ALDERSGATE COLLEGE

Solano, Nueva Vizcaya

COMPARATIVE SPIRITUALITY

Module 3: ANIMISM

Instructor: Rev. Rosemarie D. Agonias

OVERVIEW Level: BSBA, BS Crim, BSIT
This module is designed to help students understand the Allotted Time: Two Hours
development of Animism.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. understand the beliefs and practices of Animists.

2. Identify some key elements of animism.
3. develop a sense of spiritual awareness in Animism.

PRETEST:
Direction: Define the following terms:
1. Animism
2. Pantheism
3. Shaman
4. Spirit
5. Mana

ANIMISM
Introduction
Animism is understood as folk religion or primitive faith or Spiritism. It sprung out from people searching for god or
defender. The basic philosophy of it is a “belief in some powerful spirits” for protection.

Animism is the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, either intrinsically or because spirits inhabit them.

Key Points

 Pantheism is the belief that everything shares the same spiritual essence—individuals do not have distinct
spirits or souls. Animism puts more emphasis on the uniqueness of each individual soul.
 In animist societies, ritual is considered essential to win the favor of the spirits that ward off other malevolent
spirits and provide food, shelter, and fertility.
 Shamans, also sometimes called medicine men or women, serve as mediums between the physical world
and the world of spirits.

Key Terms
  animism: A belief that spirits inhabit some or all classes of natural objects or phenomena.
 shaman: A member of certain tribal societies who acts as a religious medium between the concrete and spirit
worlds.
 spirits: The undying essence of a human. The soul.

Animism refers to the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, either intrinsically or because spirits inhabit
them for a period of time. Unlike supernatural forces, animist spirits may be inherently good or evil. Often, these
spirits are thought to be the souls of deceased relatives, and they are not worshiped as deities.

While animists believe everything to be spiritual in nature, they do not necessarily see the spiritual nature of
everything in existence as being united (monism), the way pantheists do. Animism puts more emphasis on the
uniqueness of each individual soul. In pantheism, everything shares the same spiritual essence—there are no distinct
spirits and/or souls. Because humans are considered a part of nature, rather than superior to, or separate from it,
animists see themselves on roughly equal footing with other animals, plants, and natural forces, and subsequently
have a moral imperative to treat these agents with respect.

In animist societies, ritual is considered essential to win the favor of the spirits that ward off other malevolent spirits
and provide food, shelter, and fertility. Shamans, also sometimes called medicine men or women, serve as mediums
between the physical world and the world of spirits.

Animism is thought to be the belief system that laid the groundwork for the notion of a soul and the animation of
traditionally inanimate objects, allowing every world religion to take those basic principles in other directions. Though
earlier philosophers such as Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas discussed animism, the formal definition was postulated
by Sir Edward Taylor late in the 19 th century. Examples of Animism can be seen in forms of Shinto, Hinduism,
Buddhism, pantheism, Paganism, and Neopaganism.

Definitions
1. From the word “anima” meaning, “soul,” “spirit.”
2. Belief in spiritual being (Edward Taylor)
3. Belief in spirit including the spirit of the dead as well as those that have no human origin.

Characteristics
Animists venerate their ancestors and pay much attention to the funeral rites (see beliefs)
Animism as a religion is all-embracing in its affect upon life. From conception to death, from morning till night, from
spring time until harvest, and from the start of any enterprise until its end, supernatural forces are integral part and
must be properly dealt with, or failure is inevitable. “They could control spirits”—the animist is not concerned about
seeking the will of his God, but in compelling, entreating, or coercing his God to do his will. Thus, regardless of one’s
morality if you are expert in manipulating spirits, it does not matter since you know the secrets of spiritual power. It is
then vulnerable to abuse.

View on Human Nature in Relation to Spirits

Soul- human beings are believed to have spirits. It is located in the eye, heart, liver, or in the kidney fat. It appears in
dreams and visions and are not infrequently viewed as ghost wondering about in the forest, especially after the
possessors have died. A dead person’s soul may be wanting another body in which to live, or she may want to take a
slave with him to the next world. Hence, a soul after death is often a major concern, for such a soul must be taken
care properly. One need not be too concerned about the departed spirit of the rich because, living members will
provide all the necessary rites to speed the spirit-soul on the next world (spirit realm). But, those who died by
accident, and whose bodies were never recovered, may be in bitter by their lot and may try to re-enter this life. Some
women may have died without having children may want to kidnap the soul of a child. Criminals may have been
tortured to death and their bodies exposed to be eaten by hyenas and buzzards. People greatly fear the bachelor
ghost, for in the spirit world they will have no wives unless they capture them from the world of living. One must
surely have protection against these spirits.
Basic Animist Belief
Reality is of all in one piece, no distinction between human beings and animals or between animate and inanimate
existence. Animals may be ancestors of men, people may change into animals and trees may possess souls, and the
“mana” of a stick may be transferred to a man. Every object in universe is viewed as possessing some amount of life
force—the spiritual, non-material substance without which nothing could exist and that in reality is its true character
and secret of its power. Great possession of life force gives fame, strength and riches.
Souls of the dead still exist and participate in people’s lives, protecting them from danger and keeping them faithful to
the traditions. Each man in turn must pass on this vital force. It involves strict observance of ancient customs, for
radical change would certainly annoy, if not shock, the dead bringing misfortunes. They believe that the fate of one in
the next would depend on the life on earth.
 Spirits- are believed to be in any object. They are with limitation; unpredictable; capable of being deceived
and manipulated; and greedy for gifts. With one than the good due to their fear of the harm the spirit is
capable of inviting.
 Mana- inherent power found in skull of powerful medicine man; the clothes of a king, a fleet horse and etc. it
is believed that many people have it in themselves.
 Spirit World- where the dead are believed to be by the Dahomens (animists). The destiny of the dead
depends on how the person died. It could be:
(a) Mictlan- where most people go characterized by coldness and dampness.
(b) Tlalocan- for those who drowned and struck dead by lightning or died due to leprosy. It is the abode
of the rain gods, to enjoy perpetual summer and all they wanted to eat and drink
(c) Heaven- dead in war or child birth or who were sacrificed to gods. It is attractive, where they flitted
about as humming birds.
When Animist (Dahomen) dies, his personal soul, which is described as his voice or personal soul, is believed to talk
a trip to the land of the dead—journeying of soul to the spirit realm, crossing rivers and needing money and tobacco
for fee to ferry ancestors.
Head of the family when dead becomes “Sir Ghost” who punishes the family if lazy, make them sick if defaulted on
bed, and hounded them with bad luck if they violated any of the tribal taboos. To get rid of one’s own “Sir Ghost”
would mean a myriad of evil spirits.
They don’t last long. Either reborn in children. It is believed that after two years, spirit of the dead are re-incarnated in
baby which must be named in honor of the ancestor.
Rituals
The ritual of the animists is characterized by sacrifices of animals (it could be characterized as a feast). This involves
invoking their spirits and offering to them. The ritual is led by their priest and priestess in the ceremony. It usually
lasts for a day or more. Almost all the rituals are to appease the spirits to whom they or their ancestors bowed down.
It is strongly believed that the spirit can harm them anytime.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
1. What are the similarities and differences can you see between Animism and Christianity?
2. How do you view Animism as one of the world religions?
POST TEST: True or False
Direction: Read each sentence carefully. Write T if the statement is True and F if the statement is False. Write your
answer on the space provided.
______ 1. Animism is understood as folk religion or primitive faith or Spiritism.
______ 2. The basic philosophy of Animism is it is a “belief in some powerful spirits” for protection.
______ 3. Pantheism is the belief that everything shares the same spiritual essence—individuals do not have distinct
spirits or souls. Animism puts more emphasis on the uniqueness of each individual soul.
______ 4. While animists believe everything to be spiritual in nature, they do not necessarily see the spiritual nature
of everything in existence as being united (monism), the way pantheists do.
______ 5. Souls of the dead still exist and participate in people’s lives, protecting them from danger and keeping
them faithful to the traditions.
______ 6. When Animist (Dahomen) dies, his personal soul, which is described as his voice or personal soul, is
believed to talk a trip to the land of the dead—journeying of soul to the spirit realm, crossing rivers and needing
money and tobacco for fee to ferry ancestors.
______ 7. The ritual of the animists is characterized by sacrifices of animals (it could be characterized as a feast).
______ 8. Head of the family when dead becomes “Sir Ghost” who punishes the family if lazy, make them sick if
defaulted on bed, and hounded them with bad luck if they violated any of the tribal taboos.
______ 9. To get rid of one’s own “Sir Ghost” would mean a myriad of evil spirits.
______10. Every object in universe is viewed as not possessing some amount of life force—the spiritual, non-
material substance without which nothing could exist and that in reality is its true character and secret of its power.

REFERENCE:
Maung, Dennis S. (1999). Handbook of Asian Religions. Maung Computer and Page Making, Union Theological
Seminary, Dasmarinas, Cavite, Philippines