Comparitive Religion
The Siberian Shaman Humanity's original religion was probably Animism. Animists believe that all things living or dead have spirits, even inanimate objects like rocks, trees, rivers and motorcycles. Animals hunted and killed for food, or trees cut down for construction projects have spirits too. It is OK to to kill the deer or cut down the oak but their spirits must be treated with proper respect. The Redneck has been bitten, burned, tripped, and smacked by just about every inanimate object or living thing he failed to treat with respect. Animism remains the religion of choice in remote inhospitable environments from the high arctic to steaming jungles and arid deserts, places where a good deal of respect for the things around you are needed for survival. You might be a closet animist if you swear at hammers that hit your thumb, or if you gave your car a name other than the manufacturer or registry office supplied one. According to ...