[lit-ideas] "Bless you": a performative?
- From: Jlsperanza@xxxxxxx
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2004 13:55:00 EDT
In a message dated 8/5/2004 1:29:05 PM Eastern Standard Time,
JulieReneB@xxxxxxx writes:
Interesting, the emphasis in Christianity on God blessing
people and the emphasis in Judaism on people blessing God. Actually I
think it's
more an acknowledgement -- "I recognize that you are a Blessed One"....but
that's not how much rabbinic commentary talks about it. I read a piece on
the
blessing of God in Judaism by Heschel, I think, once, (or maybe Kaplan?)
I wonder if the distinction could be that in one case it is performative,
while in the other it is not? Cf.
_http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?AuthorID=12292&id=11427_
(http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?AuthorID=12292&id=11427)
"BRK is most often a relational marker, signifying the existence of some
sacral, legal, or social relationship. God, angels, and humanity may bless;
God, humanity, animals and inanimate objects can be blessed. Precisely what
is
conveyed by the act of blessing differs depending upon both its grantor and
grantee. Foremost, however, blessing is a performative utterance, or speech
act, that brings good upon someone or something in contrast to cursingâ?¦.
(Magdalene, in EDB, p. 192)
Ref.
Magdalene, F. Rachel. 'Blessing,' in Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible.
David Noel Freedman, editor. 2000. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Cheers,
JL
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