i think it's about the context of it?
like, most christians wouldn't hold joss sticks, because that's
something that is used for worship. it's not something that's known
to be for showing respect.
bringing a bouquet of flowers, something which the deceased
previously owned and was memorable to put on the coffin, that's
something which seems to speak more of respect, and not
worship.
but all in all, because we believe that once you die, that's it.
Souls do not come back, and cannot communicate with living people.
That's why we don't believe in tang ki channeling our dead
relatives - either he's channeling a supernatural being, which
isn't from God, or he's a fake.
reason being, is that we believe in 2 supernatural powers, God,
and Satan. If something is not from God, it's from the other side
of the camp. that's all to it.
just sharing, humbly.. =)
like my family we goto bright hill monastary, because my
granddad's ashes are placed there. we don't burn joss sticks, or
paper money, or paper cars etc etc, because we believe it's of no
use, that wherever he is, he can't receive it. If he's in heaven
(which i don't think so, i don't know), He's with God, and wouldn't
need anything.
if he's in the other side of the camp, he can't receive anything
either.
so ya.. it's about the context of it. personally, i'm still
working on paying respect and showing love to my living
grandparents, and it's not very successful so to speak. so i think
before everyone bang tables about why christians don't show respect
etc, i think the piority should be about the living first.
besides, it's all personal opinions. i personally think that
playing mahjong at a funeral is so much worse than not holding joss
sticks if you're talking about respecting the dead.
so it all boils down to your defination of respect - to me, it's
about remembering the days when the deceased was alive. what they
have done to impact your life, how they added colour into your
life. and holding joss stick offers none of that.
