Humanity, 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 seed of all religions? Although the answer is complex and widely controversial, numerous theories point to animism as the doctrine from which all other religious beliefs come to be.

What is animism?

If we take into account the Latin root of its name: anima , 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 possess a soul and consciousness of their own.

In other words, according to the followers of animism, there is a whole series of spiritual entities, including the human soul, which occupy all kinds of beings and objects, both animate and inanimate, so that everything around 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 that in which the existence of a series of personified spiritual and supernatural beings is accepted, who possess the capacity for reason, intellect and will 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, well before the emergence of today’s religions, animism is very well known around the world. The reason is that belief in the soul is a constant that appears in all kinds 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 all that surrounds them.

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

Distribution of this belief system

Today one can still find different locations around the world where animism retains a great force; 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 beings. This energy, known to them as “magara”, also links all living beings with the souls of the dead.

Main dogmas and beliefs

As discussed 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, moreover, plays a fundamental role in linking the world of the living and the dead.

In the early days of animism, its followers or adepts firmly held that there were a number of deities with whom one could interact. As time passed, however, the new adaptations of animism came to regard these individual elements as forms of the manifestation of a single God who was practically unapproachable by other mortals.

The main beliefs of animism can be specified 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 by means of offerings or sacrifices .
  • It is also possible to interact through the mediation of sacred persons such as shamans or witches.
  • The soul of our ancestors persists beyond death .
  • The soul can leave our body in certain trance states 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 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 ensures greater comfort and well-being.

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

Finally, there are certain cultures that would prefer to bring these two beliefs together. According to them, the soul has an 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 conduct extensive funerals and mourning in which the ancestors are venerated to guide their souls.

Animism as a religion

Contrary to what happens with the great majority of religions, the origins of animism are difficult to define . 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 the ages, various theories have been developed that point to animism as the seed of today’s 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 as 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 do not interpret it as such. Rather, it is considered a form of philosophy that influences and is found in numerous religions, which attempts to establish an explanation for spiritual mysteries and manifests an emotional stance or disposition towards these mysteries.