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Animism is the belief that all objects have souls, and it plays a role in many shamanic practices and world religions. Festivals are held to keep deities contented, and animist religions can be found worldwide.
Simply put, animism simply refers to a belief in souls. However, most people use it specifically to refer to the belief that all objects have souls, not just people. Animism plays a role in many so-called “primitive” shamanic practices and traditions. The concept of animism is also the root of many world religions, and traces of animistic belief can be seen in others; Christians, for example, believe in the concept of the soul and in a guiding force that oversees the universe.
The word comes from the Latin anima, for “soul”. Animists believe that all objects have souls and that some things like mountains and rivers actually carry the souls of deities. This is reflected in many traditional creation myths, which often involve the trapping of deities or higher forces in the earth. Natural events and phenomena are said to be expressions of these souls; when a god is angry, for example, he might rain.
Many animist belief systems also include the idea that souls are separate from the body. According to these beliefs, it is possible for a soul to leave one entity for another, or for someone’s soul to reincarnate in someone else. A shaman or animist priest can also send his soul on a journey while the body remains where it is. In these cases elaborate rituals may be performed to release the soul from the body so that it can travel.
In cultures that practice animism, there are often many festivals, holidays and celebrations. Each festival is designed to cater to a specific deity, keeping his soul happy and contented so that people remain blessed and healthy. Some festivals or ceremonies may also be conducted to bring about a change; a festival might ask for rain or fertility, for example. These holidays can be taken very seriously in some cultures, while others have developed more abstract and ceremonial versions.
Some people make the unfortunate mistake of attributing animism to primitive cultures. This is not, in fact, the case. The concept of animism is ancient and undoubtedly gave rise to traditional culture and religion, although only traces of the original animism can be seen in religions such as Judaism and Christianity. Practitioners of animist religions can be found in nearly every country, and while some of them live remote lives with little contact, others are part of vibrant and highly modernized societies.
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