dimensions of animistic religions early / animistic religion
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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