't believe in god(s) either, and that's why I never say "bless you." It holds no meaning for me so it would be just an empty, conditioned response.
Like when people say "bless you" when you sneeze. I don't think its literal, but it is conditioned.
And why say it only when you sneeze? Why not say for burps, farts and other involuntary body noises?
You're just giving a conditioned response. I don't believe in god(s) either, and that's why I never say "bless you." It holds no meaning for me so it would be just an empty, conditioned response.
Like when people say "bless you" when you sneeze. I don't think its literal, but it is conditioned.
And why say it only when you sneeze? Why not say for burps, farts and other involuntary body noises?
Yep.
Personally, I think recognizing your "conditioned" responses, and changing them to something non-conditioned, is a good step towards thinking your way through life instead of reacting your way through life :)
Personally, I think recognizing your "conditioned" responses, and changing them to something non-conditioned, is a good step towards thinking your way through life instead of reacting your way through life :)
ificouldhietokolob Wrote:
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> Yep.
> Personally, I think recognizing your "conditioned"
> responses, and changing them to something
> non-conditioned, is a good step towards thinking
> your way through life instead of reacting your way
> through life :)
I need to work on that. I think much of human nature is geared towards being reactionary instead of proactive-visionary.
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> Yep.
> Personally, I think recognizing your "conditioned"
> responses, and changing them to something
> non-conditioned, is a good step towards thinking
> your way through life instead of reacting your way
> through life :)
I need to work on that. I think much of human nature is geared towards being reactionary instead of proactive-visionary.
Elder Berry Wrote:
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> I need to work on that. I think much of human
> nature is geared towards being reactionary instead
> of proactive-visionary.
I didn't say it was easy...:)
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> I need to work on that. I think much of human
> nature is geared towards being reactionary instead
> of proactive-visionary.
I didn't say it was easy...:)
If you look back at the evolution of our species (and other species anatomically similar to us, such as cats), sneezing is most often an involuntary (or semi-involuntary) act, something whose onset we can perceive as totally out of our control...
...which, in "ancient speak" indicates: Danger!
"Danger" not only to us individually, but to all of those nearby who are (potentially) in danger because our personal control over our bodies has been superseded by some greater power...
..."someone" or "something" who plainly has the POWER to "make" us sneeze. ("If it can get ONE of us...it can get ALL of us!")
"Bless you!" or "God bless you!" isn't so much meant for the person who sneezed (although it IS meant for them, in part), as it is meant for protecting the greater "community" (very importantly including the person who says it).
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/15/2018 01:30PM by Tevai.
...which, in "ancient speak" indicates: Danger!
"Danger" not only to us individually, but to all of those nearby who are (potentially) in danger because our personal control over our bodies has been superseded by some greater power...
..."someone" or "something" who plainly has the POWER to "make" us sneeze. ("If it can get ONE of us...it can get ALL of us!")
"Bless you!" or "God bless you!" isn't so much meant for the person who sneezed (although it IS meant for them, in part), as it is meant for protecting the greater "community" (very importantly including the person who says it).
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/15/2018 01:30PM by Tevai.
Tevai Wrote:
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> "Bless you!" or "God bless you!" isn't so much
> meant for the person who sneezed (although it IS
> meant for them, in part), as it is meant for
> protecting the greater "community" (very
> importantly including the person who says it).
Ah, thanks! I'm doing for my community. If there is a God, bless them all regardless of their beliefs!
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> "Bless you!" or "God bless you!" isn't so much
> meant for the person who sneezed (although it IS
> meant for them, in part), as it is meant for
> protecting the greater "community" (very
> importantly including the person who says it).
Ah, thanks! I'm doing for my community. If there is a God, bless them all regardless of their beliefs!