Religion
In reply to the discussion: Am I being immoral by believing in a transcendent creator? [View all]Brettongarcia
(2,262 posts)The Bible, especially the NT, is written in a "poetic" or equivocal language. Where most phrases have at least two meanings. Often those meanings are exactly opposite.
In the case of the word "bless"? It turns out that this word does not always mean 1) God gives his approval to something. 2) "Bless" can always mean exactly the OPPOSITE of that. Often we bless people, when they sneeze. But note this: it is not to approve of their act. But to hope that they will do better - they will be better blessed; they will do better - in the future.
So "bless"ing someone in the Bible does NOT necessarily mean their act is being approved. Often it means exactly the opposite of that.
And in the case of Thomas being "blessed"? The language seem open to the negative meaning.
Careful! Our "tongues" were "confused" at Babylon; often things even in the Bible don't mean what a superficial/fundamentalist reading would suggest. Not only are there metaphors, or "figures" of speech, and "allegories"; but also equivocations, double entendres.
And finally I suggest, the "second" voice in the Bible adds up to the second and better appearance of Christ. Where he advocates not faith, but critical science.