INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL VIEW ON TOTEMS, SYMBOLISM AND IDOLATRY

INTRODUCTION

The concept of totems is deeply rooted in various traditions around the world. A totem is typically an animal or object believed to possess spiritual significance and is often associated with a particular group or individual. 

Totems are revered in some cultures for their spiritual or symbolic significance. Hardly a day goes by without someone (both Christians and non Christians) posting an argument on Facebook in support of or against the use of totems. 

Those who are for totems limit their meaning to mere symbols while those who are against the practice of totems attach it to a deeper spiritual meaning and idolatry. The concept of totemism is not directly addressed in the Bible, but it is essential for Christians to understand how their faith relates to such practices. 

While totems have their place in traditional practices, it is essential to examine them in light of biblical teachings. 

In this teaching, we will explore totems, symbolism, and the dangers of idolatry, basing on biblical principles and teachings.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is a thorough and unbiased research on the Christian perspective and biblical teachings. It is NOT a reflection of personal opinions or denominational preferences. 

My goal is not to join the debate Italian totems and take a side against the other, but it is to provide a balanced that important help the reader to come to an informed conclusion. 

It is important to approach this subject with an open mind and evaluate different viewpoints on the merit of Scriptural truth without taking sides or personal offense.

WHAT ARE TOTEMS?

First we must understand what a totem is and then see how it relates to the bible. According to ‘Wikipedia’ a totem is a spirit being, sacred object, or symbol that serves as an emblem of a group of people, such as a family, clan, lineage, or tribe. 

Totemism is “belief in kinship with or a mystical relationship between a group or an individual and a totem” (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/totemism).

The Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus define the word mystic as “having beyond normal human understanding or magical.” The same thesaurus says the word mystical is synonymous with occult, cabbalistic, and dark.

Totems refer to symbolic representations of various things, such as animals, elements, or objects that hold significance for individuals or groups. These symbols can carry cultural, spiritual, or personal meaning and may be used for identification, connection to nature, or as a source of inspiration. 

In many indigenous traditions, totems are spiritual symbols or objects that are associated with a particular group, clan, family, or individual. These totems are believed to embody or represent a particular animal, plant, or natural element, and they are often considered sacred. They can serve as guides, protectors, or sources of inspiration and strength to the people associated with them. 

In the African traditional religion, totems are said to represent aspects of an individual's personality, values, or aspirations based on their ancestral roots. In that context totems serve as symbolic significance spiritual guides for personal growth and self-discovery. 

Even in psychology, a totem is a personal or collective symbol that holds deep meaning and significance. 

 

THE ORIGIN OF TOTEMS

The origin of totems is a complex and multifaceted topic, as they have existed in various forms and have different origins depending on the specific cultural context. 

Totems have a long history in indigenous traditions around the world, particularly in North America, Australia, and parts of Africa. These communities have rich traditions and belief systems that incorporate totems as spiritual symbols and guides. 

The exact origins of totems in these cultures are deeply rooted in their mythology, creation stories, and ancestral practices, which often date back thousands of years. The concept of totems can be traced back to animism, which is one of the earliest known belief systems. 

Animism is the belief that all things, including animals, plants, and natural elements, possess a spiritual essence or soul. Totems, in this context, represent the connection between humans and the natural world, and they serve as a means to honor and communicate with the spiritual realm. 

Shamanic traditions, found in various traditions worldwide, also incorporate the use of totems. Shamans are spiritual practitioners who mediate between the physical and spiritual realms. 

Totems play a significant role in shamanic practices, as they are believed to provide guidance, protection, and access to spiritual powers. Shamans may connect with their personal totems during rituals, ceremonies, or trance-like states.

The word totem itself is an English version of the Ojibwe term 'doodem’ both as the word and beliefs associated with it. Ojibwe is an indigenous language of North America of the Algonquian language family. 

Belief in tuterary spirits (or spirit guides) and deities is not limited to the Ojibwe people. Modern neoshamanic, New Age, and mythopoetic men's movements not otherwise involved in the practice of a traditional, tribal religion have been known to use totems for personal identification with a tutelary spirit. 

A tutelary is a god or spirit who is a guardian, patron, or protector of a particular place, geographic feature, person, family lineage (Shona 'dzinza'), nation, culture, or occupation. From a very tender age members of the community were taught the material and spiritual value of trees, forests, animals, water, snakes, birds and all other natural resources. 

As a result indiscriminate mowing down of trees, for example, was taboo. Some trees like the mutavhatsindi that is found in the Mutale area of the Vhembe district of the Limpopo Province, were sacred. It is the sacred nature and the curative qualities embedded in the tree that became known as the cultural foundation of and spiritual source of strength for the Vhatavhatsindi clan. 

It is also under its protective shade that clans gathered to invoke that ancestors intercede on their behalf for rain and other needs from Nwali (The supreme one). Some of the trees that are totems for particular clans are so valued and sacred that it was taboo to even think of cutting them down.

 

TOTEMS IN ZIMBABWE

In Shona tradition, people are understood to be more than the sum of their physical parts. The spiritual makeup of people is manifested through totems (revered animals) that expand one’s identity to include background, behaviour and way of thinking. Totems expand the range of a person’s identity to the spiritual through revered animals. 

Certain species of natural vegetation and wildlife are revered because they are believed to be hosts of spiritual forces. As such, beyond instrumental value, certain animals have significant value because of their spiritual significance as totems. 

A totem animal then forms part of one’s identity setting and is aligned to behaviour, attitude, and way of thinking. For example, amongst the Ndebele and Shona people, sexual relationships and marriages are strictly prohibited between men and women who have the same totem because they are seen as related.

 

Totems were assigned to different members of the Shona people by their leaders after they had entered into covenant with tutelary spirits or gods on behalf their families in pursuit of identity, freedom and success. 

Many Shona groups have elaborate praise poems for their totems which reflect the background to adoption of the particular totem. The Shona people did not only show respect to their ancestors and elders through totems, they worshipped them by way of praise names (zvidawo) and praise poems (nhetembo). 

When, for example, a member of such a clan has done something worthy to be praised people, usually the Tete (paternal aunt) invokes the spirit world of the clan through totemic praise.

 

Zimbabwean powerful ancestors were represented by the majestic mhondoro/lion spirit, which possessed mediums tasked with complex tasks. 

One such powerful spirit was the spirit of Nehanda (‘a lioness with cubs’), which only possessed female mediums and only those of the mhofu/eland totem. Her spirit possessed those who were most respected and had leadership skills and qualities. 

A woman who became Nehanda’s spirit medium remained single and was immediately bestowed the spirit name, Mbuya Nehanda. 

When Europeans first arrived in Zimbabwe, Nehanda’s spirit medium was a woman by the name of Nyakasikana (a little girl), whose spiritual leadership spanned the entire region of Zimbabwe. 

Coexisting with Mbuya Nehanda Nyakasikana’s mediumship, another great regional mhondoro spirit medium Kaguvi, possessed a man named Gumboreshumba (lion’s foot), who became known as Sekuru Kaguvi.

(Continued in Part Two [SYMBOLISM IN THE BIBLE VERSUS TOTEMS] in the link below...)

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