1. Dimensions of Animistic Religions Early / Animistic Religion

3. 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

4. Dimensions of Animistic Religions Common to all early human and contemporary primitive religions - animism

5. Psychological Origins (Role of Fear)  Fear of what we cannot control  Environment  Enemy  Death All created a need for religion 1. Explains and justifies 2. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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’

11. 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

12. 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