Understanding Animism and its Reach
Animism,1 the belief that spirits inhabit nature, objects, places, ancestors and events, holds sway as the world’s oldest and most widespread religious worldview.

I lived among folk Muslims of Western and Northern Africa for 16 years. Folk Islam is syncretistic, either Islam tinged with animism or animism covered with professed Islam. Seventy to 85 percent of the Islam practiced worldwide is folk Islam or animistic Islam. Samuel Zwemner (1867-1952), the well-known “Apostle to Islam” who devoted his life to reaching Muslims with the gospel, rightly stated: “Islam and Animism live, in very neighborly fashion, on the same street and in the same mind.”

Animism posits a universe alive with unseen spiritual forces that profoundly influence human affairs. For those living within this worldview, the central question revolves around survival: “What works to keep me safe, blessed and protected?” Understanding this foundational perspective is key for Adventist Frontier Missions as we seek to share the transformative power of the gospel.

The Enduring Appeal of Animism
Animism, in its essence, attributes spiritual essences to all things, animate and inanimate, including natural elements, ancestors and abstract concepts. This belief system addresses universal human needs for safety, meaning in suffering, connection with spiritual forces and control over uncertain circumstances such as health or crops. It provides explanations for sickness, blessings, curses, death, weather and personal success or failure, answering the fundamental question: “Who or what is behind what just happened?” From a biblical perspective, animism originated from humanity’s earliest attempts to interpret spiritual realities apart from God after the Fall. When people reject the true God, they often fill that spiritual vacuum by worshipping created things, leading to false worship systems designed to manage fear, seek protection and gain control.

Animism Woven Through Daily Life
Animism is deeply interwoven into every aspect of people’s daily lives. Decisions about when to travel, whom to marry or which crops to plant are often guided by animistic beliefs. Community rituals, such as sacrifices, festivals and cleansing rites, are commonplace. Major life events, including birth, illness and journeys, are met with specific rituals for healing, protection and blessings. Moral codes are frequently determined not by abstract right or wrong, but by the question, “Will this offend the ancestors or spirits?” Individuals perceive their identity as part of a vast spiritual network connecting the living, the dead and invisible beings. Fundamentally, animism functions as a survival system, providing protection, guidance and a sense of belonging and control in a world perceived as spiritually volatile. Even those unfamiliar with animism may recognize its elements, such as using charms for protection, avoiding bad luck, or consulting fortune-tellers.

Animism Today: A Global Reality
Animism is not confined to remote regions; it manifests in modernized forms everywhere, including the West, yes, even the U.S. Examples in Western societies include beliefs like “the universe sent me a message,” using crystals for healing and consulting horoscopes and astrology, tarot cards, psychics and mediums. Manifestation and energy alignment are popular concepts, and fears of curses, bad vibes or haunting ancestors persist. Movies and games often normalize spirit contact, reflecting a Western animism that is individualized, commercialized and psychologized, yet spiritually akin to its traditional counterparts.

A Holistic Approach to Animism
To effectively reach animists, Christians must address their worldview, their profound fears, their lived experiences within the spirit world and their deep-seated needs. Evangelism in this context must be holistic, moving beyond purely doctrinal presentations. Missionaries should present Jesus as the Supreme Power, greater than all ancestors, witchcraft and territorial spirits, citing Scriptures like Colossians 2:15 and 1 John 4:4. Jesus should also be presented as the loving personal Protector (Psalm 91), the Healer and Deliverer from fear and oppression (Matthew 4:23–24), and the living Lord actively involved in daily life.

Animistic beliefs and practices cannot simply be criticized, dismissed or rejected; their functions must be thoughtfully replaced with biblical truths and practices. Fear is to be replaced with God’s protection, as exemplified in Psalm 91 (as well as Psalm 27:1, 56:3-4 and 34:4). Divination gives way to the Holy Spirit’s guidance through Scripture, prayer and Christian community. Ancestral allegiance is transformed into identity in Christ, fostering a new family under a new covenant. Appeasement rituals are replaced by worship and the understanding of the cross as the final, all-sufficient sacrifice. Magic power is superseded by the Holy Spirit’s power, exercising authority in Jesus’ name, engaging in spiritual warfare and ongoing sanctification. Finally, community rituals are transformed into vibrant Christian fellowship, in which the church becomes a new, spiritual family.

When engaging animistic neighbors and coworkers, it is crucial to be curious, not confrontational. Sharing personal stories of peace and transformation, offering prayer and inviting them into Christian community and spiritual conversations can be profoundly effective.

Animism persists because it fulfills deep human cravings for meaning, protection and connection. The mission is not merely to eradicate these beliefs but to offer a fuller, God-centered answer that satisfies these needs through the truth of Jesus Christ and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. By approaching individuals with respect, relational investment and clear biblical hope, we can faithfully present the gospel to animistic hearts wherever they may be.

One of our experiences in witnessing to a neighbor with an animistic worldview occurred while we were living in North Africa. In 2018, our landlord, Arimasa, a devout Muslim woman in her early 50s who faithfully observed her five daily prayers, placed large salt crystals, each the size of an orange, in the corners of her home to ward off the evil eye. While orthodox Islam acknowledges the influence of evil spirits (bad jinn), it prohibits animistic practices such as using Quranic verses or physical objects for protection against spiritual harm. When we removed the salt crystals from the apartment we were renting and returned them to her, it opened a meaningful conversation. We were able to share our belief in protection not through objects, but through the power of Jesus Christ.

May God bless each of you as you contemplate the widespread prevalence of animism throughout cultures worldwide, and as you interact with friends, family, or neighbors whose hearts unknowingly yearn for the fulfillment Christ brings. It is our earnest prayer that through respectful engagement and the clear articulation of biblical hope, you may illuminate the transformative power of the gospel for those seeking to interpret spiritual realities apart from God.

1Animism as a term was coined by Edward Burnett Taylor in 1871, from the Latin word anima, meaning soul or life.

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