Magic and Religion

This volume gathers a series of thought‑provoking essays that examine the tangled roots of early religion, ritual, and magic. The author challenges the dominant models of scholars such as Tylor and Frazer, arguing that high‑tension religious ideas may have existed among societies traditionally labelled ‘primitive.’ With generous references to recent field reports from Africa, Australia, and South Asia, the work offers fresh material for anyone curious about how belief systems evolve.

Among the topics explored are the controversial ‘Loan‑God’ hypothesis, a detailed look at the enigmatic fire‑walking rite, and a comparative survey of cup‑and‑ring carvings that dot prehistoric landscapes worldwide. The author also presents a vivid case study of South African religious practice and a skeptical interrogation of Frazer’s famed Golden Bough narrative. Listeners will come away with a richer sense of the methodological battles that shape the study of myth and ritual.