This paper investigates the validity of the idea that considers the Confucian sacrificial rites (toward ancestors) as idolatry. In its basic doctrine Confucianism in far from practicing idolatry. The investigator found three factors that influenced Ch...
This paper investigates the validity of the idea that considers the Confucian sacrificial rites (toward ancestors) as idolatry. In its basic doctrine Confucianism in far from practicing idolatry. The investigator found three factors that influenced Christians to take Confucian sacrificial rites as idolatry. The factors are ① the biases of the monotheistic religion, ② the arrogance of the Western culture and religion, and ③ lack of understanding of the symbolic meanings of the Confucian rites. It is recommended to consider the Confucian sacrificial rite as a symbolic behavior or performance which is designed to keep the sense of intimacy toward the ancestors, thus fulfilling the adage that we should pay respect toward the dead in the same way as we do toward the alive.