Final answer:
Animism is the belief in a spiritual essence present in all things, coined by British anthropologist Sir Edward Burnett Tylor in 1871. Tylor proposed that animism evolved from early human experiences and was a precursor to more organized religions. Animist ideas have influenced various aspects of popular culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
Animism is a religious belief that attributes a spiritual essence to not only humans but also to other living beings, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena. The concept of animism suggests that everything in the universe has a spiritual or supernatural component. This belief is central to many indigenous religions around the world. The term 'animism' was coined by Sir Edward Burnett Tylor, a British anthropologist. He presented the first anthropological description of animism in his work 'Primitive Culture' published in 1871, suggesting it as the earliest form of religion emerging from human experiences like dreaming, which led to the broader spiritual understanding of the world.
Development of Animist Thought
According to Tylor, animist thought evolved from basic human experiences and the need to explain life's mysteries. As societies became more complex, so too did their religious beliefs, with animism representing an early stage that eventually developed into more structured religions with gods or a God. Tylor's work was influential in the study of the development of religious systems over time.
Today, animism can be seen in various forms across multiple cultures, and its principles have extended into popular culture, as seen in the concepts of 'mana' in games like Magic: The Gathering and the Force in the Star Wars franchise.