What Is The Significance Of Religious Incense?

By Amos Aoki


Since the beginning of time, man has utilized incense to bless his structures. Our ancestors probably understood as soon as they made fire, that tossing in some various items in said flame would ignite and burn clean and pure for their soul.

If you traveled the earth searching, you would have a tough time finding a set of people who do not in some way use incense to lighten their lives. It has long been recognized that setting aflame bundles of savory delights had the power to heal their soul and calm their spirit.

The Rise of Incense and The Frankincense Trail

Before the world recognized Christianity, wonderful scents coming from various herbs and flowers made the best incense, and were many times exchanged for other goods. It is even said that Frankincense was traded similar to gold and silver and was highly regarded as currency. And in most every religion on earth, fragrant scents and powders are recognized as being a blessing from the gods.

Incense and Modern Religion

Not only is incense popular throughout the world and its various religions and beliefs, but many sects such as the Roman Catholic church view incense as a holy substance known for its healing powers.

The importance of incense has been viewed as particularly important for a long time in the Catholic Church for the observance of rituals and those who attend them to cleanse the soul and the spirit.

The incense utilized today is powder or grains of sap, gums or outlandish woods and other such substances which, when smoldered, give off a sweet inhaling smoke.

The religious views on incense is wildly different from that of early man, who may not have had the same belief systems in place as many traditional religions do in this time and age.

The scent of incense or the "odor of holiness" is viewed as sort of an image of holiness that resembles the climb up to heaven and God, while the cloud it produces can be seen to represent purity.




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