With reference to one particular country (Thailand), discuss the significance of animistic belief systems?

With reference to one particular country in mainland south east
Asia,discuss the significance of animiatic belief systems?
In this essay I will be discussing the significance of animiatic belief systems particularly
in how it relates to Thailand and the significance of it. Animisn can be defined as the
religious belief that objects, places and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual
essence. Animisn was the religious practice of most of the Indigenous people in south
east Asia before organized religion came to the area. Many places in Thailand sprite
cults are still practiced or as a part of everyday religious life.
Thailand is a country located in south east Asia, bordering countries include
Burma,Cambodia,Loas and Malaysia. Thailand government system is a monarchy with
a prime minister, and has a mixed economic system.
The magico animiatic sector of Thai religion is very important to Thai culture. It also
contains within Thai religion large,changing and sometimes contradictory body of beliefs
deserve their attention and deference and the co tent of any villagers be lit may change
over time. Thai magico animiatic belifs and practices are exclusively this worldly in
orientation, and it is this feature that most clearly distingiushes animisn form Buddhism
+as operative being systems. The magico-ani,magic sector of Thai religion embodies no
explicit ethic for everyday behavior. The powers and agents of this realm may be
induced to intervene benevolently in human affairs. The premises which underlie Thai
magico animiatic belifs I’m sure a good deal of creativity or innovation in this sphere.
Spirits and minor deities is very important part of Thai magico animiatic beliefs as Thai
people believe that of all the nature sprites believed to inhabit the world those that are
the most important are sprites of rice,land,the house,water,trees and the wind. These
spirit’s usually have specific powers, therefore the house spirit is connected with the
blessing and protection of that house or compound, the rice spirit is in connection with
planting and harvesting the rice crop. However sometimes a healer may call upon the
wind spirit to assist in the ritual. Another important spirit is those of special deceased
humans as they believe that when humans die they can sometimes assume the status
of a minor deity. Ghosts and sorcery, rural Thai villagers believe that the immediate
presence of numerous ghosts can cause a lot of anxiety. All ghosts are the souls of the
recently deceased, however some can be more dangerous than others. Especially if
that ghost has died a painful death, or if it is a women who has died in childbirth. Ghost
possession is believed to be one of the causes of illness and death it is greatly feared.
In addition, rural Thai villagers also fear sorcery . Popular Thai beilefs holds that ethnic
Thai never become sorcerers. Amulets are very important as all Thai villagers and
children have amulets many with the form of the Buddha on them, this is for good luck,
protection and to avoid illnesses. Religious practitioners in a sense all villagers are practitioners of the magico animiatic religion, because all propitiate sprites and all
possess amulets yo wars off the effects of ghosts and sorcery.
Although magico animiatic beliefs and pra6may be employed in pursuit of a positive
purpose, their main focus usually is the avoidance of a misfortune.
General characteritcs of Thai magico animisn especially relating to the Thai religion has
no explicit ethic for everyday life and behavior. Thai magico animiatic beliefs embody an
ad hoc approach to life. Therefore the content of Thai magico animiatic beliefs to
situations as well as the establishment of the Thai villagers of the psychology elements
as well as the two separate belief systems in Thai culture with the other main belief
system being Buddhism.
There has been a lot of religious mixing between animisn, brshmamism and Theravada
Buddhism and has slightly integrated itself with Buddhism in Thailand. However animisn
and Buddhism in Thailand are to some extent contradictory religious systems. However
animism would probably represent more of Thai religion pre Buddhism. Many animistic
beliefs and practices that once had a autonomous position have now been partially
subsumed by Buddhism, as spritis have now become an important part of Buddhism
cosmology. In Thailand there are some Animist practitioners who in contrast to
Buddhism they tend to be women. Many features associated with animisn rituals such
as the use of alchoel,dancing and trance like Statesm, are in direct opposition to many
values that are featured in Buddhism. Animisn contrasts Buddhism in five ways an
animisn world view involves capricious and unpredictable elements,spirit practitioners
tend to be women, such practitioners are recruited ascriptively and particularistucally,
animisn is viewed with considerable ambivalence, and it’s social focus is local in scope.
Folk brshmamism appear to be interstital between the Buddhist and animist
components. As such, it does not present any distinctive features that contrast with
those of the other two components, through it does not share more features in common
with Buddhism than with animism. Another way of looking at animistic belief systems in
Thailand is to look Buddhism and animisn as contradictory religious systems. As in one
effect the beilefs in spirit’s to be people the opportunity to deal with their daily life
through rituals. Buddhism however is a moral religion that encourages good behavior,
while spirit’s are believed to be bad.
Animisn is by far the oldest and most established influence in the spiritual lives of Thai
people. Animisn is practiced on a daily basis by most Thai people. In Thailand you can
find examples of animisn in nature, architecture and social behavior. In Thailand you
can find spirit houses outside homes,shops and hotels, the taller the spirit house the
grander it usually is these house are very respected and well looked after as if they do that then they will protect the land. Most Thai people will offer incense, food and drink to
these spirit’s at least once a day, and ask good favour of the spirit. Thailand fig tree can
be categorized as animism however it is not pure animism as they also relate close to
Buddhism and Hinduism. Due to the religious and spiritual significance these trees are
left undisturbed, in thailsn they will often build roads and highways around them. These
trees are sometimes decorated with coloured sashes around their trunk, a spirit house
and figurines of the Buddha, and pictures of the king of Thailand.
Overrule with reference to Thailand the significance of animiatic belief systems are still
quite important as many parts of Thai Buddhism contain animiatic elements, as well as
many rural villiages particular in northern Thailand still practice animism as their main
religion and as a part of everyday life. However there has been a decline off animism
due to Theravada Buddhism becoming the religion of state in Thailand, however within
this there is many animistic beliefs that have been incorporated within Buddhist practice
and traditions