The modern Khmer strongly identify their ethnic identity with their religious beliefs and practices, which combine the tenets of Theravada Buddhism with elements of indigenous ancestor-spirit worship, animism and shamanism. Most Cambodians, whether or not they profess to be Buddhists (or Muslims), believe in a rich supernatural world. Several types of supernatural entities are believed to exist; they make themselves known by means of inexplicable sounds or happenings. Among these phenomena are (ghosts), (comes in many forms depending on their punishments) and (monsters) are usually the spirits of people who have died a violently, untimely, or unnatural deaths; (evil spirits, devils), krasue, (tutelary spirit or entity residing in inanimate objects; land, water, trees etc.), ទះ(house guardians), (ancestral spirits), and (little mischief spirit guardians dressed in red). All spirits must be shown proper respect, and, with the exception of the and , they can cause trouble ranging from mischief to serious life-threatening illnesses.