The Ape Speaks! Animism- A Useful Lie

an·i·mism
Dictionary result for animism
/ˈanəˌmizəm/
noun
noun: animism
1. the attribution of a soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena.
2. the belief in a supernatural power that organizes and animates the material universe. 
"a village steeped in ancient animism and rituals"

Animism is, although unprovable, almost certainly bollocks. Just as souls are both unprovable and still probably bollocks.

 

But.

 

But just because something is a lie, doesn’t mean that it isn’t useful. Have a look at the following quote.

“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”

– G.K. Chesterton

Here at Aardvark, Aardwolf, and Ape (mind the Oxford comma)- we have a motto that is a variation inspired by Chesterton’s quote above.

We don’t care if the fairy tale is true.

We care if the fairy tale is useful.

So. Animism. Unprovable. Almost certainly complete rubbish. But. But is it useful? Well, let’s examine that. What does it accomplish? Look at something else for a comparison. What does the belief in an afterlife accomplish? It comforts the living with the idea that their kin are not gone once those bone are ash and dust. It promises happiness in the hereafter, which may be useful for Kings trying to keep peasants from rebelling in the here and now. It means that we may be judged later by a stronger force for actions here which we thought had no consequences. These are useful things for a nation and a community. So cui bono? Who benefits? What are the results of people believing that everything has a soul?

I can, of course, only speculate. Let’s look at the reputation of the Japanese, as Shinto in Animist in its beliefs. Let’s look also at the hunter gatherer tribes who survive today with Animist beliefs intact. It would speculate that Animism causes people to act with a greater respect for the whole world, from tree to rock to computer.

So who benefits? The world does, and we- from Ape to Apple to Adam the naked biped- are part of the world. The capitalist doesn’t benefit. This probably explains why animism has not been the religion of choice for most big businesses. The King doesn’t benefit. This probably explains why most monarchies preferred religions with heavenly hierarchies. But we benefit. And so do wood lice and weasels. So do rabbits and rattlesnakes. So do fish and foxes. So do redwood and red tailed hawks. and on and on.

So why bring this up? Up till now Aardvark, Aardwolf, and Ape has posted nothing so much as a table top parlor game. So why care about religions and ideas about who benefits from beliefs?

Because there is more coming. Because a game can be more than a game. Because capitalism is game. Because communism is a game. Because Shintoism, and Buddhism, and Christianity, and all religions are games. They are games to which people devotes their lives. And we seek to peel back that layer and show you the games to which you have dedicated your life. Because if life is a game, I expect that you wish to be a player of games, not a piece in said game.

 

Sleep well.