Animatism
Template:Shinto Animatism is a term coined by British anthropologist Robert Marett in the context of his teleological theory of the evolution of religion. It refers to "a belief in a generalized, impersonal power over which people have some measure of control".<ref name="Ferraro, Gary 2008. p. 340">Ferraro, Gary. 2008. Cultural Anthropology: An Applied Perspective, 7th ed. Belmont, CA: Thompson Wadsworth. p. 340</ref> Marett argues that certain cultures believe "people, animals, plants, and inanimate objects were endowed with certain powers, which were both impersonal and supernatural."<ref name="Ferraro, Gary 2008. p. 340" /> Mana, Marett states, is a concentrated form of animatistic force found within any of these objects that confer power, strength, and success.<ref>Ferraro, Gary. 2008. Cultural Anthropology: An Applied Perspective, 7th ed. Belmont, CA: Thompson Wadsworth.</ref>
Animatism is a belief that inanimate, miraculous qualities exists in the natural world. It also talks about the belief that everything is infused with a life force giving each lifeless object personality or perception, but not a soul as in animism. It is a widespread belief among small-scale societies. In South Pacific regions, such as Melanesia and Polynesia, this belief comes in form of manaism, which is derived from mana.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Many indigenous cultures believe in animatism. They believe that worshipping inanimate objects will drive them away from the evil forces around.<ref name=":0">Template:Citation</ref> These groups also believe that the inanimate objects they worship have mystical powers that are sent by God to help them on Earth.<ref name=":0" />
Animatism laid the foundation for animism by introducing the notion of supernatural forces residing within lifeless entities, thus paving the way for the development of more complex belief systems.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>