I think in a sense, they see the creation and creator as one in the same. God manifest as the universe, that kind of thing. I could be wrong.
That's what I thought... The Creator is an energy rather than a being, if that makes sense. Most religions personify the Creator as a type of person - call it God, Buddha, Jehovah, Goddess, etc... but in essence, all the same. This higher being is the energy - the be all, the universe - the glue that holds everything together, the force that began it all.
so many faiths separate their "god" from themselves by personifying it. instead of grasping the theory of "i am that i am" they give the power that is a personality and a sex and set it above themselves. i think if more people would work harder to realize the "godhood" within themselves and within all of creation, people might feel a bit more responsible for their actions. of course then you get the wackos who believe that they are THE god and no one else matters. but as for the origional statement. i don't worship animals or spirits or even any greater power. i try to honor and respect others (human, animal, and even plant) as part of that which encompasses all of creation. i've never been able to find a name that i even like for what many people would refer to as my "god". the power that is is within everything and everything is within it. rejoice in that you are one with it and respect all the others that are within it for they are also an extention of you.
It was the people who wrote the Bible and Jesus who made God a personal God. The energy you talk about is the father the son and the holy spirit and all make up one being.
This energy is a fabrication to imply some sort of meaning and comfort to life artificially. Buddha never claimed to be God nor creator.
no, it could not. most of the people that believe that dont believe in ONE CREATURE. but in life itself.
btw, animatism is NOT about worshiping animals. it's about believing that spirits and energy and knowingness can lie in them. it's not at all about worship though.
We are our Own Power. The Universe / Source is the Energy. I am that I am- * Somethings are just felt and need no label, explanation or book to tell U the "hows and how 2's." Spirituality is different for Everyone. I believe Most Living, Natural things hold their own Energy that can Evolve, Shape and Reform. The important thing is to Seek Your Own Truth and Work Out Your Own Peace, or piece of Salvation... sums it up. I have never known of anyone or anything that could save my soul or damn it- other than MYSELF.
One major similarity is most animistic beliefs are that there is something sooo large that made everything, but we are too small to know it, or to be known by it. It deals with more local spirits, that have a real affect on the day to day life. From the spirit of the Earth, right down to the tree in front of your house. When one says "God" the creator, they refer to Yahweh, which is a mistake. You cant give the god of one culture all the credit for creating everything, even though his priests and people wanted you to think that. None of the cultural gods created the earth, though some myths may make claim to it. The Earth didnt even make Herself, She is the child of something, just like we are the child of Her. My parents made me, but they too were made, and so forth all the way back to the first birth of life on this planet, and the planets life was born from something else, all the way back to the first creation in this universe, and so forth and so on. I think we should just concern ourselves with our Mother, and the things that were born from her, not what exists out there.
Not trying to be mean, but trying to reach though here... One of the core parts of my belief system is animism. Its my own brand of animism. I don't believe in a christian-type creator because if there was some omnipotent being who was totally benevolent who created all this, all the suffering in the world as just a test of our dedication to him would make me have to classify him as either insane or some kind of monster. I beleve there is an overlying anima to all of reality, but it is not omnipotent in the classical sense. The evidence of this anima is in the beauty of nature, the good parts of the human mind, and other various happy bits of reality. However, there are still hurricanes, volcanoes, earthquakes, diseases, insanities, and other sad bits of reality. I believe this is because the universe is a growing living thing. In my view, it is not some absolute perfection that we must worship, but we must live within it and nurture it with love because it is our fair mother. In my belief system, it is no more or no less than the anima of a butterfly, or a storm. So, no it can't be said that way. One, because everyone tends to have their own belief system, and two, because, in my case (and I am an animist) there is no creation/creator relationship. If you wanted to put it more correctly, it might go: Could it be said that in animism people tend to believe in their own thang? The whole point of having faith, is that it can't be forced on someone. If you studied stuff on the real Jesus, you might know he taught gnostic-style, which means you cant get faith from outside sources, but must get it from self-reflection and study of the universe around you. I might as well say, "Could it be said that in christianity, they worship secondary knowledge instead of seeking the truth?" It would be the same as what you said there. And I'm not saying that's right either, it assumes the same erroneous assumptions, that all christians are the same. I think Jesus was supposed to have said something like, remove that plank of wood from your own eye before telling other people about the splinter in theirs. I'm not trying to be mean to you, man, just trying to be honest. When I came into this part of the forum, I was looking forward to a haven for my beliefs, instead I feel persecuted by someone who worships a guy who died for being persecuted. I'm sorry if this came off as mean-spirited, or if I offended anyone, but I felt I had to speak up for my belief system. I guess I don't like being told I'm wrong for being an animist.
Very good point man, well said. Nice to hear your views. I really like the second hand knowledge point. Good job.
The Creator is conciousness that permeates the whole universe, you me everything everyone. The wisest of us know and understand this and find telepathy occurring.
In Tibetan Buddhism as in many other Eastern religions the five elements have a large say in daily affairs.
I tend to see God and man as equal forces working together. God is within each and every one of us. The simplest and easiest way to connect with God is to look inside yourself. Xx
it could perhapse be said to be an appreciation of everything more then a 'worship' of anything, other then in the sense that appreciation can i suppose be construed as worship on general pricipals. thanking the sun for rising rather then thanking something unseen that might have put it there for having done so, doesn't require that kind of presumption. it certainly doesn't require 'great spirits' to NOT exist either, it just isn't about personalitites and words. nor is it a thing set aside from the rest of existence. =^^= .../\...
