Animistic Religion 
 
 Part of Exhibit on Religions of the World shown at 
 STUDENT VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT CONVENTION 
 Kansas City. Mo., December 31. 1913-January 4, 1914 
 
Animistic Religion 
 
 
 “Be of flood Cheer, if is 1, Be not Afraid. 
 
 Animistic Belief. 
 
 Animism 
 
 is the belief that inanimate objects and the phenomena of nature 
 are endowed with personal life or a living soul; also, in an ex- 
 tended sense, the belief in the existence of the soul apart from 
 matter. 
 
 Its main characteristics are: — 
 
 God 
 
 is a shadowy Creator, careless of human concerns. 
 
 The Spirit World 
 
 is very real. Demons actively malevolent may haunt particular 
 localities or objects — trees, springs, etc. — or extend their influence 
 over a wider area, e.g., the small-pox goddess. Many of these 
 demons are undoubtedly thought to be the souls of the dead 
 become possessed of supernatural powers. All spirits, unless 
 propitiated, bring calamity. 
 
 Worship 
 
 is practically bribing the favour of a malevolent deity or pitting a 
 stronger demon against a weaker. Sorcery, witchcraft and magic 
 arts are the natural corollary. Hence the inordinate power of the 
 devil-priest in many animistic communities. Blood-sacrifices 
 are often deemed essential. 
 
 Life 
 
 is consequently hopeless bewilderment — a ceaseless effort to 
 deceive, appease or avert these spirits — darkness of heart and 
 sheer earthliness — "Let us eat and drink for to-morrow we die,” 
 — atrophy of moral instinct, distinctly immoral practices, 
 lethargic content. 
 
 The Future. 
 
 Belief in persistence of existence is common to all Animistic 
 views of the after life. The nature of that life is ill-defined. It 
 may be an uncertain reproduction of this life with its lusts and 
 passions, or a renewed existence in some animal or natural object. 
 
 Animistic Religion. 
 
 Through Fear all their Life- 
 time subject to Bondage. 
 
 Tear 
 
 of what the Dead can do 
 or become, 
 of Demons, 
 
 of the Forces of Nature. 
 
 Estrangement from 
 
 Boa. 
 
 The Demon Near, Real and 
 Cruel. 
 
 The Supreme God 
 Shadowy and Indifferent. 
 
 Confusion. 
 
 The worshipper is bewildered 
 in the presence of a multitude 
 of Deities mutually antagonistic. 
 He feels 
 
 that though he may propitiate 
 some 
 
 he is never safe from all. 
 
 Social mistrust. 
 
 The Fearful are cruel and 
 distrustful. 
 
 Fear poisons 
 
 Every Social Relationship, 
 and breeds 
 
 Brutality, Witchcraft, Sorcery, 
 Self-torture, Cannibalism 
 and 
 
 Human Sacrifice. 
 
 hopelessness 
 
 ‘Without God, without Hope.' 
 
 Behold 
 
 I bring you good tidings 
 of great joy which shall be 
 to all people. For 
 unto you is born 
 
 A Saviour. 
 
 □ 
 
 The Son of God 
 was manifested 
 that He might destroy 
 the works of the Devil. 
 
 □ 
 
 As My Father Hath 
 sent Me 
 so send I you. 
 
 □ 
 
 Cord 
 
 when saw we 
 Thee 
 in prison 
 
 and did not minister 
 unto Thee? 
 
 □ 
 
 Christianity. 
 
 Perfect Love casteth 
 out Fear. 
 
 Ciberty. 
 
 "God hath not given us 
 a spirit of Fear 
 But of Power and of Love 
 and of a Sound mind.” 
 
 Access to Bod. 
 
 "Ye that once were far off 
 are made nigh 
 in the Blood of Christ.” 
 
 Rest. 
 
 "One God and Father 
 of all.” 
 
 "The Name 
 
 that is above every name.” 
 "God is Love.” 
 
 Cove. 
 
 “Love suffereth long 
 and is kind. 
 
 Love seeketh not its own. 
 Taketh not account of Evil. 
 Rejoiceth not 
 in Unrighteousness. 
 
 Love never faileth.” 
 
 Bladness. 
 
 "Christ who is our Hope.’ 
 
 Kansas City, Mo., December 31, 1913-January 4, 1914. 
 
 Animistic Peoples. 
 
 Animistic Faiths prevail 
 
 in Central Africa, Central S. America, Central Australia and in the 
 unevangclised Islands of the Sea. Also in the sparsely populated regions 
 of farthest North America and North and North Eastern Asia. 
 
 But there are large numbers of Animistic tribes in other parts of 
 Africa, in India, Western China, etc., and Animism underlies, mingles 
 with and re-appears in the popular forms of all non-Christian faiths. 
 
 the Call 10 ihe Church. 
 
 The rapid disintegration of the Animistic and Fetishtic beliefs of 
 primitive peoples in many lands presents an important problem. 
 
 Most of these peoples will have lost their ancient faiths within a 
 generation, and will accept that culture-religion with which they first 
 come in contact. 
 
 The responsibility of the Church is grave to bring the Gospel to- 
 them quickly, as the only sufficient substitute for their decaying faiths. 
 
 Points of Contact with Christianity. 
 
 These may occasionally be found 
 
 in the idea of a supreme God, 
 
 in the belief in personal existence after death, 
 
 in the instinct for sacrifice and prayer. 
 
 At least they have tried to touch the Hem of the Divine Garment in 
 their worship of Nature. 
 
 tiejerence doors suggcuro. 
 
 Brinton. D. G.. Relig.ons of Primitive Peoples. 
 
 Nassau, Robert N., T tichism in West Africa. 
 
 Roscoe. John, The £ anda. 
 
 Wameck. Job.. The i.iving Christ and Dying Heathenism. 
 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2016 
 
 https://archive.org/details/animisticreligioOOstud