July 25~31, 2011
Headline News
PCT pastor and folklore expert explains Ghost Month and how Christians are to respond
Reported by Chen Yi-hsuan
Written by Lydia Ma
“Whether ghosts exist or not, you’d be a peace if you don’t believe them!” was Tung Fang-yuan’s candid reply when asked about the existence of ghosts as Taiwan nears the 7th month of the Lunar calendar, also known as Ghost Month.
Tung, a PCT pastor and folklore researcher, said that “ghosts” and “gods” are important figures in Taiwan’s polytheistic folklore and history. He also said these have power over people only when people start believing in them.
In contrast, Christianity, a monotheistic religion, teaches that there is only one God, and it also teaches that there are “demons” and evil forces that tempt humans, but these aren’t ghosts of diseased people at all, much less reincarnated dead people.
Tung criticized Taiwanese media for sensationalizing news reports and Taiwanese audiences for lacking discernment, “Many times a thing only needs to be repeated once for everybody to start believing it!”
It’s in this social context that he advises church pastors to diligently study the Bible and carefully teach their congregations. He also encourages Christians in Taiwan to read about major religions in the world so they aren’t easily swayed. In an interview with Taiwan Church News, he answered a few oft-asked questions:
What’s the story behind Ghost Month?
Because health and sanitary conditions in the past weren’t good and epidemics were common in summer months such as July, rumors began to form that such diseases were perpetuated by ghosts. For that reason, the first day of the 7th month in the lunar calendar became the day when the gates of hell would open and all ghosts would freely roam the earth. After roaming for one month, they return to the abyss once the gates of hell close on the last day of the 7th month.
Because many of these ghosts were either homeless, poor, or murdered in life, they now have no “family” to serve them when they are ghosts. For this reason, these ghosts venture out to find good-hearted people to “adopt” and help them before they need to return to where they came from at the end of the month.
Are there really ghosts?
The descriptions and identities of ghosts or demons vary according to each religion. In Taiwanese folklore, “ghosts” are further identified as “good ghosts” (i.e. ancestors who are worshipped by their families and deities with power to protect people), “hungry ghosts” (i.e. ancestors forsaken and forgotten by their descendants), “lonely ghosts” (i.e. deceased people without descendants or families), and “evil ghosts” (i.e. those who died by homicide or suicide). These subdivisions are mainly inspired from Taoist and Confucian teachings.
In contrast, “ghosts” do exist in the Christian tradition, but they definitely aren’t dead people’s spirits, but rather, fallen angels, also known as demons, devil, and Satan, according to Tung. For this reason, Christians aren’t afraid of going near corpses and they honor, not worship, deceased people.
How should Christians respond?
Christians aren’t afraid of “ghosts” – especially “ghosts” worshipped in folklore who are merely deceased humans. A real Christian is a child of God and pursues holiness in daily life. For this reason, ghosts don’t bother Christians and Christians will always be victorious against ghosts, said Tung
He added that “Ghost Month” is deeply engrained in Taiwanese people’s minds and has become an unhealthy, though very traditional, force. Christians, however, shouldn’t believe in it nor be afraid of it because they are in Christ, who offers them a new and abundant life. The devil , who lives in darkness, dares not approach such people, but Christians in Taiwan ought to forsake believing this old folklore as well.
