Animism

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Animism is not exactly an organized religion but rather a general term used to refer to many traditional world views common among tribal communities. The central unifying tenet of animism is the belief that everything has a spirit which is worthy of respect. Animists often thank spirits of nature for what they take for their use and ask the spirits of animals for the right to hunt them.

The spirits in animism are not necessarily all benign but rather reflect the mixed nature of the world around them. Spirits can be wrathful as well as generous, just as nature can be dangerous as well as bountiful.

While it is generally believed that most peoples followed animist beliefs at some time or another, animist beliefs are most common among Amerindians, Africans, and Asians as well as among some non-humans.