Animatism, Animism and Deism- describe they vary in differences and similarities. Describe how each belief system is expressed by a particular culture that practices each concept
http://anthro.palomar.edu/religion/rel_2.htm
http://www.religioustolerance.org/deism.htm
Animatism, Animism, and Deism are three distinct belief systems that differ in their understanding of the divine or supernatural, their cultural expressions, and the societies that practice them.
1. Animatism:
- Animatism is the belief that supernatural powers or forces exist in the world but are not personified.
- These forces are often seen as impersonal and operate through natural objects, phenomena, or spirits.
- For example, in many traditional African religions, there is a belief in various spirits dwelling within natural features like mountains, rivers, or trees.
- Animatism can also be found in some indigenous cultures where individuals attribute powers to animals, weather patterns, or celestial bodies.
2. Animism:
- Animism is similar to animatism, but it attributes personal souls or spirits to both animate and inanimate objects.
- In animistic cultures, the world is seen as full of sentient beings, including animals, plants, rocks, and elements of nature.
- Indigenous tribes in North America, such as the Navajo people, practice animism and believe that all things, living or non-living, possess some form of spiritual essence.
- Animism is characterized by the belief in ancestral spirits, nature spirits, and a deep interconnection between humans and the natural world.
3. Deism:
- Deism is a philosophical belief system that emerged in Europe during the Enlightenment era.
- Deists argue that a supreme being, often called the "Divine Architect" or "Creator," set the laws of nature in motion but does not directly intervene in human affairs.
- Unlike animatism and animism, deism tends to reject the idea of supernatural entities or personal gods.
- Deism became influential among Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and Thomas Jefferson but is not closely associated with a specific cultural expression.
In summary, Animatism and Animism share a belief in supernatural forces, but Animism incorporates the concept of personal spirits. Both are commonly found in indigenous cultures around the world. On the other hand, Deism is a more philosophical belief system that emerged in Europe and does not include supernatural beings. It was influential during the Enlightenment and is not tied to a particular cultural expression.