Tuesday, November 1, 2011

All souls day

November 2 - the Filipinos are celebrating the all soul's day.  People go to the cemetery to light candles and say prayers for the love ones who already passed away.  This is the day that we commemorate the lives of the people that we once knew.  Well, of course, only the Catholics observed the all soul's day.  Other religious sects do not believe that there is life after death and celebrating it is futile.

I got to talk with an office mate who happens to belong to another religion.  She told me that they will enjoy the holiday intended for the cemetery visiting and praying for the dead somewhere else because it is for them truly a holiday with nothing else to do.  They do not believe in praying for the dead because they do not believe that the living can still do something for the dead.  After death, there is nothing for the man who have ceased to live.  Hence, candle lighting or praying for them is no longer useful.  Praying for the living is helpful rather than praying for the dead.

I can see their point.  Yes, they may be right.  But, whatever you believe in, I think, is a good guide to live peacefully.  I remembered my Philosophy teacher said, " No matter what you believe in as long as you do good and avoid evil all will be well."