animism
1
9.6
- noun
- /ˈænɪˌmɪzəm/
:
animismo
- The native ideology was animism, the doctrine that natural objects and phenomena are informed by a deep intelligence.
In Shinto, for example, they have a belief in animism that objects can have souls.
- In Shinto, for example, they have a belief in animism that objects can have souls.
- It sounds like a kind of animism, actually, but to me the subjectivity of other beings, including plants.
- Up until polytheism was animism, who was spiritual, anonymous anonymism, everyone and everything.
Examples
-
The most characteristic form of early religion is animism—the notion that everything, animate or inanimate, has a spirit.
Blog text (33) -
The people's thinking is still tied up with animism.
Academic text (1999) -
In fact, Arouane had already been a place of power in ancient times of animism.
Fiction book (2002) -
Don't forget that religion started with animism, if you dig far back enough in history.
Blog text (21) -
His philosophy is heavily influenced by American Indian beliefs about animism and respect for all life.
Blog text (3) -
Animism is the belief of tribal people that every object is invested with a mind or soul.
Academic text (1990) -
For centuries, the Kelabit people have lived deep in Borneo's upland jungles, practicing animism and headhunting until missionaries converted them to Christianity after World War II.
Academic text (2007) -
Many indigenous cultures practice animism, believing that animals and plants possess spirits.
-
In animism, it is thought that stones and rivers have their own consciousness.
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The concept of animism suggests that the earth and all its elements have a life force.
Synonyms
Belief that natural things like trees and rivers have minds or spirits
Antonyms
- Specialized
5
7.4
The belief that only physical things are real and minds come from them
Surface Forms
Morphology
animism = anim + ism
The combining form 'anim-' (life/soul) plus the productive suffix '-ism' yields a belief system, but 'anim-' is not a standalone English word, so the relation is interpretable but not fully transparent to learners who do not know related words like 'animate' or 'animation'.
Etymology
Animism comes from the Latin word anima meaning 'soul' or 'breath', and you can see the same root in English words like animal and animate. So animism is the belief that rivers, trees, mountains and other natural things are alive or have a 'soul', which explains the modern meaning.