Chuseok & Christianity
From Christianity, Modernization Ease Traditional Ancestor Worship:
Next week is Chuseok (추석 秋夕), the biggest Korean holiday, which marks the Harvest Moon like Rosh Hashanah. The high point of the holiday is a sacrificial meal offered for ancestors, known in Korean as charye (차례 茶禮). This sacrifical meal was originally banned by Catholics and allowed by Protestants, although both have reversed their original positions; i.e., Catholics now allow it while Protestants don't. Converts to Catholicism are often relieved that they will be able to participate in the charye, as failure to do so often creates strife in families, which occurs in many Protestant families.
Confucius himself, in his Analects, stated that this rite is a mere formality, that the spirits of the ancestors are not present at the sacrificial meal. It is instead merely a sign of respect for, not worship of, one's ancestors. Given this understanding of the rite, I see no problem in participating in it, especially when accompanied by Christian prayer.
[link to article via Budaechigae]
From Christianity, Modernization Ease Traditional Ancestor Worship:
- "'We haven't had the traditional memorial service for the past five generations in our family,' Kim, a 25-year-old office worker, said. 'Ever since our family members became Catholics, we simply prayed for our ancestors before having a big family meal on traditional holidays.'"
Next week is Chuseok (추석 秋夕), the biggest Korean holiday, which marks the Harvest Moon like Rosh Hashanah. The high point of the holiday is a sacrificial meal offered for ancestors, known in Korean as charye (차례 茶禮). This sacrifical meal was originally banned by Catholics and allowed by Protestants, although both have reversed their original positions; i.e., Catholics now allow it while Protestants don't. Converts to Catholicism are often relieved that they will be able to participate in the charye, as failure to do so often creates strife in families, which occurs in many Protestant families.
Confucius himself, in his Analects, stated that this rite is a mere formality, that the spirits of the ancestors are not present at the sacrificial meal. It is instead merely a sign of respect for, not worship of, one's ancestors. Given this understanding of the rite, I see no problem in participating in it, especially when accompanied by Christian prayer.
[link to article via Budaechigae]
Redeemed by Our Savior, I work out my salvation with fear and trembling in Pohang, South Korea, where I live with my wife, daughter, and son and teach English at a science and technology university. Baptized a Methodist and raised a Missouri Synod Lutheran in Buffalo, NY, I spent six years as a guest of the Anglican Communion before being received by the Grace of God into the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church on the Feast of Saint Andrew, my patron, anno domini 2002.
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