The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

IV. Primitive Animism—Universe Vast Battleground of Spirits

There is one more angle. For a full-rounded picture, before going on to coming events let us advert briefly to primitive animism, which was unquestionably a form of ancient Spiritism. It is essential to have this background that we may understand the contemporary pagan aspect of Spiritualism, which is to play its part in future developments. Animism has held that all nature is consciously indwelt by soul or spirit. This crude concept was widespread among many ancient heathen peoples, but was rather more of a philosophy than a religion. These early pagan groups were deeply exercised over the difference between a living body and a dead one. They were concerned over what causes our waking, sleeping, trances, diseases, and death. They also wanted to know what those apparitions are that appear in dreams and visions. CFF2 1212.1

The animists regarded “soul” as the vitalizing principle of the universe. The primitive pagan conceived of the ghostsoul as leaving one individual and entering into another person, or animal, or even an inanimate object. He also believed in the transmigration of the souls of the dead, which continue to exist in a separate state. ⁶⁶ Animism was definitely a crude form of Spiritism, and still exists among certain pagan peoples today. CFF2 1213.1

1. DEMONS UNDER MASTER SPIRIT-SATAN

To the animist the world and its surrounding atmosphere is a vast battleground for good and evil spirits, with all spirits ranged under either a supreme good god or an equally powerful evil entity seeking to frustrate the purpose of the good. This concept reached its highest development under the dualistic concept of Persia. It even appeared among certain Grecian and Roman writers. Demonism thus formed a definite part of ancient heathen religion and worship. CFF2 1213.2

Such a concept of demonism has characterized the centuries-demons operating under their master spirit, Satan. There were believed to be multitudes of such evil spirits, capable of bringing good or ill to pass. They were usually tied in with the notion of the ghosts of the dead influencing the living, sometimes including the worship of ancestors, and at times even animal worship. CFF2 1213.3

2. VARIANT FORMS WIDESPREAD OVER THE CENTURIES

This concept was found in varying forms among the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians. It was especially pronounced in pagan Africa, China, and India. ⁶⁷ These demons either Possessed, or obsessed, their victims. This in turn called for exorcism, which became a paralleling characteristic. CFF2 1213.4

The animist theory was also often tied in with the notion of familiar spirits likewise operating under the control of their master spirit, Satan. This was even found in varying forms among the later Celts and Teutons as well as among certain Slavonic peoples. Even in Moslem countries there were the Jinn, of similar concept. CFF2 1213.5

3. MEDIEVAL SATANISM-COMPACTS WITH THE DEVIL

Many are the records of actual medieval compacts with the devil (a pact satanica), sometimes written in blood, by which a person gave away his soul to Satan in exchange for wisdom, power, wealth, or other gratification to be enjoyed for a specified time. Satanism still persisted in the Middle Ages, with malevolent fiends allegedly more powerful than the forces of good. It had its notorious “Black Mass” and its blasphemous “Black Credo,” but it was actually a survival of early demon worship. It is said to have continued under cover, in pockets, up to and including modern times and in various lands. ⁶⁸ CFF2 1214.1

4. DEMON POSSESSION IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES

As we have already seen, the demonology of Biblical times involved demon possession by denizens of the unseen world. They were evil entities, belonging to the kingdom of Satan, whose power it was the mission of Christ to destroy and thus to free its victims. The Gospels are replete with accounts of the release of such victims from Satan’s power. ⁶⁹ Such is the picture of this older yet persisting form of Spiritism. Spiritism in the raw was very real. CFF2 1214.2