Sensible Animism - Evan Fales (The University of Iowa - USA)

Not uncommonly, modern reflection on “primitive” tribal religions (sometimes labelled ‘animist’) has concluded that, in one way or another, such religions are grounded in irrational cognitive processes, in contrast to the sophisticated thought that characterizes the theologies of advanced religions. Is this a fair judgment? Or does it reflect a fundamental failure to grasp the ontological underpinnings of primitive theologies? I argue for the latter, and that a different approach suggests not only rational but sophisticated thinking. My argument proceeds, from a strong principle of interpretive charity and analysis of the ontology of social realities, to this proposal.