Invocation and benediction

[question everything]

are these two terms have only a religious meaning?

Do they exist in other religions, or only in Christianity?

(As you can tell, I am quite ignorant when it comes to rituals of religions).

[jwirr]

1. I do not know what invocation means but benediction is the final blessing

to the congregation after a service. I think at least the Jewish religion has this also but I do not know. My father used to tell us that the benediction was the most important part of the service because when we go out to face the world we need a blessing.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

2. Look the words up

Get a dictionary and look them up - look at their meanings, the origins, and you'll have your answer. If you look them up yourself, and learn about them - a matter of a few minutes, you will own them forever - they will be yours.

(and then you won't be ignorant any more, because it's not a religious question, but an etymological one - yeah, look up "etymology" while you're at it - it's another great word.)

Have fun.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. One of the benedictions that Christians use is called the Aaronic benediction

It goes "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." I've heard that it's a translation from Hebrew.

Invocation merely means asking for God's blessing upon a proceedings. I haven't attended that many Jewish services, but I suppose there's some equivalent, even if it's not called an invocation.

[ZombieHorde]

4. To invoke is to call forth from without, to evoke is to call forth from within. nt