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Ancestors, Anthropology of

International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2015, Vol.1, p.688-690

Second Edition Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. ;2001 Elsevier Ltd ;ISBN: 9780080970868 ;ISBN: 0080970869 ;ISBN: 9780080970875 ;ISBN: 0080970877 ;EISBN: 9780080970875 ;EISBN: 0080970877 ;DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.12010-0

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  • Title:
    Ancestors, Anthropology of
  • Author: Middleton, John
  • Subjects: Ancestor worship ; Anthropology ; Beliefs ; Clans ; Death ; Kinship ; Religion ; Religious history ; Rites ; Ritual ; Worship
  • Is Part Of: International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2015, Vol.1, p.688-690
  • Description: The main question asked about ancestors by anthropologists is how the living define them, transform the dead into them, and use them to safeguard social and individual moralities. Ancestors are distinct from the mass of the dead: their descendants select and make them by mortuary rites. The selected deceased are linked to their descendant by descent and are usually those who hold a structurally important genealogical position as founders of family segments. Those not selected for ancestorhood join the generality of the dead and are soon forgotten. Ancestors are thought to dwell in a home of the dead, or near their descendants with whom they may communicate; they may punish if offended. The latter communicate with the ancestors by offerings of food or goods. They are remembered in genealogies or memorialized by graves or written monuments. Their importance tends to lessen in ‘modern’ societies in which kinship may be of little importance, and where Christianity, Islam, or other ‘world’ religions give more emphasis to deities and less to ancestors.
  • Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
  • Language: English
  • Identifier: ISBN: 9780080970868
    ISBN: 0080970869
    ISBN: 9780080970875
    ISBN: 0080970877
    EISBN: 9780080970875
    EISBN: 0080970877
    DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.12010-0
  • Source: ScholarVox International
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