There are many different religions and beliefs in the world. Some of them are clear to most people, while some remain obscure and closed for many. In this article I would like to talk about why, when and why animism arose, and also what it is in essence.
Designation of the concept
It is necessary to begin to understand any topic from the designation of its concepts. After all, it is often enough just to know the meaning of the main word in order to understand what will be discussed. So, in this version, such a term is such a thing as "animism". Translated from Latin, it sounds like "animus", which means "spirit, soul." Now we can make a simple conclusion that animism is the belief in various non-material beings, such as spirits or souls, which can be in a wide variety of things, phenomena or objects, according to the nuances of the beliefs of certain tribes or societies.
Basic in Taylor's theory
This concept was introduced into science by the philosopher F. Taylor at the end of the 19th century. The term "animism" itself was coined by the German scientist G. E. Stahl. Taylor considered this form of belief too simple, inherent only in the most ancient tribes. And although this is one of the archaic forms of religion, there was a lot of unfairness in Taylor's theory. According to him, the beliefs of the ancient peoples developed in two directions. First: it is the desire to reflect on dreams, the processes of birth and death, reasoning after various trance states (which were included thanks to various hallucinogens). Thanks to this, primitive people developed certain thoughts about the existence of souls, which later grew into thoughts about their resettlement, the afterlife, etc. The second direction was due to the fact that ancient people were ready to animate everything around them, to animate it. So, they believed that trees, the sky, household items - all this also has a soul, desires something and thinks about something, all this has its own emotions and thoughts. Later, according to Taylor, these beliefs developed into polytheism - faith in the forces of nature, the power of deceased ancestors, and then completely into monotheism. The conclusion from Taylor's theory can be drawn as follows: in his opinion, animism is the minimum of religion. And this idea was often taken as a basis by many scientists of various directions. However, for the sake of truth, it must be said that his theory also has weaknesses, as evidenced by ethnographic data (not always the first religions include animistic beliefs). Modern scientists say that animism is the basis of most beliefs and religions that exist today, and elements of animism are inherent in many people.
Ohspirits
Knowing that animism is a belief in spirits, it is worth considering in more detail what Taylor himself said about this. So, he believed that this belief is largely based on the sensations that a person experiences during sleep or a special trance. Today it can be compared with those sensations that are inherent in a person, for example, on his deathbed. The man himself exists in two units that are different in nature: this is the body, the material part, and the soul, non-material. It is precisely the soul that can leave the shell of the body, move from one state to another, move, that is, exist after the death of its body. According to Taylor's theory of animism, the soul can do much more than just go to the land of the dead or the afterlife. If desired, she can control living relatives, contact them through certain personalities (for example, shamans) in order to convey messages, participate in various holidays dedicated to dead ancestors, and so on.
Fetishism
It is also worth saying that fetishism, totemism, animism are religions similar in nature, which sometimes arose from each other. So, often animism could flow into fetishism. What does it mean? Ancient people also believed that the spirit did not have to move into the same body after the death of the body, it could move into any surrounding object. Fetishism at its core is a belief in the power of surrounding objects (all or certain, for example, statues) endowed with a soul. Very often fetishism flowed fromthe general belief that everything around is animated, in a narrower direction. An example is the shrines of the ancestors of African tribes or the ancestral tablets of the Chinese, who were worshiped for a long time, believing in their strength and power. Very often, shamans also used fetishes, choosing a special object for this. It was believed that the soul of a shaman moves there when he provides his body for communication with the spirits of the dead.
Many-heartedness
Having already learned that animism is a belief in spirits, it is also worth saying that some tribes also believed that a person can have several souls that have different purposes and live in different parts of the body: in the crown, legs or arms. As for the viability of these souls, it could be varied. Some of them could remain in the grave with the deceased person, others went to the afterlife for further residence there. And some simply moved into a child to animate him. An example is the Yakuts, who believe that a man has eight souls, and a woman has seven. In some beliefs, parents at the birth of a child gave him a part of their soul, which again can be said about polygamy.
Totemism
Similar in nature totemism to animism. It was common for people to give souls not only to surrounding objects, but also to animals that live nearby. However, in some tribes it was believed that all animals have a soul, while in others - only some, the so-called totem animals, which this tribe worshiped. As for showersanimals, it was believed that they also know how to move. An interesting fact was that many believed that the souls of dead people can move not only into a new person, but also into a totem animal. And vice versa. Very often, the totem animal acted as the guardian spirit of this tribe.
Animatism
Knowing that animism is a belief in the power of spirits, it is necessary to say a few words about such a belief as animatism. This is faith in a huge faceless force that gives life to everything around. It can be productivity, human luck, the fertility of livestock. We can say with confidence that these beliefs were inherent not only to ancient people, they are still alive today. So, for example, in India they believe that there are many different spirits that live in the mountains, forests, fields. Bongs (Indian spirits) can be both good and evil. And in order to calm or appease them, even now they bring various gifts and arrange sacrifice ceremonies.
About nature
Animism is a religion that gives souls to everything around. So, for example, the inhabitants of the Andaman Islands believed that natural phenomena and nature itself (sun, sea, wind, moon) have tremendous power. However, according to their opinions, such spirits were most often evil and always tried to injure a person. For example, the spirit of the forest Erem-chaugala is able to injure a person or even kill him with invisible arrows, and an evil and ferocious spirit of the sea can strike his person with an incurable disease. However, at the same time, the spirits of nature were also considered the patrons of individu altribes. So, some considered the sun as their patron, others - the wind, etc. But the rest of the spirits also needed to be respected and worshiped, although for a particular village they might be less significant.
Finally
Interestingly, according to the opinion of fans of animism, the whole world around a person is completely inhabited by souls that can live in various objects, as well as all living beings - animals, plants. The very same human soul in general is of great value in comparison with the body.
It is also important that everything that is dangerous or intangible for a person was also customary to animate. It was often believed that volcanoes, rocky mountains were the abode of various spirits, and, for example, eruptions are caused by anger or dissatisfaction with the deeds of people. It is worth mentioning that the world of animists was also inhabited by various monsters and dangerous creatures, such as windigo among the Indians, but also by positive creatures - fairies, elves. However, as simple as Taylor and his followers are about animism, this religion is not primitive. It has its own special logic, sequence, it is an original system of beliefs. As for modernity, today it is unlikely to find a society that is completely animistic, but elements of this phenomenon remain relevant for many today, despite the fact that a person is essentially a Christian or a follower of any other modern religion.
