animism

Also known as animistic religion, indigenous animistic religion, indigenous religion

Animism (from meaning 'breath, spirit, life') is the belief that places, objects, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. Animism perceives all things—animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, human handiwork, and in some cases words—as being animated, having agency and free will. Animism is used in anthropology of religion as a term for the belief system of many indigenous peoples in contrast to the relatively more recent development of organized religions. Animism is a metaphysical belief which focuses on the supernatural universe: specifically, on the concept of the i

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Animism is the belief that places, objects, and creatures—including animals, plants, rocks, rivers, and even weather—possess their own spiritual essence and agency. It is used in anthropology to describe the belief systems of many indigenous peoples, contrasting with organized religions that developed more recently.

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Wikidata facts

Image: Hombres ojibwe.jpg

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Commons category: Animism
OpenStreetMap tag: religion=animist

Sources (9)

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~45 min read

Article

46 sections

Contents

Etymology
"Old animism" definitions
Edward Tylor's definition
Social evolutionist conceptions
Confounding animism with totemism
"New animism" definitions
Hallowell and the Ojibwe
Postmodern anthropology
Ethical and ecological understanding
Relation to the concept of 'I-thou'
Religion
Concepts
Distinction from pantheism
Fetishism / totemism
African indigenous religions
Asian origin religions
Indian-origin religions
Chinese religions
Japan and Shinto
Kalash people
Korea
Philippines indigenous religions
Abrahamic religions
Pre-Islamic Arab religion
Paganism
Ancient paganism with animist roots
Continuity in folk religion
Revival and modern pagan movements
Contemporary interpretations
Shamanism
Animist life
Non-human animals
Flora
The elements
Spirits
Other usage
Psychology
Attempts to reconcile with science
Socio-political impact
Art and literature
See also
Notes
References
Sources
Further reading
External links

Although each culture has its own mythologies and rituals, animism is said to describe the most common, foundational thread of indigenous peoples' "spiritual" or "supernatural" perspectives. The animistic perspective is so widely held and inherent to most indigenous peoples that they often do not even have a word in their languages that corresponds to "animism" (or even "religion"). The term "animism" is an anthropological construct.