This assignment investigates religion’s importance in the culture in a general sense; future assignments will address each aspect in more detail.

Does religion hold a large place in the life of the local people?

• or just at certain times of the year?
• or only for a certain age group?
• or a certain class of people?

Draw up a list of yearly events or ceremonies which make up the religious calendar or ritual cycle.

• With what spirits, saints, or special events are they connected?
• Inquire about what is done, where and why.
• How are the dates determined as to when an event will be held? Who does this?
• Who officiates, and who participates?
• Are some of these observed nation-wide, and others more personal, like for a clan, a household, or even for an individual person?

If your investigation finds that only certain people are affected by religion, try to find out why other groups or classes of people do not feel a need for this.

Talk to those who do hold that religion is important in their lives. Why is this so?

Some topics that can help you with these conversations:

• Does a person have a soul? If so, why do people have one?
• Does a person have more than one soul? Why?
• Can the soul get lost, leave the body, become weakened?
• What can be done to restore it, or bring it back?
• What happens to the soul at death? What determines where the soul goes?
• Is there a belief in purgatory? Who goes there? What is its purpose?
• Is there anything that family members can do for the deceased?
• Is it possible for the soul to go directly to heaven? Under what circumstances?
• Who or what do you worship?
• How important is this relationship to you?
• What do you do to maintain it?
• Is maintenance necessary? Why?