1. spiritual beliefs began?
When do you think
spiritual beliefs began?

2. No one knows exactly when or where.
But it is certain that people had strong spiritual beliefs in ancient times.

3. Animism was practiced by many peoples during prehistoric times

4. The term used for those beliefs is ”Animism.”
The word “Animism” comes from the Latin anima which means “soul” or having “breath”.

5. Even today, people all over the globe follow animist beliefs.

6. Animism is the belief that spirits inhabit animate (living) things.

7. objectshttp://

8. Southeast Asia some people believe banyan trees are sacred.

9. Sacred tree in Indonesia

10. They create masks to bring the spirits to life.
The Bwa and Nuna people of central Burkina Faso seek the help of powerful spirits who live in the wild forests, bush country, and rivers surrounding their villages.
They create masks to bring the spirits to life.
Dancing these masks on market days and at funerals and initiation ceremonies honors the spirits and brings forth their blessings.

11. Wishing to control the spirit forces and have their help against the powers of destruction, the Bwa and Nuna create masks that make the spirits visible and put them in touch with the people.

12. Nuna animal spirit masks depict the nature spirits associated with such powerful animals as the hawk, buffalo, and crocodile.

13. The crocodile's body is covered with scales in the form of a checkerboard pattern, which represents the separation between knowledge and ignorance. The crocodile maskers dance in pairs, with fluid undulating motions.

14. Buffalo Mask of
The Nuna peoples
Hampton University
Museum

15. Spirits can also inhabit geographical landforms
featureshttp://

16. Geographical landforms such as mountains, bodies of water also are important to animist beliefs
Ghana has a famous spirit called Mame Water.

17. In Ghana there is a water spirit called Mami Water
The fishermen
consider her
so sacred
they do not
talk about her
openly.

18. Natural phenomenon such as lightning thunder, earth quakes can be given humanlike or supernatural spiritual powers
Tupan, a god of the Tupi-Guarani people of the Amazon rainforest is a spirit who lives in the sky and is believed to cause thunder.

19. Natural phenomena can be a good or evil spirit http://earthscience

20. There are also ancestor spirits.

21. Hopi - Honoring the ancestral spirits http://search. yahoo. com/

22. A holy burial place for the Tupi-Guaraní of the rain forest of Brazil
Commissioned by the Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center, this totem pole depicts the first Tlingit people to settle in the Sitka area. It is intended to be a public display of unity between the Tlingit clans.

23. Democratic Republic
of Congo –
ancestor
spirit mask

24. People believed they had to maintain a favorable (good) relationship with the spirits or else suffer their wrath (anger).

25. Bali Paying tribute to the spirits of the ancestors. http://blog

26. Animists also believe that spirits inhabit inanimate (nonliving) objects

27. Saami Sacred Stones in Karelia, Russia
Saamis believed that in this stones (seidas) there live spirits that might help if one sacrificed them animals (usually reindeers) and things.

28. The oi-ya in the old shrine compound of the Naiku Ise
In Japan the mysterious forces of nature, called ke, were believed to be inside objects and space to create mononoke. Mononoke gathered in trees and stones.
The oi-ya in the old shrine compound of the Naiku Ise

29. Off-shore rock kami

30. In North America Medicine wheels are stone structures built by certain indigenous people for spiritual and ritual purposes.

31. Arizona Indian medicine wheel

32. Stonehenge a massive prehistoric stone monument in England

33. Animals are also given humanlike powers

34. The figure on the top of this Tlingit totem pole is Raven the creator
The figure on the top of this Tlingit totem pole is Raven the creator. North America

35. How do we know about these ancient traditions when the people had no writing?

36. Oral tradition
From generation to generation stories were passed down in families, clans, tribes, and villages.

37. As long as words have been spoken there have been storytellers and people to listen to them.

38. Stories were a way of explaining things that people did not understand.

39. In many cultures storytelling is not just narration or speaking
In many cultures storytelling is not just narration or speaking. There is also music and dance, singing and religion. Tupa –Guarani of Brazil

40. When the stories were good they were retold over and over.

41. Myths
Folktales
Fables
Oral history
Teach lessons about human behavior
Tell the beliefs and values of the people

42. Pueblo Indian story teller - pottery

43. Oral Tradition keeps the past alive, keeps beliefs strong, and makes learning about cultures fascinating!