A Glimpse of Chinese Spring Festival Migration

[Aepsilons]

Atheist. Family Catholic. Realize there is no god/afterlife. I do it because of respect for my ancestors and continuity. I think 30% of chinese are Christians. The Christians relax ancestral worship to get new convert.

Im Orthodox Christian, tho I do sometimes attend Catholic Church mass in my town because its close. Tho i'm Christian, i do observe shinto festivals and rituals, too, for the cultural aspect. Also, ancestral worship or prayers for the dead is seen in Orthodox Christianity and Catholicism. Remember the concept of "the Communion of the Saints" ?

Anyways, good to see that you observe cultural practice tho.

30% that high? I cannot find a real one in my life, most are just fake one.

I think Malay Chinese who are Christian are able to mix Christian teaching with Chinese cultural practice. It works out. My xgf was Chinese Teow Chu and she and her family are Roman Catholic, but they observe a lot of traditional practices tho. It works out.

 

[AndrewJin]

Im Orthodox Christian, tho I do sometimes attend Catholic Church mass in my town because its close. Tho i'm Christian, i do observe shinto festivals and rituals, too, for the cultural aspect. Also, ancestral worship or prayers for the dead is seen in Orthodox Christianity and Catholicism. Remember the concept of "the Communion of the Saints" ?

Anyways, good to see that you observe cultural practice tho.



I think Malay Chinese who are Christian are able to mix Christian teaching with Chinese cultural practice. It works out. My xgf was Chinese Teow Chu and she and her family are Roman Catholic, but they observe a lot of traditional practices tho. It works out.

Tomorrow I'll post some about Mazu, the Goddess.

 

[AndrewJin]

Im Orthodox Christian, tho I do sometimes attend Catholic Church mass in my town because its close. Tho i'm Christian, i do observe shinto festivals and rituals, too, for the cultural aspect. Also, ancestral worship or prayers for the dead is seen in Orthodox Christianity and Catholicism. Remember the concept of "the Communion of the Saints" ?

Anyways, good to see that you observe cultural practice tho.



I think Malay Chinese who are Christian are able to mix Christian teaching with Chinese cultural practice. It works out. My xgf was Chinese Teow Chu and she and her family are Roman Catholic, but they observe a lot of traditional practices tho. It works out.

I don't know much about oversea Chinese. Most Chinese in China who claim to believe are more into the spirits of a religion, like love, peace and so on as opposed to a religion's core. I don't know they are supposed to be called real one?

 

[AndrewJin]

I don't know much about oversea Chinese. Most Chinese in China who claim to believe are more into the spirits of a religion, like love, peace and so on as opposed to a religion's core. I don't know they are supposed to be called real one?

A doctor 10 centuries ago now is worshiped as a small local God in Fujian.

 

[powastick]

30% that high? I cannot find a real one in my life, most are just fake one.

Yes, genuine one, enough to throw ancestral pedestal into the bin. I been to church since I was a kid. But its still better than being a Muslim, because you will have to forsake your surname, and race and your grand kids won't bear your surname. It is much different than a Hui muslim.

Ancestral worship or prayers for the dead is seen in Orthodox Christianity and Catholicism.

There are always odds, there are a lot of stuff that is discourage by the Christians. You won't believe what my mom didn't allow me to do in a funeral. Avoiding QingMing to avoid the ceremony they perform. I have hard time recalling some of the aspect.

I have said it before, religion is nothing more than a social engineering.

 

[Aepsilons]

I don't know much about oversea Chinese. Most Chinese in China who claim to believe are more into the spirits of a religion, like love, peace and so on as opposed to a religion's core. I don't know they are supposed to be called real one?

That's what I like about Chinese people and Chinese mentality. It is a very pragmatic one. Chinese, wherever they are, either in China, Japan, America, Europe, they have the ability to adapt rapidly to the environment. It is like the saying :

是开放的手。不要握拳。

Chinese (and to an extent Japanese) are able to take the core of any concept and apply it to Chinese way of life. For example, a Chinese Christian will adhere to tenets of Christianity, but at the same time will maintain Chinese cultural practice such as Ancestral Worship (which really works with Christianity because in Christianity we are supposed to pray for our relatives, loved ones who already passed away). The concept of Good Samaritan is synergistic with Chinese Confucianism , too.

This is why Chinese people are adaptive. They succeed , flourish wherever they are anywhere in the world because of this 'Open Hand' pragmatism. 是开放的手。不要握拳。

There are always odds, there are a lot of stuff that is discourage by the Christians. You won't believe what my mom didn't allow me to do in a funeral. Avoiding QingMing to avoid the ceremony they perform. I have hard time recalling some of the aspect.

I have said it before, religion is nothing more than a social engineering.

I try not to take the dogmas too seriously, essential is the belief system and the active (personal) religious practice that helps with internal locus of control. As a support system for us. That's what i like about Catholicism and Orthodoxy is because there is a respect for mysticism and not so much 'by the book'.

This is why I come to disagree with some Christian Protestants.

But that's a different matter.

 

[AndrewJin]

That's what I like about Chinese people and Chinese mentality. It is a very pragmatic one. Chinese, wherever they are, either in China, Japan, America, Europe, they have the ability to adapt rapidly to the environment. It is like the saying :

是开放的手。不要握拳。

Chinese (and to an extent Japanese) are able to take the core of any concept and apply it to Chinese way of life. For example, a Chinese Christian will adhere to tenets of Christianity, but at the same time will maintain Chinese cultural practice such as Ancestral Worship (which really works with Christianity because in Christianity we are supposed to pray for our relatives, loved ones who already passed away). The concept of Good Samaritan is synergistic with Chinese Confucianism , too.

This is why Chinese people are adaptive. They succeed , flourish wherever they are anywhere in the world because of this 'Open Hand' pragmatism. 是开放的手。不要握拳。

Sometimes too pragmatic. Sometimes I am thinking what if some gods do exist, then should I go to hell?

 

[Aepsilons]

Sometimes too pragmatic. Sometimes I am thinking what if some gods do exist, then should I go to hell?

If the gods exist then they will see the Righteousness in us. The Jade Emperor is said to be the god who showers salvation and blessing. Note emphasis on salvation and blessing. So I am confident that Providence is a beautiful, merciful, accepting deity.

 

[AndrewJin]

If the gods exist then they will see the Righteousness in us. The Jade Emperor is said to be the god who showers salvation and blessing. Note emphasis on salvation and blessing. So I am confident that Providence is a beautiful, merciful, accepting deity.

Love your words

 

[AndrewJin]

Yes, genuine one, enough to throw ancestral pedestal into the bin. I been to church since I was a kid. But its still better than being a Muslim, because you will have to forsake your surname, and race and your grand kids won't bear your surname. It is much different than a Hui muslim.


There are always odds, there are a lot of stuff that is discourage by the Christians. You won't believe what my mom didn't allow me to do in a funeral. Avoiding QingMing to avoid the ceremony they perform. I have hard time recalling some of the aspect.

I have said it before, religion is nothing more than a social engineering.

U lost me, why a Christian avoids Qingming?

 

[AndrewJin]

That's what I like about Chinese people and Chinese mentality. It is a very pragmatic one. Chinese, wherever they are, either in China, Japan, America, Europe, they have the ability to adapt rapidly to the environment. It is like the saying :

是开放的手。不要握拳。

Chinese (and to an extent Japanese) are able to take the core of any concept and apply it to Chinese way of life. For example, a Chinese Christian will adhere to tenets of Christianity, but at the same time will maintain Chinese cultural practice such as Ancestral Worship (which really works with Christianity because in Christianity we are supposed to pray for our relatives, loved ones who already passed away). The concept of Good Samaritan is synergistic with Chinese Confucianism , too.

This is why Chinese people are adaptive. They succeed , flourish wherever they are anywhere in the world because of this 'Open Hand' pragmatism. 是开放的手。不要握拳。



I try not to take the dogmas too seriously, essential is the belief system and the active (personal) religious practice that helps with internal locus of control. As a support system for us. That's what i like about Catholicism and Orthodoxy is because there is a respect for mysticism and not so much 'by the book'.

This is why I come to disagree with some Christian Protestants.

But that's a different matter.

Sometimes I am wondering are you Chinese? You are a total Sinologist

 

[Aepsilons]

Sometimes I am wondering are you Chinese? You are a total Sinologist

I have a deep , deep fascination and love for China, Chinese culture. Wouldn't dare say i am a sinologist because i am no expert, just a personal fondness and interest.

As for being Chinese -- well, if we go back enough, i wouldn't be surprised if my ancestors came from China Mainland.

 

[powastick]

U lost me, why a Christian avoids Qingming?

Praying to fallen/lost spirit. Asking for ancestral blessing.

 

[Aepsilons]

Praying to fallen/lost spirit. Asking for ancestral blessing.

Question. Ever experienced the presence of long gone relatives when invoking them in prayer?

 

[powastick]

Nope. Not even when I was a kid.