Animism:a belief that spirits inhabit some or all classes of natural objects or phenomena.
In other words, animism is a religion in which they believe that every object, including inanimate objects have spirits.
For example:
If a tree branch fell in front of someone, they would believe that the tree spirits are trying to tell them something. Often, these spirits are thought to be the souls of deceased relatives, and they are not worshiped as gods or goddesses.
Animism is the oldest known type of belief system in the world. It is still practiced in many traditional societies. Animism was shown off by the practices of the Indians in North America who would praise the spirit of the buffalo that they killed for giving its life to them so that they might survive. Animists also believed that ancestors watch over the living from the spirit world. This belief resulted in ancestor worship as a means of communicating with and showing respect to ancestors.
In animist societies, rituals are considered important to win the favor of the spirits that ward off other evil spirits and provide food, shelter, and fertility. Shamans, also sometimes called medicine men or women, serve as mediums between the physical world and the world of spirits.
Animism is thought to be the belief system that allowed every world religion to take those basic ideas into other directions and ways. Examples of Animism can be seen in forms of Shinto, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.
In other words, animism is a religion in which they believe that every object, including inanimate objects have spirits.
For example:
If a tree branch fell in front of someone, they would believe that the tree spirits are trying to tell them something. Often, these spirits are thought to be the souls of deceased relatives, and they are not worshiped as gods or goddesses.
- Founder- There is no one person who is considered the founder of Animism.
- Origin-Developed in different parts of the world.
- Currently Practiced-World-wide, but most common in areas of Africa and the Americas.
- Significant Writings-Most traditional cultures that practice Animism also have an oral tradition of story-telling, rather than a developed writing system.
- Places of Worship-Animist rituals tend to take place outdoors in nature.
- Religious People-Animist rituals are typically conducted by a Shaman, Medicine Man, or Medicine Woman.
Animism is the oldest known type of belief system in the world. It is still practiced in many traditional societies. Animism was shown off by the practices of the Indians in North America who would praise the spirit of the buffalo that they killed for giving its life to them so that they might survive. Animists also believed that ancestors watch over the living from the spirit world. This belief resulted in ancestor worship as a means of communicating with and showing respect to ancestors.
In animist societies, rituals are considered important to win the favor of the spirits that ward off other evil spirits and provide food, shelter, and fertility. Shamans, also sometimes called medicine men or women, serve as mediums between the physical world and the world of spirits.
Animism is thought to be the belief system that allowed every world religion to take those basic ideas into other directions and ways. Examples of Animism can be seen in forms of Shinto, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.