Animism

Status: MODERATED

Grade Level: High School

Objectives

The student will know one criteria of a animistic religion

The student will be able to name one animistic religion

Materials

• Sheets of ruled & blank paper.

• Pens/pencils

Preparation

Put the signs for the "Home spaces" for the "Find the animistic religion" game throughout the space (could be your classroom)

Method

1. Opening Gassho

2. Roll

3. Question: What is an animistic religion? Ask for thoughts from the students.

4. Presentation

   1. Review

      1. What is a religion?

      2. Religion is an organized set of common set of beliefs held by people to explain aspects of the human existence.

      3. Arises from our brain’s ability and desire to draw patterns into things and events.

   2. Animistic religions

      1. Based on animals, plants and sometimes inanimate objects having spirits

      2. These are the oldest religions based on our nomadic past.

      3. Explained where animals/food were and went.

      4. Why the animals did things.

      5. Respect for animals/plants, etc. 

      6. Spirits active in human lives 

      7. No clear distinctions between spirits, demons and gods

      8. Led by “shamans” who are also doctors and priests

      9. Provided a societal bonding/togetherness which humans crave

5. Discussion

   1. What do you think?

   2. Are they valid in this scientific world?

   3. There are modern versions that take aspects of modern religions. They do have appeal. Do they appeal to you? Why?

6. Activity: "Find that animistic religion"

   1. Similar to Clue. This can be played physically or using a Clue game board. If played physically, then place the home squares throughout the space that you are playing the game.

   2. Objective is to find your central aspects

      1. Key belief

      2. Key spirit/god

      3. Key regions

      4. Key practice

   3. Rules

      1. Designate roles: Roller, Token, Recorder. The Token should be at their Home square. 

      2. Roll a die, Divide by 2 (1,2: 1 step, 3,4: 2 steps, 5: 3 steps, 6: anyware)

      3. Walk that many normal steps

      4. If you can tag another Token, then you can:

         1. Ask for one Fact 

         2. Send the other team back to Home Region

      5. When you get to a country/Home Region, roll a die

         1. Read the clue for that roll. The Recorder records the clue.

      6. The game ends when one (or all) teams have found their Animistic Religion facts. (Belief, Spirit/God, Regions, Practice)

   4. Religions

      1. Long House (Iroquois)

         1. Belief: Great Spirit created plants, animals and humans to control “the forces of good in nature”

         2. Spirit: Thunderer, Great Spirit

         3. Region: Northeast US

         4. Practice: Interpreting dreams

      2. Dreamtime (Australian Aborigine)

         1. Belief: All knowledge is obtained through one’s ancestors

         2. Spirit: Rainbow Serpent

         3. Region: Eastern Australia

         4. Practice: Initiation rite

      3. Polynesian

         1. Belief: Islands formed by marriage of sky and earth

         2. Spirit: Tangaroa, the god of sea and of fishing

         3. Region: Polynesia

         4. Practice: Hula to tell story

      4. Shinto

         1. Belief: Japan formed by Izanagi with sister Izanami stirs the water with a spear

         2. Spirit: Amaterasu, the Sun goddess

         3. Region: Japan and southern tip of Korea

         4. Practice: Cleansing rituals

      5. Taoism

         1. Belief: Immortals protect the world from evil.

         2. Spirit: Jade Emperor

         3. Region: Han Empire (Yangtze River Valley)

         4. Practicing: Worshipping the father-emperor

Evaluation

After getting the teams back to their desks (and seated together), ask each team what they have so far.

Ask how they feel about their religion.

Notes

I tend to keep the furniture in the class room as-is to get in the student's way. Wide open space is not very interesting.

Author

Mas Nishimura, nish221.at.gmail.com , San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin,  2017