Myth, Ritual and Religion, Vol. 1 (of 2)

The book launches a broad investigation into the ways myth, ritual and religion shape human understanding. It begins by scrutinizing various definitions of religion, exposing the tension between belief and narrative and identifying two opposing human moods that drive sacred stories. From early antiquarians to modern comparativists, the author proposes a refreshed analytical approach.

The central portion examines the mental landscape of early societies, where distinctions between people, animals and the natural world blur. Through discussions of totemism, magic and metamorphosis, the text shows how curiosity and easy credulity produced elaborate explanations for the sun, moon, thunder and even stones. Drawing on accounts from Australia, Africa, the Americas and Asia, the author illustrates a worldwide pattern of viewing all things as animated and interconnected.

The final sections catalog origin myths—from non‑Aryan creation tales to Indian and Greek cosmogonies—through the proposed comparative lens. Readers encounter nature myths, animal kinship legends and celestial stories, gaining insight into how ancient peoples built meaning. The study offers a systematic scholarly journey linking anthropology, psychology and the history of ideas.