Is it revere to Ancestor Worship non-pagan Ancestors

[Materialist]

What continent? We have about six or seven of them.

 
For what reasons do you need to know this?

[Nyktipolos]

For what reasons do you need to know this?

 
I was curious. That, and because: "We have more than one continent". You are, however, free to not answer at all. I can't make you.

[Sharysa]

I'm always put off by this kind of thing. It seems, well, non-consensual - I'm the only pagan in my family, and it seems disrespectful to involve the deceased in practices
of which they probably didn't approved in life.

This is mostly an academic question - there's no pressure for me to follow traditions I'm not comfortable with - but I'm curious how other people view the ethics of it?

In my experience as a pagan who's being helped through a family loss by a Christian past-father, I don't think the spirits of the dead have religion as we view it anymore. They still believe whatever they do, but the chief difference I've seen is that EVERYTHING is treated as valid as opposed to just someone else's opinion/mental-filter. My past-father has no problem talking with my gods respectfully, and he hasn't once mentioned converting me back to Christianity or Catholicism.

The only thing I and my past-father have actually disagreed on is reincarnation--he chooses not to reincarnate because he believes God gave him a certain amount of physical time, so he's content with remaining on the spiritual plane. (The only exception would be in some sort of emergency, where I REALLY needed him.) Whereas I'm an Irish Reconstructionist, so I don't really have a problem with reincarnation and have done so many times, according to my other ancestors.

[Vitkyng]

This very thought used to bother me a lot, until I realized I was looking at it the wrong way. I don't compel or force my ancestors to be present at rituals, or to accept offerings. I give the gift, I invite them to the table, to the fire, what have you; being dead does not negate their ability to chose. If they are uncomfortable with whatever I am offering them, or inviting them to, it is well within their power to refrain.

It's also a matter of common sense. Am I doing something or asking assistance in some endeavor that my ancestor(s) would not approve of? If so, why involve them? I don't. I ask my Beloved Dead for their support, for their guidance and advice, for their protection, for their love. All of these things they did for me in life; in death the only thing different is how.

Very well said!
I also want to add that among the offerings I send to my ancestors is love. I believe our ancestors live on, simply in another level of existance. It is just as good in death for them to know they are loved as it was in life. There is no harm in that.

[Dracona]

I'm the only pagan in my family, and it seems disrespectful to involve the deceased in practices of which they probably didn't approved in life.

 
It's amazing how open minded the deceased are.

As others have said, it's usually a case of inviting them in and if they come, then you can assume they're fine with it. You're not forcing them, and perhaps don't use anything too pagan specific (ie during rituals). But when in a circle you wish to send them love and ask for them to send you and your life love and support, as they did in life, then there would be no reason they wouldn't be fine with it.

My mother was pentecostal Christian, yet shortly after she passed over she started appearing to me. In fact she assisted me through my grief and helped me find a meditation group! I've also had other ancestors I've never heard from, and that's again their choice.

[Jujulinda]

Does this bother anyone else?

A number of pagan paths have ancestor-revering, ancestor-offerings, the-thin-veil-between-worlds at Samhain and so on, which in one way or another involves the practicioner's ancestors in either ritual or ceremonial rememberance.

I'm always put off by this kind of thing. It seems, well, non-consensual - I'm the only pagan in my family, and it seems disrespectful to involve the deceased in practices
of which they probably didn't approved in life.

This is mostly an academic question - there's no pressure for me to follow traditions I'm not comfortable with - but I'm curious how other people view the ethics of it?

Grave trending and setting up pictures and candles was already a common practice in my family even though they're all really Christan. I remember many trips to the graveyard as a child to fix graves. I like cemeteries. They're peaceful. Probably my experience growing up. My grandma came from a really Scottish family who had a lot of the superstitions still going around and a lot of folk practices.

I go to my grandmas grave on her birthday and Halloween and I clean her grave, light incense, give an offering and leave a small rock of some sort (she loved rocks). I have never felt she was offended. In fact, she seemed very appreciative because none of my other family goes.

[Enid]

Does this bother anyone else?

A number of pagan paths have ancestor-revering, ancestor-offerings, the-thin-veil-between-worlds at Samhain and so on, which in one way or another involves the practicioner's ancestors in either ritual or ceremonial rememberance.

I'm always put off by this kind of thing. It seems, well, non-consensual - I'm the only pagan in my family, and it seems disrespectful to involve the deceased in practices
of which they probably didn't approved in life.

This is mostly an academic question - there's no pressure for me to follow traditions I'm not comfortable with - but I'm curious how other people view the ethics of it?

I know in Northern European traditions, it's more about honoring their deeds in life. So if you are uncomfortable with more spirit invitation practices, try just honoring who they are and how that effected both you and the world around you. For instance, my great grandfather survived a mortar attack on a ship he was on, so I honor his bravery and quick thinking. I also honor the lessons he taught me.

[Rhyshadow]

I know in Northern European traditions, it's more about honoring their deeds in life. So if you are uncomfortable with more spirit invitation practices, try just honoring who they are and how that effected both you and the world around you. For instance, my great grandfather survived a mortar attack on a ship he was on, so I honor his bravery and quick thinking. I also honor the lessons he taught me.

 
This - definitely

One grand-uncle survived Bulge, met his wife (my mother's aunt) when he was recovering from wounds received during that and she was one of his nurses

Another grand-uncle (brother to the prior-mentioned aunt) served as Captain of a Coast Guard Cruiser, brevet Commodore of a task group that served in both the Atlantic (convoy escort) and Pacific theaters (attached to a Navy task force).

I revere all my ancestors, warrior or not - some were teachers, others, like my aunt, were healers.

[Asch]

Does this bother anyone else?

A number of pagan paths have ancestor-revering, ancestor-offerings, the-thin-veil-between-worlds at Samhain and so on, which in one way or another involves the practicioner's ancestors in either ritual or ceremonial rememberance.

I'm always put off by this kind of thing. It seems, well, non-consensual - I'm the only pagan in my family, and it seems disrespectful to involve the deceased in practices
of which they probably didn't approved in life.

This is mostly an academic question - there's no pressure for me to follow traditions I'm not comfortable with - but I'm curious how other people view the ethics of it?

When I work with my ancestors I provide an invitation to ancestors of the blood and the spirit but nothing is compelled or demanded.

[Nightwind]

Does this bother anyone else?

A number of pagan paths have ancestor-revering, ancestor-offerings, the-thin-veil-between-worlds at Samhain and so on, which in one way or another involves the practicioner's ancestors in either ritual or ceremonial rememberance.

I'm always put off by this kind of thing. It seems, well, non-consensual - I'm the only pagan in my family, and it seems disrespectful to involve the deceased in practices
of which they probably didn't approved in life.

This is mostly an academic question - there's no pressure for me to follow traditions I'm not comfortable with - but I'm curious how other people view the ethics of it?

 
Another thing to think of is that you could also honor your spiritual ancestors as well as blood ancestors - the honored pagan dead, or the dead of the pantheon you follow.