Animism: the origin of religions?

It is believed that thousands of years ago, the first tribes already believed that objects could have souls.

Mankind, in its more than two million years of existence, has tried to find a logical explanation for the mysteries that surround us. As a result of this need to know the different religions that have evolved up to the present day have been born..

But can there be a belief that is the germ of all religions? Although the answer is complex and highly controversial, numerous theories point to animism as the doctrine theories point to animism as the doctrine from which all other religious beliefs that have evolved up to the present day originated. beliefs that have survived to the present day.

What is animism?

If we consider the Latin root of its name: animawhose meaning is soul, it is easier for us to understand what animism is. This concept encompasses a whole series of beliefs according to which objects, people or any piece of nature possess a soul and a consciousness of their own. and consciousness of their own.

In other words, according to the followers of animism, there are a series of spiritual entities, including the human soul, which occupy all kinds of beings and objects, both animate and inanimate, so that everything that surrounds us, each and every one of the elements that exist in the world, would possess a soul or an essence of consciousness.

However, there are several variants of this doctrine, such as the one in which the existence of a series of personified spiritual and supernatural beings is accepted, which possess the capacity of reasoning and consciousness. possess reasoning capacity, intellect and will, and inhabit and inhabit all kinds of elements that, in principle, are not considered by the rest of the culture as living beings.

Although these beliefs date back to remote times, long before the appearance of current religions, animism has a great fame all over the planet. The reason is that the belief in the soul is a constant that appears in all types of cultures and religions regardless of how diverse they are.

There are certain variations within animism depending on the region of the world and the culture in which it is established. However, they have certain points in common and it is all of them try to find an explanation or meaning to that which is to find an explanation or sense to that which is beyond death, as well as the establishment of a linkThey also try to establish a link between human beings and all that surrounds them.

As to whether or not inanimate objects possess a soul or inner consciousness, this belief also varies from one region to another. In some of these places, animism also consists of the belief that some inanimate objects, including natural manifestations and events such as storms or cyclones, are considered to be expressions of an intelligent consciousness.which are considered to be expressions of an intelligent consciousness.

Distribution of this belief system

Today one can still find several locations around the world where animism retains great strength and constitutes a very complex belief system. These regions are located to the south of the Sahara and in certain territories of Oceania, America, Africa and Asia. in certain territories of Oceania, America and Southeast and Central Asia.. In them, the basis of animism consists of a universal vital energy that unites all the living. This energy for them denominated as "magara" also links all living beings with the souls of the dead.

Main dogmas and beliefs

As mentioned in the previous point, the essential principle of animism is the belief that there is a vital energy that constitutes the essence and nature of all living beings. This essence, in addition, has a fundamental role in the link between the world of the living and the dead.

In the beginnings of animism, its followers or adepts firmly held the existence of a series of deities with whom one could interact. However, with the passage of time, the new adaptations of animism came to consider these individual elemrntos as forms of manifestation of a single God practically unattainable for the rest of mortals.

The main beliefs of animism can be summarized in the following points:

• Recognition of the existence of a great number of spirits and deities..
• It is possible to interact directly with these spirits.
• This interaction takes place through offerings or sacrifices.
• It is also possible to interact through the mediation of sacred persons such as shamans or sorcerers.
• The soul of our ancestors persists beyond death.
• The soul can leave our body in certain states of trance or after death.
• Existence of spiritual entities that inhabit the human soul or spirit.

The idea of death in animism

Although there is a high degree of variability among the different followers of animistic beliefs, a large number of them endorse the idea that the soul endures after the death of the person's body. Once the body becomes inanimate, the alpa travels to a world or cosmos that guarantees greater comfort and well-being.

In counterpoint, some very specific areas, such as the Navajo communities of North America, maintain that these souls communities in North America maintain that these souls remain on earth, sometimes becoming evil entities.

Finally, there are certain cultures that would prefer to combine these two beliefs. According to them, the soul is obliged to leave this world. Otherwise, it becomes a ghost condemned to wander, it becomes a ghost condemned to wander for the rest of its existence. for the rest of its existence.

So that this does not happen, the relatives of the deceased perform extensive funerals and mourning in which the ancestors are venerated to guide his soul.

Animism as a religion

Contrary to what happens with the great majority of religions, the origins of animism are difficult, the origins of animism are difficult to pin down.. Since it is considered to be one of the oldest beliefs in the history of mankind, to the point that there is evidence that the religion of Ancient Egypt already contains the foundations of animism.

Throughout the ages, several theories have been developed that point to animism as the germ of today's religions and mystical beliefs, since it associates the beginnings of religions with the characteristic cult of the dead.

A second theory affirms that animism can be considered as the basis of all religion. Although the veneration of a great number of gods, as well as the dead, has been overlapped or updated by other cults, the influence that animism had on them is undeniable.

Finally, although throughout history animism has been considered a religion, modern religions do not interpret it as such. Rather, it is considered a form of philosophy that influences and influenced by and found in numerous religions, which attempts to establish an explanation for spiritual mysteries and manifests an emotional stance or disposition toward these mysteries.