Humanity, in its more than two million years of existence, has tried to find a logical explanation for the mysteries that surround us. Due to this need to know the different religions have been developing that have evolved to the present day
But can there be a belief that is the germ of all religions? Although the answer is complex and widely controversial, numerous theories They point to animism as that doctrine from which the rest of religious beliefs are based that reach up to the present day.
If we take into account the Latin root of his name: encourage, whose 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 have a soul and self-awareness.
In other words, according to the followers of animism, there are a whole series of spiritual entities, among which are included the human soul, which occupy all types of beings and objects, both animated and inanimate, so 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 various variants of this doctrine, such as the one in which the existence of a series of personified spiritual and supernatural beings is accepted, which They have reasoning capacity, intellect and will and they live within all types of elements that, in principle, are not considered by the rest of the culture as living beings.
Although these beliefs date back to ancient times, long before the appearance of current religions, animism has great fame throughout 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 they all try to find an explanation or meaning to that which is beyond death as well as the establishment of a link between human beings and everything that surrounds them.
As to whether or not inanimate objects have a soul or inner consciousness, this belief also varies between regions. In some of these places, animism also consists of the belief that some inanimate objects, also including manifestations and natural events such as storms or cyclones ; which are considered expressions of an intelligent consciousness.
Distribution of this belief system
Today you can still find different locations around the world where animism retains great strength; constituting a very complex belief. These regions are located south of the Sahara and 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 living things. This energy called “magara” for them 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 also has a fundamental role as a link between the world of the living and the dead.
In the principles of animism, its followers or adepts firmly supported the existence of a series of deities with whom one could interact. However, with the passage of time, the new adaptations of animism began to consider these individual elements as forms of manifestation of a single God practically unattainable for the rest of mortals.
The main beliefs of animism can be specified in the following points:
The idea of death in animism
Although there is a high degree of variability among different followers of animistic beliefs, a large number of them support 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 They 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 has the obligation to leave this world. Otherwise, becomes a ghost condemned to wander for the rest of its existence.
To prevent this from happening, the relatives of the deceased person hold extensive funerals and mourning in which the ancestors are venerated to guide their soul.
Animism as a religion
Contrary to what happens with the vast majority of religions, The origins of animism are difficult to specify Since it is considered to be one of the oldest beliefs in the history of humanity, reaching the point that there is evidence that the religion of Ancient Egypt already consists of foundations of animism.
Throughout time, various theories have been developed that point to animism as the germ of current religions and mystical beliefs; since it associates the beginnings of religions with the characteristic cult of the dead.
A second theory states that animism can be considered the basis of all religion. Although the veneration of a large number of gods, as well as the dead, has been overlaid 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 fail to interpret it as such. Rather, this is considered as a form of philosophy that influences and is found in numerous religions, which attempts to establish an explanation for spiritual mysteries and manifests a posture or emotional disposition towards these mysteries.
