Animism
noun
A belief system where natural objects, natural phenomena, and the universe itself possess a spiritual essence.
Native American cultures often practice animism, viewing elements of nature as spiritual beings.
Often appears as...
- belief in animism
- animism in indigenous cultures
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The theory that the soul is the vital principle or animating force within all living things.
The doctor's research revolved around animism and the role of the soul in human health.
Often appears as...
- animism in medicine
- soul theory of animism
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
A belief system where natural objects, natural phenomena, and the universe itself possess a spiritual essence.
Native American cultures often practice animism, viewing elements of nature as spiritual beings.
Often appears as...
- belief in animism
- animism in indigenous cultures
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The theory that the soul is the vital principle or animating force within all living things.
The doctor's research revolved around animism and the role of the soul in human health.
Often appears as...
- animism in medicine
- soul theory of animism
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Nature's Souls
Animism personifies natural elements as having spirits, vital for understanding tribal and ethnic beliefs.
The animism of the forest tribes led them to protect every tree as a sacred entity.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Respect
When discussing animism, especially in indigenous contexts, use respectful tone acknowledging their spiritual views.
Her study of animism revealed a rich tapestry of cultural beliefs entwined with nature.
Pro Tip 3/3Beyond Religion
Animism is more than a religion; it's a worldview that nature and sentient beings are interconnected.
In animism, a river is not just water; it's a living entity with a spirit.
Pro Tip 1/3Nature's Souls
Animism personifies natural elements as having spirits, vital for understanding tribal and ethnic beliefs.
The animism of the forest tribes led them to protect every tree as a sacred entity.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Respect
When discussing animism, especially in indigenous contexts, use respectful tone acknowledging their spiritual views.
Her study of animism revealed a rich tapestry of cultural beliefs entwined with nature.
Pro Tip 3/3Beyond Religion
Animism is more than a religion; it's a worldview that nature and sentient beings are interconnected.
In animism, a river is not just water; it's a living entity with a spirit.
Pro Tip 1/3Nature's Souls
Animism personifies natural elements as having spirits, vital for understanding tribal and ethnic beliefs.
The animism of the forest tribes led them to protect every tree as a sacred entity.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Respect
When discussing animism, especially in indigenous contexts, use respectful tone acknowledging their spiritual views.
Her study of animism revealed a rich tapestry of cultural beliefs entwined with nature.
Pro Tip 3/3Beyond Religion
Animism is more than a religion; it's a worldview that nature and sentient beings are interconnected.
In animism, a river is not just water; it's a living entity with a spirit.
Compare with
fetishismmysticismmythologistnaturalismpaganismpantheismpolytheismspiritualism
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Video examples
Edge of the Universe PIPE...
reality we would go out there we film as much as we wanted to film covering all our angles of all our bases but with a animism you can't do that every time the virtual camera turns around it has to create the the image so you have to be much more disciplined about what you're going to actually see in the final
Video examples
The pattern behind...
gods demons angels aliens intelligent designers government conspiracists in all manner of invisible agents with power and intention or believe to haunt our world and control our lives I think it's the basis of animism and polytheism and monotheism it's the belief that aliens are somehow more advanced than us
Video examples
Kwame Anthony Appiah: Is...
who was the first professor of anthropology at Oxford, one of the first modern anthropologists. In his book on primitive culture, he says the heart of religion is what he called animism, that is, the belief in spiritual agency, belief in spirits. The first problem for that definition
Video examples
Dangerous Rites: Vine...
animism people here believe in a world of spirits that demands offerings originally divers would perform just after the yam harvest to thank the gods and to assure another fruitful crop the village of wali is one of several on the island that holds land diving rituals
Video examples
The pattern behind...
souls, spirits, ghosts, gods, demons, angels, aliens, intelligent designers, government conspiracists and all manner of invisible agents with power and intention, are believed to haunt our world and control our lives. I think it's the basis of animism
Video examples
Land Divers PIPE National...
animism people here believe in a world of spirits that demands offerings originally divers would perform just after the yam harvest to thank the gods and to assure another fruitful crop the village of wali is one of several on
Video examples
The magic of Khmer...
Khmers, and people all over the world practiced animism. Serpents were especially important in this belief system because in their fluid, curvilinear movement, they mimicked the flow of water.
Video examples
Birth of Voodoo PIPE...
are elusive but it is said to have evolved out of the region's traditions of ancestor worship and animism Taza good news is a third-generation voodoo priest and healed he treats patients and
Video examples
Birth of Voodoo PIPE...
are elusive but it is said to have evolved out of the region's traditions of ancestor worship and animism Pazza good news is a third-generation voodoo priest and healed
Video examples
Birth of Voodoo PIPE...
are elusive but it is said to have evolved out of the region's traditions of ancestor worship and animism aza good news is a third generation voodoo priest
Video examples
Edge of the Universe PIPE...
reality we would go out there we film as much as we wanted to film covering all our angles of all our bases but with a animism you can't do that every time the virtual camera turns around it has to create the the image so you have to be much more disciplined about what you're going to actually see in the final
Video examples
The pattern behind...
gods demons angels aliens intelligent designers government conspiracists in all manner of invisible agents with power and intention or believe to haunt our world and control our lives I think it's the basis of animism and polytheism and monotheism it's the belief that aliens are somehow more advanced than us
Video examples
Kwame Anthony Appiah: Is...
who was the first professor of anthropology at Oxford, one of the first modern anthropologists. In his book on primitive culture, he says the heart of religion is what he called animism, that is, the belief in spiritual agency, belief in spirits. The first problem for that definition
Video examples
Dangerous Rites: Vine...
animism people here believe in a world of spirits that demands offerings originally divers would perform just after the yam harvest to thank the gods and to assure another fruitful crop the village of wali is one of several on the island that holds land diving rituals
Video examples
The pattern behind...
souls, spirits, ghosts, gods, demons, angels, aliens, intelligent designers, government conspiracists and all manner of invisible agents with power and intention, are believed to haunt our world and control our lives. I think it's the basis of animism
Video examples
Land Divers PIPE National...
animism people here believe in a world of spirits that demands offerings originally divers would perform just after the yam harvest to thank the gods and to assure another fruitful crop the village of wali is one of several on
Video examples
The magic of Khmer...
Khmers, and people all over the world practiced animism. Serpents were especially important in this belief system because in their fluid, curvilinear movement, they mimicked the flow of water.
Video examples
Birth of Voodoo PIPE...
are elusive but it is said to have evolved out of the region's traditions of ancestor worship and animism Taza good news is a third-generation voodoo priest and healed he treats patients and
Video examples
Birth of Voodoo PIPE...
are elusive but it is said to have evolved out of the region's traditions of ancestor worship and animism Pazza good news is a third-generation voodoo priest and healed
Video examples
Birth of Voodoo PIPE...
are elusive but it is said to have evolved out of the region's traditions of ancestor worship and animism aza good news is a third generation voodoo priest
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Michel Faber
Dutch Writer
My affinity, as a novelist, with Dickens has been overstated. I relish the way everything in his prose pulsates with life force, and I'm in debt to him every time I invest inanimate objects with uncanny animism. But his female characters annoy me.
Quote examples
Joseph Jacobs
Australian Historian
In the Land of Ire, the belief in fairies, gnomes, ogres and monsters is all but dead; in the Land of Ind, it still flourishes in all the vigour of animism.
Quote examples
Michel Faber
Dutch Writer
My affinity, as a novelist, with Dickens has been overstated. I relish the way everything in his prose pulsates with life force, and I'm in debt to him every time I invest inanimate objects with uncanny animism. But his female characters annoy me.
Quote examples
Joseph Jacobs
Australian Historian
In the Land of Ire, the belief in fairies, gnomes, ogres and monsters is all but dead; in the Land of Ind, it still flourishes in all the vigour of animism.
Example 1 of 2
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