How can you distinguish the difference between animism,paganism and "folk religion"?

[sidetrack]

When I think of missionaries centuries ago trying to convert indigenous populations I guess one of the first things that came to mind when they saw indigenous people worshipping is that they are practising a pagan religion.I guess some people might still say the say same thing.Yet now if a indigenous group (ex.a Native tribe in the Amazon) were being studied by say an anthropologist they might classify those people’s beliefs as animistic (the belief that even non-human things are spiritual or represent some kind of life principle in some way).I can see that this might have ties to pantheism and panentheism.Can someone explain to me though the differences between paganism and animism espeically when a belief system is followed by indigenous people?.Thank you very much so for your time.

 

[Pieman333272]

Animism is an aspect of many religions. It is the belief that all things have souls, and is apparent in, again, many religions.

Paganism, is, in the broadest sense, any non-Abrahamic religion. In the strictest sense, it is only the indigenous religions of Europe where animism, shamanism, and polytheism are practiced.

Folk religion is ethical customs or beliefs but usually are not organized strictly in the sense of other religions.

 

[Contarini]

When I think of missionaries centuries ago trying to convert indigenous populations I guess one of the first things that came to mind when they saw indigenous people worshipping is that they are practising a pagan religion.I guess some people might still say the say same thing.Yet now if a indigenous group (ex.a Native tribe in the Amazon) were being studied by say an anthropologist they might classify those people’s beliefs as animistic (the belief that even non-human things are spiritual or represent some kind of life principle in some way).I can see that this might have ties to pantheism and panentheism.Can someone explain to me though the differences between paganism and animism espeically when a belief system is followed by indigenous people?.Thank you very much so for your time.

Paganism is often considered a pejorative term, though these days it’s been embraced by “neo-pagans.” Paganism, in my definition, covers polytheistic/traditional religions–i.e., religions that have grown up over the centuries without any particular founder, and which acknowledge many objects of worship. Animism is then a particular form of paganism, in which the objects of worship are seen as the animating spirits of physical objects. (Other possible objects of worship would be anthropomorphic deities who are clearly separate from nature–though in my opinion most forms of polytheism have a strong element of animism.)

I’m not sure why you assume that animism and paganism are two separate things.