Forgotten Kingdoms Forums

I need to ask : When is it truely appropriate to bless?

For example, is it truely appropriate to bless someone who blatently says they do not want the blessing of your God? Or, someone who is blatently evil when you're good, and visaversa? I can't imagine a Tymoran ever blessing a Beshaban or one of her allies, or a Sunite blessing a Tepurian though it's more likely they may bless allies.

With my priestess, I think I've only even blessed two or three people out of my faith, and probably two of three were wanting to be in the faith. Even with blesses to my faith It's very seldom I do. To me bless is a big deal, since it literally is the blessing of a God/Goddess. Clearly, it's a small pet peeve of mine. ;)

Note that I'm not saying bless should be only done to members of one's faith, just that I rarely do outside.

Thoughts? Just whap me if I take bless too serious. :)

~Danica

I think that casting bless upon a person would be asking your deity to put his/her blessing upon the target. If that were the case, wouldn't the deity be the one to choose if his/her blessing should be laid upon the target?

Sure you could attempt to bless a follower of Cyric if you're a follower of Torm, but it's not up to you to decide if it happens or not.

I don't know what I've just contributed....

If it were not up to the Priest at all, then they would not have bless.

Well, alot of times you can't tell who belongs to what. Sure people might know what Saiden does for a living even though few know his name, but they don't know who he follows or anything beyond what he let's on.

I suppose in this case, you're going to say something along the lines of "Ignorance is bliss!" , because we're only accountable for what we know.

Bleh...I'll just leave this one alone from now on. I've given my two copper!

Too bad the code can't step in and curse instead of bless when a Tormite/Tymorian tries to bless a Cyrist/Beshaban or visa versa.(Or what ever opposing faiths) But intead of just cursing the other PC the caster should too be cursed as to show disaproval from the deities in question for the actions of the silly mortals.

I have a bit of a checkered religious background. I was raised in a dual religion home, my father being Jewish and my mother Presbyterian (U.S.A.). I'm even an ordained Deacon in the Presbyterian church. I almost went to seminary school to become a Presbyterian minister like my uncle. I've studied Wicca, Kabalah, Catholocism, Shinto and Buddism. After leaving home and traveling around the world for almost a decade, I have become a convert to reformist Judeism. I was married in a non-denomination Protestant ceremony and my maid of honour was married by a Kabalah priestess.

Now what does all this have to do with the price of tea in Shou Lung? Quite simply put: I have a lot of experience with various religions and I tend to apply that to my roleplay. When a priest offers the blessing of their faith, they aren't doing it for themself, they're doing it for the good of another and for their deity. I might not be (insert whatever religion you like here) but I'm not going to turn down the well wishes and blessings of So-And-So just because I don't happen to subscribe to their particular flavour of religion. In fact, I tend to feel honoured that someone not of my faith is possessed of enough unconditional love to want to pray for my well being. Do I get all up in arms when I go to the command Christmas party and a Catholic chaplain gives the benediction? No. I smile and get warm fuzzies that I can be there to receive that blessing which is freely given.

Within Faerun, there are numerous and opposed religions. Would a Cyricist bless a Mystran? Doubful. I could only see that if it was part of a greater deception that would eventually lead to the Mystran's downfall. There's even an example cited in R.A. Salvatore's books where the powers of Lloth are granted to heal Drizzt as part of a tangled plot (trying not to give TOO much away here *GRIN*).

Should a priest run around just blessing anyone? I don't think so. However, I do believe that a good priest would freely pray for the blessings of their deity upon their friends and allies. A Sunite would surely pray for Lady Firehair to bless their Lliiran, Selunite, Sharessan, Sorlyn (plural of the faith of Milil for those who don't know) and Lathanderian fellows. A Tyrran, however, might be a bit more generous, sharing the blessings of Grimjaws with any who might have need of Tyr's wisdom and guidance in matters of justice.

I think it all boils down to what the deity represents and how the priest represents their deity. I'd think a good deity would WANT their clergy to spread the word and blessings of their god/dess.

"The cleric is the most common type of priest, a suitable representative for a variety of powers. Clerics are sturdy soldiers with formidable spell powers, defenders of the faith and proselytizers."

Faiths and Avatars, p. 183

Another real life example of blessings can be found in the Latter Day Saint (or Mormon, as most call `em) religion. Mormon doctrine states that a righteous man can recieve the priesthood powers of Melchezidek (a prophet of the old testament) if he is living a worthy life and is 19. Along with these priesthood powers comes the ability to bless someone in need, be it a sick friend/relative or someone going through a hard time in their life. These blessings are taken with great seriousness and solemnity, and are only performed after much prayer on both the blesser and the blessee's part. Oh, and the person being blessed does not have to be a baptised member of the mormon religion, so long as they take the matter seriously and do their part.

I'm not sure if blessing someone follows this same concept in the Forgotten Realms world... but it would seem like a prayer you would only reserve for serious circumstances only - asking your lord or lady to protect you and your like-aligned companions in a very risky situation... calling a blessing on a close friend in need... eh, just a few thoughts.

When I find the time to play, you know how RL can be, I've often used the spell bless to reward a PC. Be it when they have done something heroic, a bard who has performed a moving song or likewise performance, or a craftsman who has made something that Nicolya would find beautiful or striking. I've played it where Nicolya's blessings, being a Sunite, is delivered by way of a kiss. Though nothing immodests, 99% of the times it is a kiss on the cheek.

What does this have to do with the thread? I think it depends on the priest as how they view blessings. If they are closely guarded and hold everything about their diety as sacred (oh look the holy toenail clippings of Tempus!) or are they one who will spread the gifts of their god about to others. Or are they somewhere in the middle? Me myself, if I see something that moves Nicolya or she thinks that Sune would smile upon, I will gift them with the blessings of the Lady Love. Besides, anyone can give coins, how many can bless them with the sweet gifts of Lady Firehair.