ORIGIN AND

NATURE OF
RELIGION
NATURE OF
RELIGION
Name of Social Scientist
Edward Burnett Taylor
(1832-1917)
James George Frazer
(1854-1941)
Bronislaw Kasper Malinowski
(1884-1942)
David Emile Durkheim
(1858-1917)
Background
English anthropologist; founding
figure of the science of social
anthropology
Scottish social anthropologist; one
of the founding figure of modern
anthropology
Polish anthropologist; an eminent
20th century anthropologist
French sociologist; father of
sociology
View on Religion
The belief in spiritual beings
A propitiation or conciliation of
powers superior to man which are
believed to control and direct
course of nature and human life
A body of self contained acts
being themselves the fulfillment
of their purpose; an affair of all, in
which everyone takes an active
and equivalent part
A unified system of beliefs and
practices relative to sacred things
ORIGIN OF
RELIGION
 Name of theory Proponent
Animistic Theories Edward Burnett Taylor
(1832-1917), English anthropologist
Robert Henry Codrington
(1830-1922) Anglican priest and
anthropologist
Explanation
Primitive people believed in souls or
anima found in people (seen in
dreams) and in all of nature. Since
spirit could be helpful or harmful to
human beings, early people had to
pray to these spirits, offer sacrifices,
and appease or avoid them.
In his investigation, he found out
that the Melanesian people believed
in man, a mysterious force that
inhabited in all of nature. All early
people begun their religion in
cognizance of such force; the
destructiveness of the mana can be
avoided by establishing taboos.
 Name of theory Proponent Explanation
Nature-Worship Theory Human beings first developed their observations of the
forces of nature. Early people became aware of the
regularity of the seasons, the tides and the phases of the
moon, and began personalizing them by giving them
names, describing their activities with tales that
transformed into mythology. Primitive people identified
the forces in nature, personified them, created myths, and
developed religions around them.

Theory of Original Monotheism Wilhelm Schmidt In Australia and Africa, basic cultures held a common
(1868-1954), Austrian belief in a distant high god, that originally there had been
anthropologist and one great god above all others, and that he may have been
ethnologist the creator of the world or the father of the many lesser
deities. This high god went away and had little contact
with the world that resulted in majority of attention and
worship to local deities. Primitive societies were originally
monotheistic, but because it was difficult to worship just
one god, religion was corrupted to polytheism.
 Name of theory Proponent Explanation

Magic Theory James George Frazer People had gone three phases of development concerning the
(1854-1941), spirit world: (1) primitive magic (wherein people attempted
Scottish social to control nature in the hope that nature will cooperate if
anthropologist rituals are done properly); (2) religion ( wherein people
implored nature to cooperate since they have realized that
nature cannot be coerced); and (3) science (wherein a
rational understanding of nature is operative).

Wish Fulfillment Theory Ludwig Andreas von

Feuerbach (1804-
There were no gods and that belief in gods
1872), German was simply wish fulfillment. Troubled
philosopher and
anthropologist people who could not cope with the
difficulties in life projected their wishes and
developed gods and religions.
Wish Fulfillment Karl Heinrich Religions were developed by the few as a means to control
Theory Marx (1818-1883), the masses and subvert revolution as a result of the
German continuing struggle between classes. Rulers and allied
philosopher and priests wished to control all wealth so they had to create a
sociologist
scheme of gods, heavens and hell. Masses were persuaded
to accept poverty and be obedient to inherit bliss in
another life.

Sigmund Freud Religion originated from the guilt that

(1856-1939),
Austrian individuals supposedly feel in hating their
neurologist and fathers. As a result of this subconscious
founder/father of
psychoanalysis
hatred and ensuing guilt, a great father image
was projected in the sky called as God. A
healthy mature person can face problems
without the need for gods or religions.
 IMPORTANT DATES IN RELIGION
c. 2000 B.C.E  Time of Abraham, the patriarch of Israel

 c. 1200 B.C.E Time of Moses, the Hebrew leader of Exodus

 c. 1100 – 500 B.C.E Hindus compile their holy text, the Vedas
c. 563- 83 B.C.E  Time of Buddha, Founder of Buddhism
c. 551- 479 B.C.E  Time of Confucius, Founder of Confucianism
 c. 200 B.C.E The Hindu book, Bhagavad Gita, is written.
c. 2 to 4 B.C.E- 32 C.E  Time of Jesus Christ, the Messiah and founder of
Christianity
 c. 32 C.E The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ

 40- 90 C.E The New Testament is written by the followers of

Jesus Christ
40-90 C.E  Time of Muhammad, who records the Q’uran as the
basis of Islam.