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Definition of Shamanism
1. Noun. Any animistic religion similar to Asian shamanism (especially as practiced by certain Native American tribes).
Geographical relationships: America, The States, U.s., U.s.a., United States, United States Of America, Us, Usa
Derivative terms: Shamanistic
2. Noun. An animistic religion of northern Asia having the belief that the mediation between the visible and the spirit worlds is effected by shamans.
Generic synonyms: Faith, Religion, Religious Belief
Derivative terms: Shamanistic
Definition of Shamanism
1. n. The type of religion which once prevalied among all the Ural-Altaic peoples (Tungusic, Mongol, and Turkish), and which still survives in various parts of Northern Asia. The Shaman, or wizard priest, deals with good as well as with evil spirits, especially the good spirits of ancestors.
Definition of Shamanism
1. [n -S]
Medical Definition of Shamanism
1. An intermediate stage between polytheism and monotheism, which assumes a "great spirit", with lesser deities subordinated. With the beginnings of shamanism there was the advent of the medicine man or witch doctor, who assumed a supervisory relation to disease and its cure. Formally, shamanism is a religion of ural-altaic peoples of northern asia and europe, characterised by the belief that the unseen world of gods, demons, ancestral spirits is responsive only to shamans. The indians of north and south america entertain religious practices similar to the ural-altaic shamanism. The word shaman comes from the tungusic (manchuria and siberia) saman, meaning buddhist monk. The shaman handles disease almost entirely by psychotherapeutic means; he frightens away the demons of disease by assuming a terrifying mien. (12 Dec 1998)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Shamanism
Other Resources:
Arabic