Animism is an important part of many religions - from Shinto, Hinduism 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 Handbook 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