Do Shamans Believe in God? THE TRUTH About Their Beliefs

Shamanism is one of the oldest spiritual practices in human history, dating back tens of thousands of years. Found across cultures from Siberia to the Amazon, Mongolia to North America, it represents a deep-rooted human effort to connect with the sacred, heal the sick, and make sense of the unseen forces shaping life. But when it comes to a central question—do shamans believe in God?—the answer is not straightforward. Unlike monotheistic religions, which typically affirm the existence of a single, all-powerful deity, shamanic traditions often engage with a complex spiritual ecosystem. So while some shamans may believe in a "God" of sorts, many understand the divine in ways that differ from conventional religious frameworks.

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Understanding Shamanism

Shamanism is not a religion in the way Christianity, Islam, or Hinduism are. Instead, it is a spiritual practice or worldview centered around direct experiences with spirits, nature, and altered states of consciousness. The term "shaman" comes from the Tungusic word šamán, used by indigenous Siberian peoples to refer to a person who enters trance states to interact with the spirit world on behalf of others.

Shamans are often seen as mediators between the physical and spiritual worlds. Through drumming, chanting, fasting, or consuming entheogenic (vision-inducing) plants, they access non-ordinary realities to gain knowledge, perform healings, retrieve lost souls, or guide the dead. Because shamanism is deeply tied to specific cultures and landscapes, beliefs and cosmologies vary widely across the globe.

The Concept of God in Shamanism

To answer whether shamans believe in God, we must first define what we mean by "God." In Abrahamic traditions, God is usually a singular, omniscient, omnipotent creator. In many forms of shamanism, however, divinity is not centralized in this way. Instead, the sacred may be understood as dispersed throughout nature, ancestral spirits, animals, plants, and the cosmos itself.

Polytheism and Animism

Many shamanic cultures are polytheistic or animistic:

• Animism is the belief that all things—trees, rivers, rocks, animals—possess a spirit or consciousness.

• Polytheism acknowledges multiple gods or spirit beings with specific roles, domains, or powers.

For example, the Yupik people of Alaska believe in spirits inhabiting all elements of nature, while Mongolian shamans call upon sky spirits (Tengri), ancestral deities, and mountain spirits. Amazonian shamans often communicate with plant spirits like those of ayahuasca, which are revered as intelligent beings capable of teaching and healing.

Rather than a single God ruling over all, these systems reflect a decentralized spiritual cosmology—a world infused with countless sacred presences, each with its own personality, purpose, and wisdom.

The Great Spirit or Sky God

Some shamanic cultures do have a concept that resembles a supreme deity. For example:

• Among many Native American tribes, there is belief in the Great Spirit (Wakan Tanka or Gitche Manitou), often described as the Creator or universal life force.

• Tengrism, a Central Asian belief system with shamanic elements, worships Tengri, the sky god, as the highest deity overseeing the universe.

In these cases, the idea of a singular, overarching divine force does exist, but it is typically understood differently than the personal God of monotheism. Tengri, for instance, is not always directly worshiped through prayer but is honored as a cosmic principle guiding life and nature.

Direct Experience Over Doctrine

A key distinction between shamanic and monotheistic understandings of the divine lies in the role of personal experience. Shamans do not rely on scriptures or dogma to define their spiritual worldview. Instead, their knowledge comes from direct encounters—visions, dreams, rituals, journeys into other realms.

Because of this experiential approach, some shamans might describe meeting a "godlike" being or receiving messages from a divine presence. Others may never use the term "God" at all, preferring to speak of spirit allies, ancestors, or natural forces. In this way, the concept of God is fluid, shaped by individual journeys and cultural context.

Regional Examples of Shamanic Beliefs

To further explore how shamans perceive the divine, let’s look at specific traditions:

1. Siberian Shamanism

In Siberia—the birthplace of the term "shaman"—spiritual life is filled with nature spirits, animal guides, and cosmic realms. Shamans ascend through a world tree or cosmic mountain to communicate with upper-world spirits or travel downward to the realm of the dead. While some Siberian traditions recognize a sky god, the focus remains on maintaining balance between worlds, not worshiping a singular deity.

2. Amazonian Shamanism

In the Amazon basin, shamans work with plant spirits through rituals involving ayahuasca or other entheogens. These spirits are seen as powerful teachers, often described as feminine, nurturing, or cosmic. Some shamans describe visionary experiences of divine oneness, but again, there is no fixed concept of "God" as in the Abrahamic sense. Instead, consciousness itself is sacred and the jungle is alive with wisdom.

3. North American Indigenous Traditions

Many Native American spiritual leaders incorporate shamanic elements, such as vision quests, sweat lodges, and spirit animal communication. The Great Spirit is often acknowledged as a Creator, but the focus is more on harmony with the Earth and honoring all beings. Deities, spirits, and ancestors are invoked for guidance and protection rather than for centralized worship.

4. Korean Shamanism (Muism)

In Korean shamanism, shamans (called mudang) communicate with gods, spirits, and ancestors. There is a pantheon of deities with roles in family, nature, and health. While some Koreans may interpret the higher gods as similar to "God," the system remains pluralistic and ritual-based. The gods are not omnipotent, and spiritual power comes from maintaining relationships with the spirit world.

Do Shamans Ever Believe in God as Understood in Monotheism?

Yes—some modern or syncretic shamans do. As shamanic practices spread into New Age spirituality and urban settings, they sometimes blend with other religious traditions. A shaman in Peru might be Catholic and still practice traditional healing. A practitioner in the West may refer to "Spirit" or "Source" in ways that resemble God language.

In these cases, belief in God is personal and eclectic. A shamanic practitioner might say:

• "God is the universe."

• "All spirits are aspects of the One."

• "I work with Spirit, not religion."

But such references are usually metaphorical or experiential, not doctrinal.

Shamanism vs. Organized Religion

Another way to look at this question is to consider how shamanism contrasts with organized religion. In religion:

• Belief in God is central.

• There are formal texts and rituals.

• Moral codes and doctrines are taught.

• Worship is often communal and institutional.

In shamanism:

• Direct experience replaces belief.

• Rituals are flexible and culturally specific.

• Morality is often based on harmony with nature and spirits, not commandments.

• Worship is not the goal—relationship and balance are.

Thus, many shamans would not say, “I believe in God” in the way a Christian or Muslim might. But they would say, “I know the spirits,” “I walk with nature,” or “I serve the ancestors.” The divine is lived, not defined.

Conclusion

So, do shamans believe in God?

Sometimes—but not always in the way we expect. The shamanic worldview is expansive, pluralistic, and deeply experiential. For many shamans, the divine is found in the wind, the stars, the dreams, and the ancestral voice whispering through the fire. Some cultures recognize a supreme being or Great Spirit, while others honor a multitude of spiritual presences.

Rather than fitting into a single theological box, shamanism invites us to widen our understanding of the sacred. It teaches that divinity may not be a distant ruler, but a living presence woven through all things. In this light, God becomes not a belief to accept, but a mystery to encounter.

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Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.