Genealogy? is it important?

Question:My children attend church with there grandmother on sunday's and last week they were asked to go home and make a family tree to show everone this sunday. anyway, we helped our son as best we could, we started with him and his sister at the bottom, then branched of my husband and myself and after that is where everything went ppttt! I know who my biolgical mother is, however I do not know for sure that my dad( the one that raised me) is 100% my biological father. I do know that he is one of several posibilities. on my mothers side, I know who her mother is however there is question to who her biological father is....on my husbands side, we can trace his mothers side back pretty far thanks to his grandmother who has done all the work, but on his dads side we run into the same kinda probles listed before. So I was wondering other then knowing your ancestory, is there a religious reason or any other reason for tracing your genealogy?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: My children attend church with there grandmother on sunday's and last week they were asked to go home and make a family tree to show everone this sunday. anyway, we helped our son as best we could, we started with him and his sister at the bottom, then branched of my husband and myself and after that is where everything went ppttt! I know who my biolgical mother is, however I do not know for sure that my dad( the one that raised me) is 100% my biological father. I do know that he is one of several posibilities. on my mothers side, I know who her mother is however there is question to who her biological father is....on my husbands side, we can trace his mothers side back pretty far thanks to his grandmother who has done all the work, but on his dads side we run into the same kinda probles listed before. So I was wondering other then knowing your ancestory, is there a religious reason or any other reason for tracing your genealogy?

As far as paternity is concerned, you are really facing nothing more than every genealogist faces. Quite frankly, paternity is a matter of faith. Faith that a woman has correctly identified the father of the child. You have information that has brought the reality of that faith to the forefront. But even I have to take on faith that my father, the man who was married to my mother, the father listed on my birth certificate is my real father. I have no reason to suspect otherwise, but I will never be 100% absolutely positive. Nobody can. And no, a DNA test cannot absolutely prove someone is the father, the father's brother would likely show a strong positive match, though it can absolutely prove someone is NOT the parent.

Genealogy always is a collection of "best guesses". What is believed, makes the most sense at the time. And we may have a better guess tomorrow when we find some obscure document we never saw before. For me as a genealogist, I would indicate your father as your father. If there is some information you have that might cause you to have some doubt, just keep that as a note.

But why do it? There are certain religions that do strongly encourage knowing your ancestors. Given that you are asking the question and appear to be religious, it seems certain that your religion isn't one of them. As some have already indicated, especially in the near time generations there can be medical reasons that having a genealogy would be beneficial - but only if that genealogy included medical information (how someone died, from what disease, or sometimes did they face some condition during their life, even if it didn't result in death).

Early on, finding the names was a great pleasure. It was cool, in some ways made my 4th great grandfather real to me. But after 22 years, I can honestly say that the names are probably the least interesting information. That my 5th great granmother was Martha doesn't mean that much, but finding out about how she lived, what she faced, the culture she lived in, all those exceptionally interesting things you never learn in academic history classes - that's what does it for me.

I've certainly known countless people that once they find out how much work genealogy research involves just decide it's not their cup of tea. But, I've rarely if ever known a person who has done more than basic genealogical work and felt it wasn't worth every ounce of effort.

Its not life threatening important, no. Its really more of a interest and it doesn't hurt to know your history. I'd say the further down the tree you go, the less important it really is, but it could be interesting.

Its helpful to know if there are medical problems in your family history.

Just put it down as you think of them. Another words if you thought of them as your parent or grandparent. then that is what they shall be. No one will ask for facts and proof. that way too if they ask questions the child can answer with confusion

it is important in medical terms, to know if there are some recurrent genetical problems that may occur, but otherwise, i think it's only a matter of personal pride to know as many family members as possible, especially when one comes from several series of numerous children. socially and religiously, it's important to settle out a possible blood relation with your sexual partener (or sexual partener to be, that would be preferred)

I think that it's just interesting to research and see the family traits that have come through to today. Some families see a lot of parrallels between themselves and ancestors as they branch further back.
And it's helpful to know if there are any medical conditions that you might want to get checked for.

Interesting question, this is.

In cultures where Kings and Queens rule, the line of ancestry is of ultimate importance, for obvious reasons.

Also, The King James Version of The Holy Bible places great emphasis on genealogy- several pages and numerous verses are dedicated to who begat whom.

The same book stresses the fact that Jesus came through 42 generations, by tracing his genealogy back to Adam.

I don't know if there's a religious reason for someone to know their ancestry, but the aforementioned facts clearly indicate knowing your lineage was significant, to the record keepers whose work was used to script the Bible.

Here's another fact, and a point of irony in relation to your situation, all of the genealogies in the Bible mention few women.

Hope this is helpful,

Life

The Mormons baptize their dead ancestors. Most non-Mormons think that is odd, but, considering how much genealogy data the Mormons have gathered and given to the world for free, we don't say anything. It would be like complaining about farmers with your mouth full, so to speak.

Confucians worship their ancestors, although "revere" might be a better word.

Beyond those two there is no religious reason to do genealogy.

There used to be medical reasons, but unless hemophilia or some other genetic problem runs in your family, you can marry a cousin without fear. If six of your eight great grandparents die dof cancer, you probably shouldn't smoke, but you shouldn't smoke anyway.

So, why to people do it, aside from religious or medical reasons?

Most of us look at it like any other hobby, like fly fishing, stamp collecting or collecting those decorative spoons they sell in the gift shops of every state capitol and national park. It is kind of interesting, and people who don't do it look upon us as odd.

I knew a fellow who saved for five years for a dream vacation. He and a buddy flew to Alaska, hired a bush pilot and spent a week above the Arctic Circle, living in a tent, fighting black flies and catching Arctic Char as thick as a man's leg. They ate one every night, smoked some and released most. I know another guy whose idea of "roughing it" is a hotel without room service. Different people have different interests.

Genealogy is as close to being a detective I'll ever be; we gather clues and hunt our "suspect" down. I'll never pull my .45 and fill a bad guy as full of holes as 12 pounds of rotten Swiss cheese, and I'll never say "She walked into my office. I smelled cheap perfume and trouble.", but other than that I'm just like Sam Spade. If I ever go to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City I'm going to buy a snap-brim fedora and a trench coat for the occasion.

Life is far too short to worry over such things, I do my tree because I enjoy the challenge, I have met and talked to some wonderful people over the years, I share my bit of knowledge here, and learn some new bits as well. Just enjoy your family and be proud of who you are.