I write this blog with hesitation. I am not an expert on ancestor altars nor Buddhist altars. I may us improper terminology. However this blog is really anecdotal, demonstrating how different life can be in Vietnam and SE Asia. How so many things are touched by religion and superstition.
For example: family altars are very common in a number of Asian countries, including Vietnam. In larger homes they may be given an entire room. In extreme cases they may be given the house.
One friend who works for an NGO told us of small emergency houses they provides for families whose houses had been destroyed. The temporary dwellings were adequate but had only one room. To the astonishment of the westerners in the NGO they found some of the families choosing to live outside rather than in the house provided. When they questioned the families they found that the family altar had been placed in the one room house. Therefore the family must not "desecrate the room" by sleeping there.
Recently one of our friends found a very nice house to rent. They requested that the family altar be removed from the upper room if they were to rent it. The landlord refused. Better to have no renters than to move the altar.
An NGO we know has a contract to rent a villa and use it for their required office space. They stipulated to the landlord that the altar needed to be removed and he agreed. One week prior to moving into the house, the landlord informed them that the altar cannot be moved out of the house. It can be moved into a storage room but must remain in the house. The contract may be broken over the issue of the altar.
The reality of opposing spiritual forces is very real in every country. However in some countries it is simply more evident, more out in the open. North Vietnam has had communist rule for 50 years. Especially in the past decade there has developed a younger class whose faith seems to be in materialism. Yet there are spiritual beliefs and practices that demonstrate spiritual bondage that is very real: temples, household altars, company and store altars, tiny shrines in taxi cabs, many mediums and fortune tellers.
In the midst of this dark spirituality, Vietnamese and expat Christians are ambassadors of Christ who can bring freedom from all spiritual bondage.
For example: family altars are very common in a number of Asian countries, including Vietnam. In larger homes they may be given an entire room. In extreme cases they may be given the house.
One friend who works for an NGO told us of small emergency houses they provides for families whose houses had been destroyed. The temporary dwellings were adequate but had only one room. To the astonishment of the westerners in the NGO they found some of the families choosing to live outside rather than in the house provided. When they questioned the families they found that the family altar had been placed in the one room house. Therefore the family must not "desecrate the room" by sleeping there.
Recently one of our friends found a very nice house to rent. They requested that the family altar be removed from the upper room if they were to rent it. The landlord refused. Better to have no renters than to move the altar.
An NGO we know has a contract to rent a villa and use it for their required office space. They stipulated to the landlord that the altar needed to be removed and he agreed. One week prior to moving into the house, the landlord informed them that the altar cannot be moved out of the house. It can be moved into a storage room but must remain in the house. The contract may be broken over the issue of the altar.
The reality of opposing spiritual forces is very real in every country. However in some countries it is simply more evident, more out in the open. North Vietnam has had communist rule for 50 years. Especially in the past decade there has developed a younger class whose faith seems to be in materialism. Yet there are spiritual beliefs and practices that demonstrate spiritual bondage that is very real: temples, household altars, company and store altars, tiny shrines in taxi cabs, many mediums and fortune tellers.
In the midst of this dark spirituality, Vietnamese and expat Christians are ambassadors of Christ who can bring freedom from all spiritual bondage.
No comments:
Post a Comment