What is fetishism, and what are its modern manifestations?

If a fetish is a sacred object, a being, a phenomenon, then fetishism is the worship of a fetish. It is clear, but too simplistic, and therefore - primitive. Unsuscussed in this issue, the average man of the early 21st century, who has a well-developed cultural and historical horizon, fetishism is a completely modern phenomenon. And it is expressed for him at best in the worship of idols (show stars, politicians) and material goods (commodity brands, luxury goods). But most likely to the question of what fetishism is, you will hear about sexual deviations, when the object of lust, adoration, worship becomes clothes, shoes and other things of a loved one.

Fetishism as a rite of service

In fact, man began to worship objects, elements, creatures from the very moment of his appearance on earth. But despite such a long history, scientists did not come to a common understanding of what fetishism is. Austrian W. Schmidt, a recognized ethnographer and theologian, is sure that for the early beliefs it was characteristic not of polytheism, as is commonly believed, but monotheism. That is, there was one God and one religion. Fetishism was not a religion, but a magical means of expression, along with totemism and animism. Logically, it turns out that first there was religion, then fetishism - as a necessary rite of service. Most scholars do not agree with this, and contrasts Schmidt's theory with a reasonable counterargument: the assumption of original monotheism automatically becomes a denial of the evolution of religions. But their history testifies to the evolution from polytheism (polytheism) to monotheism (monotheism).

At first there was a fetishism. Or totemism?

Otherwise it explains what fetishism is, the Frenchman de Bros. As a historian of religion, who studies this question for a long time, Bros considers fetishism not a magical means of expressing religion, but the most ancient form of religion itself. Other scientists (Fraser, Durkheim) do not consider fetishism the oldest form of belief. Totemism, in their opinion, more suits this definition. There are also those who suggest animism for this role. This concludes with scientific excursions, especially since there is no single point of view for science. While scientists have not developed it, we will draw conclusions on the ideas that have developed in the society today about fetishes and totems.

Totems in Africa live

Totems are in all nations. This is some sacred animal, bird, tree, stone, which are considered patrons of the family and even its ancestors. But unlike fetishes, the totems retained their importance only in isolated tribes of Africa, Australia, and the North. Although in large African cities, so far faith in ancestral animals remains. On their squares tourists often observe ritual dances performed by aborigines in masks of animals. As for European culture, totemic animals live only in myths and in cultural, but not religious consciousness of people. For Italians, for example, the myth about the founders of Rome is a myth and remains - no one seriously considers himself a descendant of the wolf Eggs.

Fetishism, fanaticism and lust

But the fetishes in the modern world have received almost the greatest spread, than in antiquity. And it's not even about getting involved with all sorts of miraculous talismans, incense and amulets, which are offered at a decent price by plentifully growing mages, healers and astrologers. Modern society personifies, gives supernatural properties to things that they also produced. There was a new "religion of sensual lust" (K. Marks), the main feature of which - zabablennost objects. Perhaps this will be the most correct definition of what fetishism is today. People almost pray for prestigious cars, jewelry, mediocre smashing of some fashionable "genius". But the most vivid manifestation of modern fetishism is the worship of idols. Fans are the real fetishists.