The Site About Animism - Assignment Example

AnimismThis article is written by Alan G. Hefner and Virgilio Guimaraes who are renowned animist writers of both online articles and books .In addition to animism, Alan G. Hefner and Virgilio Guimaraes have written many research papers, article and books about the other world religions; how they are unique, common themes and how they shape the life of their followers. Indeed Hefner and Guimares are credible experts of religions because they have researched and written many academic articles and books in field of religion.

The authors have used the following sources of information in the writing of this article; Luhrmann, T. M. Persuasion's of the Witch's Craft: Ritual Magic in Contemporary England.Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 1989; Davidson, H. R. Ellis. Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 1988; Ross, Anne Don Robins. The Death of a Druid Prince: The Story of Lindow Man an Archaeological Sensation.New York: Summit Books, 1989; Quest for the Unknown: Earth's Mysterious Places Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest, 1992.

Van de Weyer, Robert, ed. Celtic Fires: The Passionate Religious Vision of Ancient Britain and Ireland. New York, Doubleday, 1990. C. G. Jung. Spence, Lewis. An Encyclopedia of Occultism New York: Carol Publishing Group Edition, 1996; Boyce& Mary. Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices, New York: Routledge. 2002. The site provides multiple perspectives especially in the understanding of animism concept. For example, early anthropologists like Burnett Taylor believed that animism was a belief in spiritual beings and that all religions that had become complex had some elements of animism has they evolved over time.

However, modern anthropologists like Robert R. Marett have critized Taylor by arguing that primitive men had no such simplistic explanations since they had not developed intellectual capability to do so. Edward believed that the early man recognized inanimate objects since they had unique characters and unsual behaviors which puzzlingly gave an impression of live objects.The material on this site is biased because it tend to describe more the characteristics of animism and its perspective instead of comparing it with other world major religions to understand its uniqueness and the traits it share with other religions.

The purpose of this website is to inform the reader of what animism is i.e. breath and soul, its early and present perspectives. This site is an acceptable source of information for animism because of the following reasons. First, it defines what animism is (breath and soul) .The reader is therefore able to understand the beliefs and tenets of its followers and also why it’s different from other religions of the world.The site has succinctly explained the two perspectives: early and contemporary perspectives.

This provides us with enough information that enable us to come up with our own understanding of what animism is by marrying concepts from early perspectives with the contemporary perspective. In addition the characteristics of this religion are well described to distinguish animism from other religions. One major characteristics is that all animate objects have life and do not distinguish soul as separate that, can either enter or leave our bodies.Despite the fact that the site provides more information about animism, it fails to compare and contrast this religion with other religions of the world to understand the practices that it might be sharing with other religion and also how unique it is.

It is only through comparison that the reader can understand why it qualifies to be a distinct religion Work cited http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/a/animism.htm