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Background: Animism
is one of the oldest belief
systems in the world, and
people on nearly every continent
practice it. Animism is
prevelant in east Asia,
mostly in folk religions.
Sacred Book: Animism
is not an organized religion
with a written book and
theology. Families and villages
through the generations
pass down their beliefs
through daily life.
The Nature of God:
An animist believes that
spirits live in everything
around them. Trees, animals,
homes, and rocks are just
a few of the many things
that contain spirits. Many
Animists believe there is
a divine being, but that
being is impersonal and
distant from them. Some
spirits are believed to
be intermediaries to a divine
god. Other spirits may be
the dominant spiritual being
themselves.
Human Condition:
Animists believe that they
can have control over spirits
if they do the right things.
Animists regularly offer
sacrifices to the spirits
so that the spirits will
not create distress for
them or their family. Belief
in human souls is central
to animism, as is the belief
that animals, plants and
celestial bodies have spirits.
Eternity: Many believe
that their actions in this
world will directly affect
what happens to them in
the next world. Others believe
the way a person dies will
decide where they go after
life here.
What is Salvation?
Animism cannot provide a
definite answer to the question
of salvation. Through sacrifice
and ritual, a person can
appease the spirits and
perhaps gain a higher status
in the afterlife.
How is a person saved?
Local Shamans, or other
trained individuals, are
often employed to conduct
ritual ceremonies in which
the spirits are contacted.
Others seek to contact spirits
through mediums or through
divination. Because animists
do not give a concrete definition
to "salvation,"
it is difficult to provide
a path to salvation.
Notes: When confronted
with Christianity, many
Animists will find that
their beliefs are weak.
The Animist finds he has
no moral base and no answer
to the meaning of life.
He will generally acknowlege
that more formal religions
have relevance to "ultimate"
issues, but have no relevance
to everyday life.
Many people
in East Asia claim to belong
to a formal religion, such
as Islam, but their actual
religious practices inclue
a mix of formal religion
and animistic practices.
These animistic beliefs
are often deeply engrained
into a people's cultural
history.
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