Ancestor worship.
This is basically the worship of deceased relatives, or ancestors, as if their spirits lived alongside us.
Ancestor worship may take several forms. In its most generalized form, it is simply the laying out of food or drink for the deceased in the belief that this will encourage them to bring good to the community, and ward off evil. It will also bring. good to the home and create spiritual protection.
In some cultures ancestral spirits are believed to be able to influence the fertility of women and the outcome of crops. In tribal societies around the world, they adhere to the belief that their ancestor spirits are almost like gods,
Ancestor worship is found commonly in Asia, where one part of the spirit of a deceased person is believed to pass into a special tablet after death. The tablets are placed on a ceremonial table or in a ceremonial room and are bowed to talked to, and fed regularly by their living descendants, quite as if they were a living person. The purpose of these acts is to please the ancestors, thereby making sure they continue to protect the household, the community and their family. These tablets are plaques made of wood and are engraved with the name of the deceased person on them. They can be placed in a home or in a temple or any sort of shrine.
Ancestor worship can be found on the continents of Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas. This belief that souls and spirits are connected with the human body and can influence our immediate environment. This belief has been in existence for all of time and in every culture. This world view is built upon the acceptance of the human beings survival of death and of a non physical realm alongside the physical realm, both coexisting.
