As a Christian, would u....???
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1) Pray to your ancestors using jossticks/burn offerings to the dead.
2) Show veneration/worship ur parents after they pass away (at the funeral and after)
What is your take on this? -
No.but i believe catholics do,not so sure about it..
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My take is No
but what is the important? Your act or your faith matters? -
if u religion does not allow you to do ancestor worship.. then dont do it..Originally posted by laoda99:1) Pray to your ancestors using jossticks/burn offerings to the dead.
2) Show veneration/worship ur parents after they pass away (at the funeral and after)
What is your take on this?
but do not use it as an excuse not to turn up at a taoist/buddhist funeral (esp when he/she is someone really close to you).. this is the least respect you can give to someone who had given you their love, support you in material ways, etc... -
so ur take is no?Originally posted by M©+square:My take is No
but what is the important? Your act or your faith matters?
will u condemn a fellow christian if he do it? -
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My take is no - I will not worship.Originally posted by laoda99:so ur take is no?
will u condemn a fellow christian if he do it?
I will do it(ceremony) because i believe the act does not matter and not seen a abomination to God. Again, i believe it is the matter of the heart.
It is between God and the believer.
I will not condemn a christian upon these acts. Because i do not want to be a hypocrite.
Cheers -
sure......even my cousin (who went to church also do..as a form of respect....ignor epl trying to tell u dont't)Originally posted by laoda99:1) Pray to your ancestors using jossticks/burn offerings to the dead.
2) Show veneration/worship ur parents after they pass away (at the funeral and after)
What is your take on this?
But i hate going for the sermon...it sucks coz its boring as hell...... -
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This is exactly the Catholic perspective. I need not elaborate further.Originally posted by M©+square:My take is no - I will not worship.
I will do it(ceremony) because i believe the act does not matter and not seen a abomination to God. Again, i believe it is the matter of the heart.
It is between God and the believer.
I will not condemn a christian upon these acts. Because i do not want to be a hypocrite.
Cheers -
No.
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We got many pretty cool answers.
But strictly speaking, many here got the concepts wrong.
Let me quote what i read from books..and these books are written by ang mohs somemore...
The Chinese have three main religions, mainly, Buddhism, Taoism, and Chinese Folklore
The ritual of joss stick burning started from our ancestors long time ago, and forms part of Chinese culture and folklore, which gives u Chinese New Year, a festival to celebrate the spring season as well as to ward off a mythical monster called Nian, and these created the act of lighting firecrackers and giving angbaos.
Taoism, like Legalism, Confucianism and other school of thoughts, have its beginning as a philosphy during the Warring States Era, just like many others. The inclusion of rites and ceremonies form the fundamentals of modern Taoism today, which i shall let experts elaborate further.
Strictly speaking, pure Buddhism do not have joss stick burning and idol worship. But you guys forgot one thing, Chinese do. I have already exhausted many posts giving examples of how local culture adapt new faith to their culture, such as Chileans who catch vultures to present to the altar of Christ before releasing it in the mountains.
The act of lighting joss sticks is akin to people lighting candles and placing it on the altar at churches, or giving bows to the deceased in their coffin as a sign of respect.
Be very careful of what you choose to practise as a Christian, because in the past, some of the Christians remarks here in the forum actually deny their own existence as a Chinese.
For example, we have peeps asking if Christians do celebrate CNY. Hello, CNY is part of Chinese culture too. Some even question ancestor worship, which gives them the excuse to ignore the basic underlying principles - filial piety and respect for the deceased. No one asking you to kneel and pray for 4D number, but at the least know that burning joss sticks to these people do mean you acknowledge their passing.
When i do see some peeps here stamp down on certain things that form part of chinese culture, no offence, i would love to go into debate why christianity is essentially a jewish thing rather than a global faith. -
Originally posted by laurence82:i would love to go into debate why christianity is essentially a jewish thing rather than a global faith.
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What? Read carefully hor...Originally posted by Icemoon: 
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Hello, here is my view in regards to Ancestors.
Although I am not a Christian (laoda would u mine?), I'm a Buddhist and Buddhists are also not supposed to be worshipping ancestors or other gods, unlike Folks Practices. Therefore I can only say, I pay my respect and reverence to them.
Actually there is nothing superstitious about Joss Stick. Joss stick is symbolic, it means "Dao De Zhi Xiang", therefore people who burn joss sticks should learn to have Dao De. Secondly, I also do place joss sticks for my ancestors, not because I worship them but out of respect.
I do not ask them for 4D numbers or divinations
or these sort of things, so I think it's quite alright. -
Hi Eternal,Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Hello, here is my view in regards to Ancestors.
Although I am not a Christian (laoda would u mine?), I'm a Buddhist and Buddhists are also not supposed to be worshipping ancestors or other gods, unlike Folks Practices. Therefore I can only say, I pay my respect and reverence to them.
Actually there is nothing superstitious about Joss Stick. Joss stick is symbolic, it means "Dao De Zhi Xiang", therefore people who burn joss sticks should learn to have Dao De. Secondly, I also do place joss sticks for my ancestors, not because I worship them but out of respect.
I do not ask them for 4D numbers or divinations or these sort of things, so I think it's quite alright.
Interesting to note that buddhists are also not supposed to be worshipping ancestors or other gods (does buddihism advocate a god?). What does buddhist scriptures say with regards to worshipping the dead and ancestor veneration? How do buddhists pay respect/reverence to them? -
How does the bible deals with such issues? Anyone care to share?
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i thot eternal/laurence had said that already.. ancestor worship is not part of buddhist's practices..Originally posted by laoda99:Hi Eternal,
Interesting to note that buddhists are also not supposed to be worshipping ancestors or other gods (does buddihism advocate a god?). What does buddhist scriptures say with regards to worshipping the dead and ancestor veneration? How do buddhists pay respect/reverence to them?
and eternal's understanding of the use of joss stick is true (even though the average buddhists might still use it in superstitious way).. it's a purification act.. when u offer the joss sticks.. you are not offering to anyone in particular.. you are purifying your own thots in such an act..
however, most buddhists do believe in cause and effect.. and you can perform good deeds to relieve of the sufferings of your parents too (read it when i was studying in Sec 3/4 15-20 yrs ago).. -
Besides clearing the doubts of what define a chinese and wat define a non christian, there are some faiths that do go and worship idol
Speak against it as a christian, but do not speak against the faith. -
what do scriptures say pertaining to this?Originally posted by M©+square:My take is no - I will not worship.
I will do it(ceremony) because i believe the act does not matter and not seen a abomination to God. Again, i believe it is the matter of the heart.
It is between God and the believer.
I will not condemn a christian upon these acts. Because i do not want to be a hypocrite.
Cheers -
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havnt u read the part about not serving two masters?Originally posted by laoda99:1) Pray to your ancestors using jossticks/burn offerings to the dead.
2) Show veneration/worship ur parents after they pass away (at the funeral and after)
What is your take on this?
make up ur mind which u wana worship... u can oni worship one.
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It all depends how you want to look at it?Originally posted by laoda99:what do scriptures say pertaining to this?
Can you define the 'this' in your post? Then i could proceed to quote verses and look at it from a biblical viewpoint(which in my opinion, a grey matter)
Cheers -
Worship is a strong word.Originally posted by mach10:havnt u read the part about not serving two masters?
make up ur mind which u wana worship... u can oni worship one.
Would you care to define worship in the scripture and 'worship' during a funeral wake?
Cheers -
no prob...what i meant by 'this' is the veneration of the dead/ancestor worship.Originally posted by M©+square:It all depends how you want to look at it?
Can you define the 'this' in your post? Then i could proceed to quote verses and look at it from a biblical viewpoint(which in my opinion, a grey matter)
Cheers
I am also particularly interested in the issue of burning of incense from the bible's perspective, since others have brought it up also from the chinese perspective.