Animism
Definition
The belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. It's one of the oldest forms of religion.
Analogy
Imagine if every tree, river, or rock you saw had its own personality and spirit - like characters in a Disney movie. That's how people who practice animism see the world.
Related terms
Shamanism: A religious practice that involves a practitioner (a shaman) reaching altered states of consciousness to interact with the spirit world. It shares similarities with animism in terms of belief in spirits.
Polytheism: The worship or belief in multiple deities usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses. Like animism, it is an ancient form of religion but focuses on multiple gods rather than spirits within objects.
Totemism: A system of belief in which humans are said to have kinship or a mystical relationship with a spirit-being such as an animal or plant. This concept often coexists with animistic beliefs.
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