Animatism

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Animatism ( Latin animatus 'animated') is a term that comes from Robert Ranulph Marett (1866–1943) and refers to certain beliefs of ethnic religions . It is known as a theory of pre-animism . In animatism, inanimate things of nature are seen as living: They therefore have their own ability to think and act comparable to humans, their own will and their own emotions.

For a long time, animatism was considered to be the preliminary stage of animism (the soulfulness of nature). This evolutionist view, as well as Marett's view that the animate nature of inanimate natural phenomena is to be ascribed to the force that is called mana in ethnology , could no longer be held due to later findings. In fact, the transitions between the ideas of animatedness and liveliness are mostly fluid and difficult to distinguish (see also: dead ends in ethnological research on religion ).

The animatism theory

Marett developed his theory in confrontation with the great figures of British religious ethnology Edward B. Tylor and James George Frazer , to a lesser extent with the outsider Andrew Lang and with Émile Durkheim . Despite various differentiations, he followed the basic idea of socio-cultural evolution . The ascent of the spirit from feeling to reflection only occurs through the progress of the mental evolution of man. Primitive societies are largely dominated by traditional manners and customs. Primitive religion is not thought, but danced.

The encounter with uncontrollable dangers is attributed to superhuman or supernatural forces, which are expressed in the term mana , the fear of it in the term taboo . The management of the resulting crises is socially organized, regulated, conventionalized and traditionalized. Successful practices of communication with supernatural powers would become a ritual . Certain people who performed special functions in these rituals were given privileged positions.

In the course of religious evolution, a far-reaching ethization of religion takes place. This is done in dealing with the traditional tradition and convention as well as their religious sanctions.

Quote

"You think I am a rock that lies in the silence, [...] But I am not, but part of all life. I am alive to those who think. "

- Dancing Eagle Plume ( Northern Ute Indians )

literature

  • Lothar Käser : Animism. An introduction to the conceptual basics of the world and human image of traditional (ethnic) societies for development workers and church workers overseas ; Verlag der Liebenzeller Mission , Bad Liebenzell 2004; ISBN 3-921113-61-X ; with the abbreviated subtitle Introduction to its conceptual fundamentals also in: Neuendettelsau: Erlanger Verlag für Mission und Okumene, 2004; ISBN 3-87214-609-2
  • Martin Riesebrodt: Robert Ranulph Marett (1866–1943) , in: Axel Michaels (Hrsg.): Classics of Religious Studies. CH Beck, Munich 1997, 3rd edition 2010, ISBN 978-3-406-61204-6

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Alfred Bertholet : Dictionary of Religions , Alfred Kröner Verlag, Stuttgart 1952, third edition, newly edited, erg. U. ed. by Kurt Goldammer 1976
  2. ↑ cf. Käser: Animism, page 20
  3. ↑ Karl R. Wernhart: Ethnic Religions - Universal Elements of the Religious. Topos, Kevelaer 2004, ISBN 3-7867-8545-7 . P. 84.
  4. ↑ Klemens Ludwig: Whisper to the rock. Herder, Freiburg 1993, ISBN 3-451-04195-2 . Pp. 196-197.