Page "Animism" Paragraph 13

Some theories have been put forward that the anthropocentric belief in animism among early humans was the basis for the later evolution of religions.

In one such theory, put forward by Sir E. B. Tylor, early humans initially, through mere observation, recognized what might be called a soul, life-force, spirit, breath or animus within themselves ; that which was present in the body in life and absent in death.

These early humans equated this soul with figures which would appear in dreams and visions.

These early human cultures later interpreted these spirits to be present in animals, the living plant world, and even in natural objects in a form of animism.

Eventually, these early humans grew to believe that the spirits were invested and interested in human life, and performed rituals to propitiate them.

These rituals and beliefs eventually evolved over time into the vast array of “ developed ” religions.

According to Tylor, the more scientifically advanced the society, the less that society believed in Animism ; however, any remnant ideologies of souls or spirits, to Tylor, represented “ survivals ” of the original animism of early humanity.