God Bless

[Awoon]

Why do some people say that? Cant God do that without people asking him? Doesn't God Bless without moral judgment like Jesus said he does? Isnt God doing all that it can do now without asking it to Bless someone or country?

To those that say that (God Bless), do you really think you can influence and manipulate God to do your Will?

 

[George-ananda]

Why do some people say that? Cant God do that without people asking him? Doesn't God Bless without moral judgment like Jesus said he does? Isnt God doing all that it can do now without asking it to Bless someone or country?

To those that say that (God Bless), do you really think you can influence and manipulate God to do your Will?

It's a wish for good for you. You are taking it too literally.

 

[Awoon]

Really?

 

[Riverwolf]

Yeah. You are.

Wishing someone "good day" isn't meant to imply agency over all the forces that will cross the recipient's path over the course of said day such that the day will unquestionably be good, nor is it meant to force someone who's not having a particularly good day to suddenly regard the day as good.

 

[Quintessence]

Really?

Yes. Really. It's basically "have a nice day."

 

[Jainarayan]

Wishing someone "good day" isn't meant to imply agency over all the forces that will cross the recipient's path over the course of said day such that the day will unquestionably be good, nor is it meant to force someone who's not having a particularly good day to suddenly regard the day as good.

“Good Morning!" said Bilbo, and he meant it. The sun was shining, and the grass was very green. But Gandalf looked at him from under long bushy eyebrows that stuck out further than the brim of his shady hat.

"What do you mean?" he said. "Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?"

"All of them at once," said Bilbo.

"What a lot of things you do use Good morning for!" said Gandalf. "Now you mean that you want to get rid of me, and that it won't be good till I move off.”

Y'all shoulda seen that one coming.

 

[BSM1]

Why do some people say that? Cant God do that without people asking him? Doesn't God Bless without moral judgment like Jesus said he does? Isnt God doing all that it can do now without asking it to Bless someone or country?

To those that say that (God Bless), do you really think you can influence and manipulate God to do your Will?

What really twists my tresses is when people bless God. Did God sneeze? Isn't this sorta gilding the lily?

 

[Awoon]

Why do some people say that? Cant God do that without people asking him? Doesn't God Bless without moral judgment like Jesus said he does? Isnt God doing all that it can do now without asking it to Bless someone or country?

To those that say that (God Bless), do you really think you can influence and manipulate God to do your Will?

To those that say "Good Bless You," do you really think you can influence and manipulate Good to do your Will?

 

[Jainarayan]

It's the subjunctive mood (optative in some languages), both moods indicate uncertainty. It's not a directive to God. It's a wish that God may bless. Spanish and Italian both use the subjunctive, te bendiga and ti benedica, respectively. Even Old Norse uses it, Thor vigi, (may) Thor bless. It's an Indo-European languages thing.

 

[NulliuSINverba]

Why do some people say that? Cant God do that without people asking him?

Perhaps not? Do you suppose that the Bible would have ever gotten written if we'd left the task to God?

Doesn't God Bless without moral judgment like Jesus said he does? Isnt God doing all that it can do now without asking it to Bless someone or country?

To those that say that (God Bless), do you really think you can influence and manipulate God to do your Will?

My guess is that it's simply a truncated form of something like "May God deign (in his eternal, unchanging, transcendent wisdom and mercy which he meteth out from beyond space and time) to bless you."

Of course, you can see why people went with the shorter, snappier "God Bless You?"

...

All they're really doing is publicly declaring that they have no personal objection(s) to whatever blessing God may or may not see fit to bestow upon you.

...

You'd still be correct to question the sincerity of that sort of declaration.

 

[Jainarayan]

I think it's largely an overused, fossilized comment like have a nice day and how are you. I don't give a rat's patoot what kind of day you have or want to hear about your whiny little problems. But along with the rest of the great unwashed masses I say it too.

 

[Awoon]

lol....Best answer. "I don't give a rat's patoot what kind of day you have."