Emphasis Preaching Journal

A visitor to Okinawa observed 71-year-old widow Shizu Arikaaki lay out bowls of soup, fish, rice, and other amenities on the family altar in her home. The sacrifices were for her husband, a son, and other relatives. She explained to the visitor, "We believe that our ancestral spirits really do come back to visit. We worship them," she added. But then she gave the visitor a wry smile before she admitted, "But nobody has ever died and come back to tell us what it's like, so we don't know for sure." Many religions in the world have a hope of a life hereafter.