Is there a belief in a Supreme Being? How unique is this Supreme Being?

• Is he/she considered to be accessible, disinterested in the world and its inhabitants, stern, loving, aggressive, gentle, approachable?
• What are the demands of this supreme being on the individual or the society as a whole in order to escape wrath and judgment? How are these met in everyday life?
• Are there lesser beings that attend the Supreme Being? or are assistants in his/her work?
• Are they accorded the same reverence as the Supreme Being? What position do they hold in reference to the Supreme One?

How was the universe created? How did it come into being? How is it sustained?

Is there a strong sense of spiritual beings that affect everyday life?

• What is the connection between the spirit world and the everyday world?
• What types of spirits are there?
• Find out as much as you can about the hierarchy of the spiritual beings which are acknowledged by the local populace.

Get as many names as you can and classify them in terms of importance in the spiritual hierarchy, their character (good, bad, or neutral), their role (creator spirit, ancestor spirits, nature spirits, village or household spirits, etc.), and other pertinent categories.

• What is the importance of each?
• What level of devotion is given to each?
• Where do the spirits live? Can they ever be seen?
• What forms do they take?
• How do the people refer to them—by name, by characteristic, by their activity, etc.?

Or is it improper or dangerous to even mention their existence or activity?

• What is the role of these in everyday life?
• What teaching is given to children concerning their existence?
• How do spirits help people? How are spirits offended?
• How do they punish people for offenses?
• Can spirits be manipulated or tricked?
• Can they be discarded or changed?

What should be done in order to receive their help or blessing?

• Can these spirits be harmed by humans? How?
• What can be done to avoid their anger and its repercussions?

Is there a conflict between the major religion of your host country and the folk religion practiced by the majority of the local populace? What is the reason for this?

Does the present generation have the same attitude toward the spirit world as past generations had?