--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no transcendent creator in…" description: "\"There is no transcendent creator in animism, no god who set the clocks ticking and decides which ones to fix when they falter; nothing exists outside o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a00/emma-restall-orr-45716_animism_there-is-no-transcendent-creator-in-anim_2414852.jpg" --- # There is no transcendent creator in animism, no god who… ![“There is no transcendent creator in animism, no god who set the clocks ticking and decides which ones to fix when they falter; nothing exists outside of nature. In other words, my philosophy does not require that I believe in something I cannot experience directly.” quote by Emma Restall Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a00/emma-restall-orr-45716_animism_there-is-no-transcendent-creator-in-anim_2414852.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a00/emma-restall-orr-45716_animism_there-is-no-transcendent-creator-in-anim_2414852.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a00/emma-restall-orr-45716_animism_there-is-no-transcendent-creator-in-anim_2414852.jpg) > “There is no transcendent creator in animism, no god who set the clocks ticking and decides which ones to fix when they falter; nothing exists outside of nature. In other words, my philosophy does not require that I believe in something I cannot experience directly.” [Emma Restall Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-restall-orr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that belief should be grounded in direct experience, rejecting unseen deities that control natural processes. **In simple terms:** Belief should be based on what we can directly experience. Key Takeaway Focus on observable reality. Themes empiricism skepticism nature philosophy Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical skeptical When to use this quote - personal belief formation - scientific inquiry - environmental ethics - spiritual practice Key Concepts Animism materialism ontology Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate between experience and intuition? - What role do myths play in human societies? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of symbolic or metaphorical meanings that unobservable concepts can provide. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animism/) [Animism God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animism-god-6092058/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) [Clock ticking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock-ticking/) [Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creator/) [Creator Animism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creator-animism-6092057/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [I believe in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe-in/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Transcendent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transcendent/) [Transcendent Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transcendent-creator-332012/) ## Related quotes > [ “Perhaps the most overpowering contrast \[with the West\] is the virtual absence in premodern China of the idea of a transcendent creator God who… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-elvin/perhaps-the-most-overpowering-contrast-with-the-west-is-the-virtual/) [Mark Elvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-elvin/) > [Animism is a monist metaphysical stance, based upon the idea that mind and matter are not distinct and separate substances but an integrated reality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-restall-orr/animism-is-a-monist-metaphysical-stance-based-upon-the-idea-that-mind/) [Emma Restall Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-restall-orr/) > [“There are Tantrics who deliberately seek to do more active forms of renunciation, so transgression of social norms and breaking of taboo, and breaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/there-are-tantrics-who-deliberately-seek-to-do-more-active-forms-of/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“Zeena Schreck is a Berlin-based interdisciplinary artist, author, musician/composer, tantric teacher, mystic, animal rights activist, and counter-culture icon known by her mononymous artist name,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/zeena-schreck-is-a-berlin-based-interdisciplinary-artist-author/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“The demons of animism were usually hostile to man, but it seems as though man had more confidence in himself in those days than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/the-demons-of-animism-were-usually-hostile-to-man-but-it-seems-as/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [“We are the most open-feeling that we can be, when we can no longer be as we are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/we-are-the-most-open-feeling-that-we-can-be-when-we-can-no-longer-be/) [S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/) > [“It is a well known fact that even among highly cultured peoples the belief in animism prevails generally. Even the scholar may kick the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-estil-cunningham/it-is-a-well-known-fact-that-even-among-highly-cultured-peoples-the/) [Holly Estil Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-estil-cunningham/) > [“All Things are in constant relationship, and shamanic journey is the choice to put one’s self in direct contact and concert with that relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/all-things-are-in-constant-relationship-and-shamanic-journey-is-the/) [S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/) > [“In the end, bless the darkness, hold the light, because the two aren't divisible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/in-the-end-bless-the-darkness-hold-the-light-because-the-two-aren-t/) [S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/) > [Animism is not a belief system, but a worldview: The world is a sacred place and we are part of it. The factuality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/animism-is-not-a-belief-system-but-a-worldview-the-world-is-a-sacred/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) > [“But this is not to say that a highly specialized body of belief such as that associated with Faerie is not capable of subsidiary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/but-this-is-not-to-say-that-a-highly-specialized-body-of-belief-such/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“The reality is, it takes daily cultivation of a spiritual path, preferably with spiritual kin in proximity, to sustain not the feeling of elation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/the-reality-is-it-takes-daily-cultivation-of-a-spiritual-path/) [S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/) > [Increasing numbers of Pagans are identifying themselves as animists or naming their worldview as animism. Some Pagans use the term animism to refer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-harvey/increasing-numbers-of-pagans-are-identifying-themselves-as-animists/) [Graham Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-harvey/) > [“...our philosophy has preserved essential traits of animistic modes of thought such as the over-estimation of the magic of words and the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/our-philosophy-has-preserved-essential-traits-of-animistic-modes-of/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [“People forget that humans are animals too, that we're just as much a part of the wild places as the things that live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-h-o-neil-2/people-forget-that-humans-are-animals-too-that-we-re-just-as-much-a/) [Vincent H. O Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-h-o-neil-2/) ## More by Emma Restall Orr > [If you submit to the ocean, you drown. If you try to control the ocean, then you're deluded. You learn how to live with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-restall-orr/if-you-submit-to-the-ocean-you-drown-if-you-try-to-control-the-ocean/) [Emma Restall Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-restall-orr/) > [“The important element is the way in which all things are connected. Every thought and action sends shivers of energy into the world around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-restall-orr/the-important-element-is-the-way-in-which-all-things-are-connected/) [Emma Restall Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-restall-orr/) > [There are no facts, only stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-restall-orr/there-are-no-facts-only-stories/) [Emma Restall Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-restall-orr/) > [“Not a squalid den of demons and indecency at the back of a beautiful great house, the mind is a vast and ancient wood,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-restall-orr/not-a-squalid-den-of-demons-and-indecency-at-the-back-of-a-beautiful/) [Emma Restall Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-restall-orr/) > [“As the incorporation of every moment of its experience, every influence of its contextual heritage and environment, a soul is the presence of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-restall-orr/as-the-incorporation-of-every-moment-of-its-experience-every/) [Emma Restall Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-restall-orr/) > [The way we see the world is not actually the world in itself. What we see is our idea of it. The truth is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-restall-orr/the-way-we-see-the-world-is-not-actually-the-world-in-itself-what-we/) [Emma Restall Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-restall-orr/) > [All that is obvious detracts completely from all that is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-restall-orr/all-that-is-obvious-detracts-completely-from-all-that-is-not/) [Emma Restall Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-restall-orr/) > [Animism is a monist metaphysical stance, based upon the idea that mind and matter are not distinct and separate substances but an integrated reality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-restall-orr/animism-is-a-monist-metaphysical-stance-based-upon-the-idea-that-mind/) [Emma Restall Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-restall-orr/) [Explore all 9 Emma Restall Orr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-restall-orr/) ## More Animism quotes > [“People forget that humans are animals too, that we're just as much a part of the wild places as the things that live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-h-o-neil-2/people-forget-that-humans-are-animals-too-that-we-re-just-as-much-a/) [Vincent H. O Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-h-o-neil-2/) > [“...our philosophy has preserved essential traits of animistic modes of thought such as the over-estimation of the magic of words and the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/our-philosophy-has-preserved-essential-traits-of-animistic-modes-of/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [Increasing numbers of Pagans are identifying themselves as animists or naming their worldview as animism. Some Pagans use the term animism to refer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-harvey/increasing-numbers-of-pagans-are-identifying-themselves-as-animists/) [Graham Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-harvey/) > [“The reality is, it takes daily cultivation of a spiritual path, preferably with spiritual kin in proximity, to sustain not the feeling of elation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/the-reality-is-it-takes-daily-cultivation-of-a-spiritual-path/) [S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/) > [“But this is not to say that a highly specialized body of belief such as that associated with Faerie is not capable of subsidiary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/but-this-is-not-to-say-that-a-highly-specialized-body-of-belief-such/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [Animism is not a belief system, but a worldview: The world is a sacred place and we are part of it. The factuality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/animism-is-not-a-belief-system-but-a-worldview-the-world-is-a-sacred/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) > [“In the end, bless the darkness, hold the light, because the two aren't divisible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/in-the-end-bless-the-darkness-hold-the-light-because-the-two-aren-t/) [S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/) > [“All Things are in constant relationship, and shamanic journey is the choice to put one’s self in direct contact and concert with that relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/all-things-are-in-constant-relationship-and-shamanic-journey-is-the/) [S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/) > [“It is a well known fact that even among highly cultured peoples the belief in animism prevails generally. Even the scholar may kick the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-estil-cunningham/it-is-a-well-known-fact-that-even-among-highly-cultured-peoples-the/) [Holly Estil Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-estil-cunningham/) > [“We are the most open-feeling that we can be, when we can no longer be as we are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/we-are-the-most-open-feeling-that-we-can-be-when-we-can-no-longer-be/) [S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/) > [“The demons of animism were usually hostile to man, but it seems as though man had more confidence in himself in those days than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/the-demons-of-animism-were-usually-hostile-to-man-but-it-seems-as/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [“Zeena Schreck is a Berlin-based interdisciplinary artist, author, musician/composer, tantric teacher, mystic, animal rights activist, and counter-culture icon known by her mononymous artist name,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/zeena-schreck-is-a-berlin-based-interdisciplinary-artist-author/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“There are Tantrics who deliberately seek to do more active forms of renunciation, so transgression of social norms and breaking of taboo, and breaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/there-are-tantrics-who-deliberately-seek-to-do-more-active-forms-of/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“Children arrive animists. They learn about life, themselves, and empathy by imagining the liveliness of everything they come into contact with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/children-arrive-animists-they-learn-about-life-themselves-and-empathy/) [S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/) > [“All the major world religions (always excluding animism, of course), are founded on these notions: that man and man alone was the desired object…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/all-the-major-world-religions-always-excluding-animism-of-course-are/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) [Browse all 41 Animism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is no transcendent creator in animism, no god who set the clocks ticking and decides which ones to fix when they falter; nothing exists outside of nature. 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