Dimensions of Animistic Religions

Early / Animistic Religion

Primitive religions Referring to those contemporary societies which

lack the level of technology generally present in most parts of the developed world

Animism throughout our world

Dimensions of Animistic Religions

Common to all early human and contemporary primitive

religions - animism

Psychological Origins (Role of Fear)

Fear of what we cannot control

Environment Enemy Death

All created a need for religion 1. Explains and justifies2. Through the

acknowledgement of taboos and making offering, individuals might feel a sense of control in an uncontrolled world

Primitive societies exhibit a similar inability to control the environment as did early humans

Rely on religion to explain and justify in uncontrollable

The developed world relies on science, technology and engineering to control the uncontrollable

Mana An invisible powerful force

that can exist in anything.

Not a spirit or being, it has no will of its own.

That power that exists in something that enables it to achieve a high degree of excellence in a specific task for which it has been designed

Luck Virtue Prestige Authority Good fortune

Mana can degenerate into superstition. Lucky charms Lucky rituals

The Sacred

Reverence, fear, or respect for “sacred” or “holy” objects Places or objects

that have been given meaning derived from a religious experience

Shamans / priests Trees Caves Art

Animism Belief that objects

have spirits / souls Spirits believed to be

responsible for much of that what is feared- uncontrolled

Spirits can have shape, will, purpose and feelings and therefore we must keep them happy if we are to be favoured by them

Gave way to belief in the 'soul'

Ancestor worship Afterlife – journey

of the soul Totems Rituals - offerings

Totemism• Spirits live in specific

objects / animals (found in nature) that symbolize power, which can then be worshipped

• Entire tribes or specific individuals may ally themselves with a specific animal – their totems

• Later generations my identify this animal as their ancestor

Tabu / Taboo• Something forbidden• Associated with the force of

mana or spirits• Dictates how individuals or

object are to be treated.• Person with great mana

(chief or priest) must be treated as a taboo (only those equal may interact / touch that individual.

• Impure / unclean individuals might also be treated as taboo

• May be cursed if you do something that is taboo

• Objects considered Taboo might include:

• Hair• Blood• Certain foods• recently widowed women• Menstruating woman• Newborn babies

• Purification ritual – To rid oneself of a curse which

resulted from doing something that is tabooed

• Fast / shaving / washing• Might involve caring a ‘good

luck charm’

Magic• Best know and least understood

aspect of primitive religion

• An attempt to control the power of spiritual beings or the course of events by performing special acts or uttering special words

• Different from prayer since when using magic you are attempting to force the cooperation of this power rather than request aid from this power

• Good Magic – Productive / sympathetic magic

• To help with a hunt• Rain dance

• Black Magic – Destructive• To cause destruction or harm

Magic ritual involved in creating the art

Haitian Voodoo Doll

Shamanism• Shaman – a medium

with special contact with the spirit world

• Is able to use their powers in an attempt to control the spirit world

• Visions• Trances• Can speak directly to the

spirits