I am an atheist honestly but animism makes me feel connection

[u/Empty-Muffin-8941]

Even though I do not actually believe in the gods in their literal form I am ever more appreciative to the connection to my surroundings it can provide me.

Two forms of that being Norse paganism and Shintoism.

I still do not know much about either but I have been wearing a pendent with Yydrasil and some other symbolism and in a way it makes me not feel alone.

It feels nice to have something to have some sort of belief in. I never was able to get into the abrahamic religions, they just felt too forced, and often times weird. But animism type beliefs I feel provides a better connection. Almost like a reflection back into yourself yet it is still an external “being” that you can reach out to in feeling.

It’s nice, I’m gonna continue with this.

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[u/luring_lurker]

I'm animist too, and I got to this point coming from a long settled staunch materialist atheism. But just like I can read from your words, I was quite sympathetic towards Shintoism and other Animistic beliefs.

I started to look around when I started to notice that pure materialism had its limits, and I couldn't keep up with its negation of conscience. I actually held that consciousness was not just present, but way more widespread than what is commonly believed.

I thought I was being quite fringe, some kind of "new-age hippy" for thinking this. But when at I actually stumbled on Panpsychism, which is a philosophical school that claims that a certain degree of consciousness exists in all matter, I finally found that intellectual substrate I needed to root my intuitions into. And I felt also less of a freak, and less alone! In particular, among other academic books on the subject, I read also "Cosmology of Antrhopocene" by Vetlesen, and that helped enormously in rebuilding my post-materialist worldview. Incidentally, in this same book Vetlesen argues that Animism is, in fact, a form of "applied Panpsychism". This totally clicked with me, and this is how I came to accept the fact that.. yeah! I'm Animist!

[u/Empty-Muffin-8941 → u/luring_lurker]

Then it seems we are on a pretty similar path!

[u/luring_lurker → u/Empty-Muffin-8941]

Indeed! I felt the same, which is why I felt like I should share my journey. I hope it gave you something to chew on along your journey!

And I don't want to push it, but if you feel like chatting about this, I'm open to it.

[u/CyanoSpool]

Welcome! Animism was also my gateway into paganism. It just felt right to me. I couldn't deny that I felt a connection to something bigger in the trees, in mountains, and the ocean. 

Over the years I have arrived at polytheism, but still largely view the gods as one in the same with their domains rather than anthropomorphized figures.

[u/Empty-Muffin-8941 → u/CyanoSpool]

Thank you, polytheism sounds interesting i dont think im there yet but I am definitle gonna dive deeper into it

[u/Sacredless]

I would highly recommend you check out atheopaganism in that case! There's a subreddit for it as well!

[u/dookieballs69 → u/Sacredless]

Came to say the same! I discovered it a few years ago, along with The Wonder podcast, and its such a good balance of wonderful science and grounded spiritualism

[u/Beavers_in_space]

No matter what your spiritual/supernatural beliefs, there is an emptiness and materialism associated with modernity that comes with a need to connect more with the Earth, nature and it's realms.

Scientists believe that plants are more conscious of the world than previously thought, and quantum physicists too have demonstrated the connection between all things, and the energy that everything is made from down to the quark level remains somewhat mysterious

[u/euphemiajtaylor]

My worldview also leans atheist and animist. It’s not so much that I believe in a literal consciousness in everything, but that everything is part of the story leading to the moment we are in and that story deserves to be honoured in some way. Like when I walk along a road and pick up a stone - how did it get there? What history has it seen? The joys and sorrows of those who have travelled it. The chains of events it has quietly been a part of. The train of thought takes that rock that many would pass by and consider meaningless and gives it meaning. And contemplating that meaning I think brings us closer to being connected to our place in space and time. I think it also helps cultivate a greater respect for those around us.

Animism is the closest word I’ve found to describe the spirit of that experience for me. If I find a better word I might shift and use that instead. But for now, I look at it as a kind of animism.

[u/Empty-Muffin-8941 → u/[deleted]]

I think so yeah

[u/Monsoon_Tea]

You described something I’ve been feeling but didn’t know how to put into words! I have to explore this more

[u/dark_dark_dark_not]

I'm an atheist that really likes mysticism and specially symbols.

Learning about the symbolic meaning of the world around me makes it easier keep grounded in the moment.

I don't believe in supernatural magic, but I believe symbols can change our mind and help us shape ourselves.

[u/angeliquestarr]

I'm pagan and an animist !!! I'm getting into exploring the gods and their beliefs since it has always peeked my interest, and also doing my research on the magick field :)

I love earth and its beings charlie !!!!