World ReligionsLesson 2:Animism

Animism:

Comes from the Latin Word: Anima, which means soul or breath

The Pervasiveness of Animism

Hindus – God (Brahman) is distant, therefore 330 million intermediate gods are created to fill this void.

New Age Movement- we have a personal spirit-guide who moves us toward other souls in this world. Spirit beings or extraterrestrial beings are an extension of this.

E.B. Tylor – (1832-1917) a anthropologist and cultural evolutionism. His major work was Primitive Culture and Anthropology. Tylor is considered by many to be a founding figure of the science of social anthropology, and his scholarly works helped to build the discipline of anthropology in the nineteenth century.

Tylor reintroduced the term animism (faith in the individual soul or anima of all things, and natural manifestations) into common use. He considered animism to be the first phase of development of religions.

The Attraction of Animism

It infuses the sacred into a reality that is empty of the spirit (science/evolution)

Offers a way to cope with everyday problems & needs – a quick fix (healing, sell a house, business success, etc.)

Common Animistic Beliefs

One god beyond many spirits

Most animistic religions teach that there is one one supreme being who exists beyond the lesser or intermediate spirits. This being is far removed from his creation or too abstract to be known.

Common Animistic Beliefs

The Ultimate/Immediate Division

The animist view is that that the “formal religions” are relevant about the ultimate issues (who is God, what is humanities problem, what happens after death). The “formal religions” are irrelevant when it comes to immediate issues of everyday life.

Common Animistic Beliefs

The spiritual realm consists of personal and impersonal spirit beings.

Personal- 2 kinds embodied (deceased ancestors) and spirits (mediators btw us and the supreme being) possess specific powers and are localized geographically.

Impersonal – energy or magical powers

Common Animistic Beliefs

Concept of Sin

Not concerned about offending the supreme being, but VERY concerned about offending local spirits, and believe that the offended spirit will exact retribution in the form of injury, sickness, failure, or interpersonal strife.

Common Animistic Beliefs

Contacting the Spirits

Divination – the practice of finding out how someone has harmed their spirit. Such as: tarot cards, palm reading, tea-leaf reading, astrology, interpreting dreams, or séance.

Common Animistic Beliefs

The Afterlife

No universal and consistent doctrine, but most see the person’s spirit as continuing on, graduating to a higher spirit level, or staying to they help their future family

Contrasting Animistic Beliefs & The BibleAnimism Christianity

God God exists, but is distant God exists, but is knowable and made Himself known through Jesus (Heb 1:1-2)

Ultimate/Immediate Issues Formal religions offer help in ultimate issues of sin, God, etc. Animism offers the power for the immediate

God provides for our immediate and eternal needs (1 Peter 5:7)

The spirits Seen as intermediaries btw us and God

Spirits are deceptive(1 John 4:1)

Power of the spirits Magic powers to harm or benefit

Utilizing power from spirits leads to bondage (1 John 4:4, Ex 8:18, Col 2:15, Jn 8:32-36)

Suggestions for EvangelismPray for those in Animism

Highlight Differences (knowable God, Grace given by God through Jesus Christ)

Model Trust in God, and Knowing Him

Be clear of who Christ is and who we are in Him.

Point out the deceptive nature of the spirits

ReferencesThe Compact Guide to World Religions, Dean Halverson, General Editor, 1996

Nelson’s Illustrated Guide to Religions, by James Beverley, 2009

Wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Tylor