Religion that recognizes active and animate spirits operating in the world is called?

• A. Animism
• B. Polytheism
• C. Monotheism
• D. Atheism

Answer: (A)

Animism is the belief that spirits inhabit and animate the natural world—trees, rivers, animals, stones, wind—and that these spirits can influence events and interact with people. This view treats the world as alive with personhood, not just a collection of inert objects. It’s different from polytheism, which centers on many gods; while some polytheistic systems may recognize spirits, animism specifically emphasizes spirits in nature rather than gods as separate beings. Monotheism focuses on belief in a single God, and atheism rejects belief in gods altogether, neither of which centers on spirits animating the natural world. In many indigenous and traditional cultures, rituals and offerings are ways to connect with these spirits.