The belief that good spirits bring health and evil spirits cause illness is known as which concept?

• A. Animism
• B. Shamanism
• C. Totemism
• D. Polytheism

Answer: (A)

Animism is the belief that spirits inhabit and influence elements of the natural world, including health and illness. In this view, good spirits can bring health while evil or offended spirits cause sickness, so outcomes in health aren’t seen as purely biological but as expressions of spiritual activity. Healing often involves rituals to appease or placate the spirits and restore balance. This differs from polytheism, which centers on worship of many gods; shamanism focuses on practitioners who interact with spirits to heal, while animism is about the broader idea that spirits animate nature and affect well-being.