For the past week or so, the local newspapers have been running an old photograph showing three women and a little girl. The photograph is an old one, so the little girl had already grown up and passed away last year, in her fifties. The woman sitting down was her mother who had since passed on, and the two women standing up are her maternal aunts, who would be at least in their seventies if they are still living.
The reason the newspapers have been running this photo is because the middle-aged lady was the heiress of her great-grandfather's vast fortune, so since she died inestate, her fortune will then be passed to her next-of-kins, namely her two aunts in the picture. Since no one knew the fate of the aunts and what their names were, the only clue was the photo. The lawyer in charge of the estate is still searching, despite that some people have called and claimed to be cousins, five times removed, just to get their hands on a share of the fortune.
What is strange about this case is that the deceased lady herself was sub-normal. Her great-grandfather had five kids, yet her father was the only descendant from that generation. Then she was the only child of her father. Now that she is gone, the bloodline is officially cut off. This is rare indeed, as where in the world will anyone have so many children yet in the end only one descendant? I am not talking about wars of old where people kill off others' entire families, but about the bloodline cutting off naturally by itself after just two or three generations.
My mum, a typical Chinese, was remarking that the great-grandfather must have done many unscrupulous things and used under-handed methods in making his fortune. She said retribution would fall on people who are evil. The retribution will fall not on the person, but on his / her descendants. Thus, Chinese believe that if you have a child who is not normal, chances are you have an ancestor who had done many wrong things in his / her life. The more evil one was, the less likelihood of him / her having descendants, as what Chinese people will say "jue zi jue sun" - direct translation "no more son and grandson".
How true is this, I wonder? Is there really retribution in this world? I only know that if you do the wrong things, the only retribution you get is you go to Hell or Purgatory instead of Heaven, and if someone else wrongs you, his / her retribution will come in the form of judgment from God, and not revenge from humans.
So is it really necessary to be so affected when someone did something evil, be it to you or anyone else? Whichever believe (traditional or religious), this person will have his / her just deserts. But to me, I always believe in doing unto others what you want others to do unto you. Thus, in order not to suffer any form of judgment or retribution, one should try not to be too nasty to others.
The reason the newspapers have been running this photo is because the middle-aged lady was the heiress of her great-grandfather's vast fortune, so since she died inestate, her fortune will then be passed to her next-of-kins, namely her two aunts in the picture. Since no one knew the fate of the aunts and what their names were, the only clue was the photo. The lawyer in charge of the estate is still searching, despite that some people have called and claimed to be cousins, five times removed, just to get their hands on a share of the fortune.
What is strange about this case is that the deceased lady herself was sub-normal. Her great-grandfather had five kids, yet her father was the only descendant from that generation. Then she was the only child of her father. Now that she is gone, the bloodline is officially cut off. This is rare indeed, as where in the world will anyone have so many children yet in the end only one descendant? I am not talking about wars of old where people kill off others' entire families, but about the bloodline cutting off naturally by itself after just two or three generations.
My mum, a typical Chinese, was remarking that the great-grandfather must have done many unscrupulous things and used under-handed methods in making his fortune. She said retribution would fall on people who are evil. The retribution will fall not on the person, but on his / her descendants. Thus, Chinese believe that if you have a child who is not normal, chances are you have an ancestor who had done many wrong things in his / her life. The more evil one was, the less likelihood of him / her having descendants, as what Chinese people will say "jue zi jue sun" - direct translation "no more son and grandson".
How true is this, I wonder? Is there really retribution in this world? I only know that if you do the wrong things, the only retribution you get is you go to Hell or Purgatory instead of Heaven, and if someone else wrongs you, his / her retribution will come in the form of judgment from God, and not revenge from humans.
So is it really necessary to be so affected when someone did something evil, be it to you or anyone else? Whichever believe (traditional or religious), this person will have his / her just deserts. But to me, I always believe in doing unto others what you want others to do unto you. Thus, in order not to suffer any form of judgment or retribution, one should try not to be too nasty to others.
7 comments:
It is a silly, but not uncommon superstitious belief (granted in Hindu and I presume Buddhist thought, karma is important). Even the apostles believed similarly (as well as in reincarnation):
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" - John 9:1-2
Reincarnation is not believed in the bible. But the consequences of man that causes generational snowballing. It is not retribution per se but more of a 'do now & pass it down to your descendents'.
The apostles believed in what goes around comes around.
Richard, you should get to know more about the bible. Nowhere did the bible state that anyone of them believed in reincarnation. Do not mislead others.
At times I feel, who's to blame if we have a child who has a defect from birth? Is it really the fault of the parents, or the ancestors, that someone along the way have done something terrible so thus the curse came upon the descendant?
there are answers in the bible for reference. but then again, not all defects are the acts of choices made by ancestors.
we may never have answers & i would suggest not to dwell upon such things as the will of God definitely precedes all the life's mysteries. To us, it is. but to him, it is not.
anonymous: I do know the Bible. Quite well actually (I first read it fully by age 12 – I have read it several more times since then, as well as numerous books on Jewish philosophy, history and archaeology). I do not mislead others, I simply state the facts. Ignorance is not a substitute for truth. Read the question the apostles ask Jesus:
Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind. He could not have sinned unless he had a past life. Unless you wish to infer that they were referring to some future sin he was to commit and consequently was punished at birth for it.
Reincarnation was not an unknown concept to the ancient Jewish people. The Pharisees believed that God may reward a faithful servant with another life (this is fact, it is documented by the ancient Jewish historian Josephus). Sadduccees believed that death was final. Most Jews were not card carrying members of any particular sect and would have picked up ideas and mashed and mingled them together and still called themselves Jewish (as many Christians do today).
juphelia: I do not and cannot believe in a harming God. I could never love a god who would willfully and deliberately harm me or my children or any I loved. Causes for birth defects basically fall into 3 categories: (1) genetic, (2) random event, (3) reckless behaviour (like drinking during pregnancy).
However, each "tragedy", though not caused by God, is an opportunity for us to rise above our petty mewling and become more Divine in our response to others.
Having read the bible many times does not mean a person knows & understands the bible. Having read the bible since the age of 12 does not make a person a credible source of bible understanding.
Even theologians gets misled. Even theologians misunderstands the bible.
I apologise if I sound like I'm fanning fire to spark off a debate, but i really do not think your understanding of the bible is correct.
anonymous: you are right in saying that my reading of the Bible does not make me a credible source, and that even theologians are mistaken.
However, I would counter that I believe your understanding of the Bible and the history of the Jewish people is incorrect and that I am correct.
The problem is that both of us think we are right (or should that be each of us knows we are right). Both of us is certain of our position and understanding. I do not want our differences to be a source of conflict, however, the ancient Pharisees did believe in reincarnation, the apostles were likely aware of this and asked Jesus that question which causes contention between us.
We are like two people standing on different mountain tops yelling at each other, declaring that we are right and the other wrong.
One way to resolve this is to try and find a common ground, however, I suspect that neither of us is particularly willing to get off our mountain top.
I do not bear you any ill and I pray that you will always continue to actively pursue the Truth.
Post a Comment