The sociology of religion is primarily concerned with the structure of religion within, and the effects of religion on, society. In the nineteenth century the sociology of religion concentrated on the beginnings and evolution of religion. These studies were influenced by the work of Charles Darwin.
Animism is defined as the belief in spirits.
Early philosophers developed the notion of the soul to answer these and other spiritual questions. The soul is thought of as a spirit being capable of leaving the body during dreams and finally at death. Naturism arose from the belief that nature is endowed with supernatural powers. This derived from people's experiences with nature. Nature contains many marvels, terrors and surprises, capable of instilling a sense of wonder and causing the abstraction of forces into personal agents or deities personifying natural forces.