M i n d  /  B o d y  /  H e a r t  /  S o u l  ~  Primal Religions

Primal religions take us back to beginnings, sacred myths and legends, gods, goddesses, and shamans. Termed "primal" because they preceded the great written traditions—this sacred lore was passed on orally—these religions are mostly dead. Few survive, such as those in Africa, Australia, the Pacific Islands, and Native American cultures, and those hold on precariously in the face of global technological civilization. These religions are often animistic. Animism is the belief that natural objects, natural phenomena, and the universe itself possess souls or consciousness. This is similar to the traditional beliefs of the Native Americans in North and South America. These religions are sometimes called "indigenous" or "ecological" religions because they are linked to native terrain, evince a strong profound sense of place, and display extreme reverence for Mother Earth and all things. Within these myths, stories, and legends, we find our long-ago ancestors and their traditions.

People have been maligned, mistreated, and murdered for their beliefs. Religious conflicts are likely to have provoked 9/11. Tolerance and respect for those with different beliefs can begin here. Tolerance and respect for different beliefs is not synonymous with tolerance for criminal behavior in the name of one's beliefs.

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