Includes bibliographical references (pages 521-559) and index.

Animism is an important part of many religions - from Shinto, Hindui sm and Buddhism to Paganism and a range of indigenous religions - which connects the spiritual and material and holds that humans might not be unique in possessing souls or in being intentional agents. Over recent decades, research into animism has broadened its scope to consider, at one end, the vibrant roles of objects in human lives and, at the other , the possible similarities between humans and other species. "The Hand book of Contemporary Animism" brings together an international team of scholars to examine the full range of animist worldviews and practices. The Handbook opens with an examination of recent approaches to animism . This is followed by evaluations of ethnographic, cognitive, literary, performative, and material culture approaches as well as advances in a ctivist and indigenous thinking about animism. "The Handbook of Contemp orary Animism" invites readers to think creatively and critically about the world around us and will be invaluable to students and scholars of Religion, Sociology and Anthropology.