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Fetishism vs Totemism - What's the difference?

fetishism | totemism |

As nouns the difference between fetishism and totemism

is that fetishism is the belief that natural objects have supernatural powers, or that something created by people has power over people while totemism is the belief that a person or group has a special mystical relationship to a totem.

fetishism

English

Alternative forms

* fetichism (archaic);

Noun

  • the belief that natural objects have supernatural powers, or that something created by people has power over people.
  • a form of paraphilia where the object of attraction is an inanimate object or a part of a person's body.

    • See also

    * * English words suffixed with -ism

    totemism

    English

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • (religion) The belief that a person or group has a special mystical relationship to a totem
  • *{{quote-book, year=1883, author=R. Heber Newton, title=The Right and Wrong Uses of the Bible, chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=This is the common story of superstition, from the totemism of savage tribes and the image-worship of semi-civilized peoples on to the heathenism of the Mass. }}
  • * {{quote-news, year=1995, date=July 21, author=Sarah Bryan Miller, title=What's New in Ancient Egypt, work=Chicago Reader citation
    • , passage=Although you see some representations of animals or gods in the form of animals, there's really no totemism or animism in Egyptian religion. }}
  • *{{quote-news, year=2007, date=May 18, author=Martha Schwendener, title=Proof That Things Are People Too (Well, Almost), work=New York Times citation
    • , passage=“The Happiness of Objects” doesn’t make it easy on the viewer. Mr. Mitchell’s book is, after all, an academic tome (though quite readable) that delves into complex discussions of everything from pictures, objects and materials to their relationship with totemism , fetishism and idolatry. }}

    Related terms

    *totemistic