Animism

Talking Birds

The founder of Therapeutic Touch incorporates the practice of Animism into her alternative therapy. Animism is the practice of communicating with inanimate objects such as plants and trees, rocks, water and mountains, as well as animals, fish and birds.  One of the founders of Therapeutic Touch openly admits that she regularly consults with trees and seeks their advice.

Animism is an ancient religion rooted in the cultures of the American Indian and Central Africa. Many American Indian tribes believed that all things have a spirit. They offered prayer to the four elements, had holy sights where they worshiped mountains, rivers and other natural formations. They immersed themselves in contacting animal spirits and taking on their characteristics. They went so far as to name their offspring after the spirits of particular animals. They assumed names like "Running Deer", Big Bear" and "Flying Eagle". Religious ceremonies were replete with animistic methods of worship.

African culture is similar. To many Africans, animism is a way of life. To illustrate this, I want to share about a long talk I had with a close friend of mine from Ghana. He grew up in a pagan household but later became a Christian and a missionary. Nii shared with me about his family's practice of animism as he grew up. As a boy, he visited his grandparents on a regular basis. Just outside of the front door of their house, they had totems of their familial gods. Nii remembers one of these gods in particular. It was made in the shape of a bird. He related that whenever he walked by this god, it would talk to him. This was not just an inner voice, but an actual vocal manifestation. With time, he was able to communicate with this "bird", ask it questions and seek its advice. Eventually, his grandparents became Christians and destroyed all of their family gods.

Touch therapists are encouraged to consult the spirits of inanimate objects, to ask questions and gain insight and guidance in their healing practices. We may ask ourselves how anyone in our technologically astute age believe and practice such ancient and foreign religious ideas? It is because, the occult fascinates us. The occult taps into real spiritual power, but the power they embrace is the power of the demonic. Deuteronomy 18:19,20 prohibits Christians from becoming involved in anything that smacks of such religious ideas. Animism is antithetical to the God of the Bible. He calls it an "abomination" and states that all who practice it are "worthy of death". God condemns any practice which circumvents His power and fails to acknowledge that He is God.

Touch therapies embrace occult practices such as animism and encourages their followers to do the same. Those who receive alternative medical treatments from these practitioners, open the floodgate and expose themselves to the dangers of the Enemy. 1 John says that, "God is Light and in Him no there is no Darkness". Christians are children of the Light. Let us walk in the Light, even as He is in the Light.