Essay On Animism

III. Slash and Burn Agriculture
Slash and Burn Agriculture is a widely used method of cultivating crops in usually temperate or tropical regions. It is the process which forested land is clear cut and any remaining vegetation is burned, the ash remains contain a nutrient rich top soil that helps fertilize crops. After years of cultivation the fertility of the soil decline and weeds increase, causing the farmers to shift to a new plot. Traditionally the old plot was left uncultivated, reverting itself into a secondary forest of bush and within a decade it could be reused. By the early 21st century the plot is usually maintained in a permanent deforested state, causing farmers to move to new plots and aiding to the destruction of Earth’s resources.
Animism is used in the anthropology of religion, which involves the study of religious institutions in relation to other institutions. Although every culture each has their own unique mythology or belief animism is said to describe the most fundamental thread of “spiritual” or “supernatural” perspectives. Animism can be seen as a religion in itself or refers to a broad religious belief. In animism the core belief is that souls exist in all things animate and inanimate and there is no separation between the spiritual and material
It can be seen throughout multiple religions such as Catholic, Shamanism, Jewish, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Taoism, and Buddhism to name a few. As you can see Animism helped shape multiple religions and ideologies, providing a sense of comfort in explaining the unexplainable. Animism, like other religions, helps bring a community closer; provide a sense of comfort and uniformity, along with providing a basis for other religions. Although the belief in souls is still a common concept today it lead way to great philosophers such as Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, and James Hillman. Without Animism the soul theory and the basis of early religions wouldn’t have probably came up until later in history, leading way to other forms of belief such as Polytheism and