Handbook Of Contemporary Animism

By Graham Harvey

Book Description

This comprehensive exploration delves into one of humanity's most enduring spiritual perspectives, examining how animism continues to shape religious and cultural practices across the globe. Drawing from diverse traditions including Shinto, Hinduism, Buddhism, Paganism, and numerous indigenous belief systems, this scholarly collection reveals how animistic worldviews recognize consciousness and intentionality beyond the human realm.

The volume presents cutting-edge research that expands our understanding of how spiritual and material worlds interconnect. International scholars contribute insights spanning multiple disciplines, from ethnographic studies to cognitive research, literary analysis to performance studies. These varied approaches illuminate how objects, places, and non-human beings participate actively in spiritual life, challenging conventional boundaries between the sacred and mundane.

Contemporary indigenous voices and activist perspectives enrich the academic discourse, offering authentic insights into living animistic traditions. The collection examines how these ancient ways of knowing address modern questions about consciousness, agency, and our relationship with the natural world.

Rather than treating animism as a relic of the past, this handbook demonstrates its vibrant relevance for understanding human experience today. The work invites readers to reconsider their assumptions about consciousness, spirituality, and interconnectedness, making it an essential resource for anyone exploring alternative spiritual frameworks or seeking deeper understanding of how different cultures perceive the animate world around us.