Nature worship and Animism

Nature Worship a system of religion based on the deification and worship of natural forces and phenomena. Nature worship is often considered the primitive source of modern religious beliefs.

Animism is the belief that all natural phenomena, including human beings, animals, and plants, but also rocks, lakes, mountains, weather, and so on, share one vital quality—the soul or spirit that energizes them.

Tree and Plant Worship

The origin of plant worship was built on a solid foundation of human belief in the unknown powers of nature. The powerful support of nature for human life made plant worship a natural consequence. Plant worship was also a very important aspect of nature worship. Under the concept of animism, trees, flowers and plants were given some kind of spiritual and divine power, and in places like deep wells and old trees there were often spirits in them. In the totem worship of primitive societies, some tribes worshipped certain trees and flowers as being related to their own origins. Trees are often considered to be places where spirits are attached, and those that are tall and luxuriant, thick and old, and of strange shapes, are worshipped with a certain mystery. Trees and groves have been objects of worship through many centuries and many cultures. It has been believed that trees contain sacred energy and represented gods and goddesses of pagan religions.

Common features of plant worship cultures around the world: (1) the use of plants to make idols of various gods and spirits (2) the use of plants as the main offerings in religious activities (3) the belief in the function of plants to ward off evil spirits; (4) the use of plants as a vehicle for national culture.