Christianity..jossticks..ancestors..
By hopefoo
@hopefoo (1145)
Malaysia
February 21, 2007 3:46pm CST
It was Chinese New Year last week. I went back to my dad's hometown, to the ancestral home; the one great grandpa built when he arrived from China some 100 years ago - to celebrate the New Year with all our family members, minus the grandparents. They're long gone now..and in their honor, we have an altar for them.
Every Chinese New Year, we'd place food, all kinds of food on a table infront of the altar, along with three bowls of rice, three cups of tea, three cups of wine..3 jossticks. This is how we pray our respects to our ancestors.
When I came back here (dad's hometown is 2 hours away by flight), I recounted the whole thing to my bf when he asked me what I did over there. To my horror, he went into this argument about how I'm not supposed to be idolizing other gods. Now, he's Methodist and I'm Roman Catholic and as far as I'm concerned it's the same God..and according to Catholic, we're allowed to burn incense but I digress. My point was that I wasn't idolizing other Gods. It's just that it's tradition, I'm Chinese, my grandparents naturally, Taoists. And the commandment does say "Honor thy parents" did it not? I don't know what's the big deal about incense and jossticks. I don't know what's wrong with the Methodists either. Are there any Methodists out there?
4 people like this
7 responses
@ebo_bro (190)
• Philippines
22 Feb 07
i also had an argument with a friend about my religion, it went for weeks. I was trying to explain to him why we have saints, and why we dont go to a river to be baptise and a lot more and he just wouldn't accept my explanation and all I do is wrong. at the end I told him that no true religion teaches hatred to others. after that he simple shut up and maybe he realize what his doing is something like or near discrimination which is a sin in any religion and also in human law. I told him in catholics, we accept that a person will be save not according to their religion but what they do in their life, how they help others in trouble, how they suffer because they are fighting with temptation. not because they belong to a group.
i guess, if you continue offering food to your ancestors will have no effect if you will go to heaven or hell :)
1 person likes this
@lifeiseasy (2292)
• United States
21 Feb 07
lol ...maybe he was just mising you and had to have some excuse ...lol ..I think what you did was awesome ...tradition is being more and more outdated and its cool to see someone stand up for theirs ...plus it was a great time for your family as well to share the tradition
so keep doing your thing ...
@CatEyes (2448)
• United States
23 Feb 07
There is such a misconception of catholics idolizing, worshiping and praying to saints. We venerate, and ask them to pray for us since they are closer to God than we are. It would only make sense to implore help from those closest to God, and behove us to pray for those who judge harshly. I wish we did not have to endure such pains, but we all have our crosses to bare, right? Honor thy mother and thy father, yes we should, but if you are married the Bible also says man should cleave to his wife. Meaning he comes first just as you come first. When you come of age, your parents deserve to be respected which is honoring them to the upteenth, and they should understand this. You must do what is right by God, not what is right by others.
@yanjiaren (9031)
•
21 Feb 07
i am a mixed bag and so is my hubby..
i was born a christian ..followed a sufi saint for 11 years and i still respect him...train in taoist arts and went to do a bit of amitabha in the local buddhist temple to say a prayer for my hubby's ancestors for new year..nice one..this is one world and there is one true God..that's it..i find it just as comfortable to say Amitabha, praise the Lord ..Alleluyah and what not..and Allahu Akbar..it all goes to the same place man..i know many christinas who burn candles, light incense..look at Jesus and the three wise men they brought him incense..so if it's good enough for him..it sure is good enough for me mate lol..i even want to learn the northern star meditations lol..i would love to get my head around those..i mdon't see a problem with it..give him a chill pill..
xin nian kuai le..is your boyfriend chinese? btw
1 person likes this
@cjkicks (156)
• United States
21 Feb 07
The problem is not understanding and not wanting to understand someones culture. I have always been impressed with the Chinese honoring their ancestors. The Japanese also honor their ancestors. There is a difference honoring and worshipping. I don't think it matters whether you are methodist, catholic or any other if you have a closed mind then it won't make any difference how you try to explain it.
1 person likes this
@purplesea (62)
• Philippines
22 Feb 07
I'm a Born-again Christian and some of my friends are Methodists. It is but natural for us/them to tell people when they are wrong. I respect your culture and your ancestors and I am in no way antagonizing you. I am just explaining why you're boyfriend said what he did. Our faith compels us to bring people to God. We are not allowed to offer food or anything to anyone but God. The Bible tell us offering food to spirits is wrong. I guess, it is because of this that your boyfriend reprimanded you. Also, because your boyfriend loves you, he's trying to show you what he believes is the right thing. He wants you to be saved and brought closer to God.
