Week 4: Spirits, Spirits Everywhere

Week 4: Spirits, Spirits Everywhere: Animism and Modern Interpretations
ASA 189B
Franchesca Flores

Photo from “Joe Bauman: Thoughts About Depth and Vastness of Space.” by Joe Bauman, 2019

It’s always refreshing to read an article that reflects how, I too, feel about the topic of spirituality, especially in the area of science. “’We Are Not Alone’ The Shamans of the World Tell Us,” by The Scientific & Medical Network, explains why science should expand their vision to seek non-scientific alternatives in order to heal people with mental and physical problems. The authors explain that intelligence is all around us, in plants, animals, and the universe itself. Shamanism are people who are specialists that are skilled to communicate with the natural word and spirits around us. Shamans focus on the vision of the ancestors, who are always around us in spirit, and with their guidance they can direct us towards our faith and healing. When one is able to recognize the humanity and wisdom that the Earth contains, then one can truly be in touch with its wisdom and knowledge throughout one's life. 

I cannot emphasize how much this article resonated with me, therefore I want to bring forward two quotes that I feel stuck with me the most. The first being, “…if sapiens (wisdom) is not exclusive to homo (humanity) – then could it be that the fate of the Earth is not exclusively or even primarily in our hands?” The scientific name for humans is homosapiens, and for it to be broken down into terms that question our purpose as a whole, is itself, mind-blowing. In addition, Stephen Hawking states his perspective about science as a construct stating, “…Science is a simplification of the universes, which in its unfathomable vastness is always threating to overwhelm the limited capacity of the human organism to comprehend.” With this I want to ask, what are some ideas that you have about science, the world, or universe that are plausible, but unplausible to science?