There are many different religions and beliefs in the world. Some of them are understandable to most people, while some remain obscure and closed to many. In this article I want to talk about why, when, and why animism arose, as well as what it is in essence such.
Concept designation
It is necessary to begin to understand any topic by designating its concepts. Indeed, it is often enough just to find out the meaning of the main word in order to understand what will be discussed. So, in this embodiment, a similar 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 a 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.
Essential in Taylor's Theory
The philosopher F. Taylor introduced this concept to science at the end of the 19th century. The very term "animism" was coined by the German scientist G.E. Stahl. Taylor considered this form of belief too simple, inherent only to the most ancient tribes. And although this is one of the archaic forms of religion, there was much injustice in Taylor's theory . According to him, the beliefs of the ancient peoples developed in two directions. First: this desire to reflect on dreams, the processes of birth and death, reasoning after various trance states (into which they entered due to different hallucinogens). Thanks to this, primitive people developed certain thoughts about the existence of souls, which later developed into thoughts about their relocation, the afterlife , etc. The second direction was connected with the fact that ancient people were ready to animate everything around them, to animate it. So, they believed that trees, sky, household objects - all this also has a soul, wants something and thinks about something, all this has its own emotions and thoughts. Later, according to Taylor, these beliefs grew 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 a 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, which can be evidenced by ethnographic data (far from always the first religions include animistic beliefs). But modern scholars say that animism is the basis of most existing beliefs and religions today, and the elements of animism are inherent in many people.
About perfume
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 those sensations that a person experiences during sleep or a special trance. Today, this can be compared with the sensations that are inherent in man, for example, on his deathbed. But man himself exists in two different in nature units: this is the body, the material part, and the soul, intangible. It is the soul that can leave the shell of the body, go 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 more than just go to the land of the dead or the afterlife. If desired, she can manage living relatives, communicate with them through certain personalities (for example, shamans) in order to transmit messages, participate in various holidays dedicated to dead ancestors, and so on.
Fetishism
It is also worth saying that fetishism, totemism, animism are similar in nature religions, which sometimes arose from each other. So, often animism could flow into fetishism. What does it mean? Ancient people also believed that the spirit does not have to move into the same body after the death of the body, it could go into any surrounding object. Fetishism is inherently a belief in the power of surrounding objects (all or certain, for example, statues) endowed with a soul. Very often, fetishism flowed from a common belief that everything around them was animated, into a narrower direction. An example would be the shrines of the ancestors of African tribes or the clan plates 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 subject for this. It was believed that the soul of a shaman was instilled in him when he provided his body for communication with the spirits of the dead.
Generosity
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 destinations and live in different parts of the body: in the crown, legs or hands. As for the vitality of these souls, it could be varied. Some of them could remain in the grave with a dead person, others went to the underworld for further residence there. And some simply moved to the 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 part of their souls, which again can be said about the multanimity.
Totemism
Totemism is similar in nature to animism. It was common for people to endow the soul not only with surrounding objects, but also with animals that live nearby. However, in some tribes it was believed that all animals have a soul, in others - only some, the so-called totem animals, which this tribe worshiped. As for the souls of animals, it was believed that they also know how to move. It was interesting that many believed: 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 the tribe.
Animatism
Knowing that animism is a belief in the power of spirits, you need to say a few words about such a belief as animatism. This is a belief in a huge faceless power that endows life with everything around. This may be productivity, human luck, and fertility of livestock. We can say with confidence that these beliefs were not unique 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. Bongos (Indian perfumes) can be both good and evil. And in order to appease or appease them, various gifts are being brought to them and sacrifice ceremonies are being held.
About nature
Animism is a religion that gives souls everything around. For example, the inhabitants of the Andaman Islands believed that natural phenomena and nature itself (the sun, sea, wind, moon) have tremendous power. However, according to their opinions, such spirits were most often evil and all the time they tried to injure a person. For example, the spirit of the Erem-Chaugal forest is capable of injuring a person or even killing with invisible arrows, and the 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 considered the patrons of individual tribes. 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.
In conclusion
It is interesting that, according to 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 things - animals, plants. The human soul itself is generally a tremendous value in comparison with the body.
Important is the fact 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 actions of people. It is worth mentioning that the world of animists was also inhabited by various monsters and dangerous creatures, for example, Indians' vindigo, but also positive creatures - fairies, elves. However, no matter how simple Taylor and his followers were not related to animism, this religion is not primitive. It has its own special logic, sequence, it is an original belief system. With regard to modernity, today it is unlikely that it will be possible to find a society that is completely animistic, but for many, the elements of this phenomenon remain relevant today, despite the fact that a person is essentially a Christian or a follower of some other modern religion.