Theories of Religion

How many of them are there?

Four Men

Edward B. Tylor James George Frazer F Max Muller Lucien Levi-Bruhl

Edward B. Tylor

1832-1917 English Anthropologist Primitive Culture Developed a theory of

culture: it is made up of a wide range of human activity.

http://anthro.palomar.edu/culture/images/Edward_Tylor.jpg

The Start

Taylor addresses the question whether or not “primitive” people have a concept of religion. Yes they do; the problem is that their concept of

religion does not correspond the “Western” notion. What looks irreligious is actually religious. What the scientific community needs to do is to

widen its definition. The community needs to rely on observations and

not merely theoretical conjecture.

The Definition

Religion among primitive people is basically Animism “. . . in its full development, includes the belief in

souls and in a future state, in controlling deities and subordinate spirits, these doctrines practically resulting in some kind of active worship.”

The Parts

It has two components: 1. Souls of small creatures capable of existing

after the death of the body. 2. Other spirits including powerful deities who

control life and now and in the hereafter.

The Summary

Since humans have souls so do animals to a lesser degree as do trees to a lesser degree as do inanimate objects.

Taylor wants us to remember that souls in modern thinking is in the realm of metaphysics and no longer used to explain events.

However, it is still “an animating, separable, surviving entity, the vehicle of personal existence.”

James George Frazer

1854-1941 Scottish Anthropologist The Golden Bough: A

Study in Comparative Religion

Developed a theory of religion

http://www.todayinsci.com/F/Frazer_James/FrazerJamesThm.jpg

The Start

He contends that magic and science have the same element which under girds them both—namely faith.

The scientist and the magician believe in his or her craft.

Magic has the fatal flaw; it is the misconception of similarity of thought and ideals.

Magic is the bastard child of science.

The Definition

“. . . A propitiation or conciliation of powers superior to man which are believed to direct and control the course of nature and of human life.”

The Parts

Magic consist of two parts: Theoretical—that is a belief in higher powers. Practical—an attempt to propitiate or please them.

Totem is part of magic. Totem protects the person and the person shows respect to the totem in various ways.

The Summary

Magic is the mistaken application of thoughts and ideas to resemble or “to be congruous to certain actions.”

Magic preceded religion and therefore, modern civilization has magic in the background.

Religion is the outgrowth of the recognition of powers superior to humans.

Magic, Religion and Science are theories of thought.

Friedrich Max Muller

1823-1900 German Scholar Introduction to the

Science of Religion He articulated the idea

of doing a comparative study of religion.

http://www.as.ua.edu/rel/images/aboutmuller.jpg

The Start

Muller wants to develop the science of religion as a way of comparing religion. Christianity had been severely criticized. He hopes to exonerate Christianity by showing its superiority.

The Definition

Religion has a deity, sacred text or words and rituals. Religion produces a yearning for a higher life.

It has two sides dialectic: Growth

The tendency to convey ideas through words—to coalesce the thought.

Decay The tendency to highlight the material instead of the

spiritual—it vacillates between the two

The Parts

What the Science of Religion should be able to do: Withstand any scrutiny Errors of religion can be discovered No religion is superior to others Comparing religions leads to a greater understand

of them

The Summary

Comparative study of religion will lead to a greater understanding of religion.

Christianity is the best religion in this regard because it has the kind of platform which allows for the comparison to be made.

The problem with religion is with language.

Lucien Levi-Bruhl

1857-1938 French Philosopher How Natives Think His thinking gave new

perspective on understanding how peoples of past cultures think.

http://www.todayinsci.com/L/LevyBruhl_Lucien/LevyBruhlLucienThm.jpg

The Start

People act in groups and as individuals. For past cultures the only way you could

understand the culture was to look at the whole culture.

The Definition

Religion is mysticism—animism Religion was best understood as part of the

group dynamics. People act differently in groups than they do

as individuals.

The Parts

As a collective group when certain things are present, “certain qualities” exist in objects.

The objects have certain qualities present ascribed to it by the group.

Just because we do not see it, this does not mean that it is not present for the group.

The Summary

“Primitive man, therefore, lives and acts in environment of beings and objects, all of which, in addition to the properties that we recognize them to possess, are endured with mystical attributes. He perceives their objective reality mingled with another reality.”