animism is often compatible with theism. theism is the belief in the divine. the divine can be a single god (monotheism), many gods (polytheism), or everything (pantheism). theists believe that the divine is "transcendent," separate from human life. however, animism is neither monotheistic nor polytheistic. the spirits of animist belief are not transcendent, and that is why humans interact with them. also, animism is not pantheistic. the spirits of animism are not all one (monism), but are unique to each thing with a spirit.