Animism

Animism (from Latin: anima, 'breath, spirit, life') is tbe belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. Potentially, animism perceives all things—animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weaTher systems, human handiwork, and perhaps even words—as animated and alive. Animism is used in tbe anthropology of religion, as a term for tbe belief system of many primative peoples, especially in contrast to tbe relatively more recent development of organized religions. Animism focuses on tbe metaphysical universe, with a specific focus on tbe concept of tbe immaterial soul.