People hold many beliefs. One of these beliefs is the practice of ancestor worship. It refers to the rituals practiced by people to commemorate their ancestors. It faces strong criticism from Christian believers who think that ancestor veneration elevates the status of dead. Many also question if ancestor worship is needed in this day and age. In my opinion, ancestor worship is not unnecessary because it is part of one’s beliefs and family identity, it reinforces filial piety and the practice is harmless.
Firstly, Ancestors are a part of familyidentity. The practice of commemorating the ancestors is a constant reminder of where we came from. The faith in ancestors gives people inspiration to follow great paths. For some continuous remembrance of the past is the way to move forward. For example, in China the Qingming Festival and ritual like tomb-sweeping affirm the continuing presence of their ancestors. Ancestor worship in a way is paying earnest respects to our roots. Hence, ancestor worship is a spiritual idea which connects the past with the present. Italso makes the present generation aware about their identities and cultural practice so it is not completely unnecessary.
It reinforces filial piety which is an important moral tenet. Filial piety is an important concept in many asian cultures like Korea, Japan and China. Also, in the Chinese culture it is important to mourn and worship the ancestors as it is considered to be the highest form of filial piety. For example, in Korea the respect to one’s ancestors is paid through the festival of Jesa. This is deeply rooted in the belief that if they take good care of their ancestors, the ancestors will look after the living descendants. Many asian cultures still practice the rituals of ancestor worship. The reason is that, they believe that ancestors are the progenitors have brought us in this world and as such must be revered. Therefore, ancestors worship is not unnecessary as it helps to pay respect to our ancestors.
There are different practices around the world, ancestral worship is not harmful.Every religion or culture has certain traditions which may seem odd to others but mean a lot to the true believers. Ancestor worship as a practice is not harming anyone. There are more painful and violent types of practices and rituals.So, it is wrong that we consider ancestors worship as unnecessary. Afterall, it is amalgamation of social, cultural and religious beliefs that hold a special placefor certain cultures.
Critics of ancestor worship may bring upthe point that it stems from superstition. They believe that people should not worship their ancestors because they are not gods. To further their claim, they say that ancestor worship is not practiced for paying respects but with fear that if the ancestors are not worshipped their spirits can turn malicious and harm you. Forexample, during the hungry ghost festival, chao du, a salvation ritual is performed to bring peace to the spirits of the ancestors.The effectiveness of such practices is unfounded and only hold symbolic value. The ancestors who have passed on do not have the power to help or guide us in anyway. Therefore, the practice ofancestor worship is completely unnecessary.
However, another way to look at this issue is that ancestor worship is part of culture and therefore isn’t completely unnecessary. People follow a lot of practices across the world and hold beliefs that are blended into the society. For example, even the hungry ghost festival is part of the culture and closely connected to chinese history. Though sometimes superstitions might permeate the worship it also gives a country its unique cultural identity. After all, people are known for their unique cultural identity and practices. Therefore, the practice of ancestor worship is not completely unnecessary.
In conclusion, people should be given the freedom to worship as they see fit. The practice of ancestor worship in my opinion is in no way harming anyone. It isundeniable that we have an indelible link to our ancestors. In modern society the influence of traditions is growing weak in many places. In such an atmosphere if people are taking efforts to remember their roots. Provided that it does not become a point of conflict in society, of course, ancestor worship can aid personal and societal development.
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