Animism, the Seed of Religion

by Edward Clodd

"Animism, the Seed of Religion" is a 1905 treatise on the subject of animism by English writer Edward Clodd. Animism is the religious belief that creatures, objects, and even places have an innate spiritual essence, and can even arguably be considered to be alive. This fascinating volume explores the history and development of this theory while linking it to the origins of religions the world over. Edward Clodd (1840 - 1930) was an English writer, banker, and anthropologist famous for his various and notable literary and scientific friends. Other notable works by author "The Childhood of the World" (1872), "Jesus of Nazareth" (1880), and "Nature Studies" (1882). Contents "Brain in Animal and Man", "Man in the Making", "Animal and Human Psychology", "Naturalism; or, Conception of Power Everywhere", "Animism; Or, Conception of Spirit Everywhere", "Theories of the Nature of Spirit", "Spirits in Inanimate Things", "Fear of Sequence in the Object of Worship", "Absentee Gods", etc. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition for the enjoyment of readers now and for years to come.

Genres: Religion, Philosophy

100 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1996

About the author

In 1840, Edward Clodd was born in England. Although his parents wanted him to become a Baptist minister, Clodd went into banking, working as secretary of the London Joint Stock Bank from 1872-1915. An early Darwin aficionado, the largely self-educated writer set about to make rationalism and science accessible to the masses. In 1872, he wrote Childhood of the World. His influential evolution manual, Story of Creation, was reprinted many times. Clodd worked with the Rationalist Press Association, and delivered the Conway Memorial Lecture in 1910 on "Gibbon and Christianity." His other works include Memories (1916) and The Question: If a Man Die, Shall he Live Again?" (1917).

Clodd was an early follower of the work of Charles Darwin and had personal acquaintance with Thomas Huxley and Herbert Spencer. He wrote biographies of all three men, and worked to popularise evolution through books like The Childhood of the World and The Story of Creation: A Plain Account of Evolution.

Clodd was an agnostic and wrote that the Genesis creation narrative of the Bible is similar to other religious myths and should not be read as a literal account. He wrote many popular books on evolutionary science. He wrote a biography of Thomas Henry Huxley and was a lecturer and popularizer of anthropology and evolution.

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Reviews

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everything said here has been said better by Frazer or other olden days anthropologists. But at least its short. More useful for studying European anthropologists than religion. The basic thesis that animism underlies religion seems correct though, and he flags a number of animism's features so that you'll be able to notice it in other anthropological readings, or as a distorted incarnation in modern religions.

[LunarLupine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel pretty mixed about this book. The author has a handful of decent takes in regards to Animism, but then turns around and says some pretty insulting things about people who believe such things. I also felt that when the author mentions his thoughts/examples they should have been expanded on more. I tried to be generous for some of the word choices by reminding myself that certain words we may find insulting were once less frowned upon. There was still plenty of eye rolling while reading this though. It's a short read so I didn't drop it. Just keep in mind when this was written.

[Mafalda Gomes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible writing. The author is incapable of presenting historical facts without placing his own person input on the matter, pretty much putting down and shaming all sorts and kinds of beliefs. Definitely do not recommend this reading.