#Animism

A sweeping new study by Pew Research Center finds that the United States stands out for its high religious identity and spiritual beliefs compared to other wealthy nations, revealing patterns that illuminate both global diversity and unique features of American private faith.

For Thai readers keen to understand both their position in a changing world and evolving global values, this research sheds light on how different societies experience religion and spirituality in daily life. With the survey encompassing 36 countries representing nearly half the world’s population, Thailand gains insight into international religious and spiritual trends that may shape local views, policy, and social debate.

Before the rise of Buddhism in ancient India during the 6th century BCE, the Indian subcontinent was a cradle for diverse and influential belief systems that profoundly shaped the later development of both Buddhism and other religious philosophies. Understanding these ancient beliefs not only offers important context for the emergence of Buddhism, but also provides insight into the spiritual and societal values that continue to impact Thai culture today.

In the period preceding Buddhism, society in ancient India was deeply rooted in animistic and polytheistic practices that revolved around the reverence of nature, ancestral spirits, and a pantheon of deities both malevolent and benevolent. Evidence suggests that the beliefs of the Indus Valley Civilization (circa 2600–1900 BCE) included forms of animism and fertility worship, but it was the Aryan migration into northern India that introduced and elaborated upon Vedic traditions—the spiritual backbone of pre-Buddhist Indian society (kasmonblog.wordpress.com).