0 the belief that all natural things, such as plants, animals, rocks, and thunder, have spirits and can influence human events
This recognition of spiritual life in all things and actions is known as animism.
It would be outside my province to discuss it here, but even when first heard of it was more than a rude form of animism.
Magic and animism are beliefs everywhere held by mankind in early stages of culture, and they influence every action of life.
Mythology succeeded animism, and has in turn yielded to many curious and vanished theories, polytheistic, gnostic, pantheistic, and the rest.
The materials are now fairly complete for understanding the rise and development of animism.
