An Introduction to the Study of Comparative Religion

The work presents a concise, lecture-based introduction to comparative religion, combining methodological reflection with thematic studies. It outlines the historian's task and limits, argues for accepting factual findings while distinguishing science from value judgments, and treats core topics such as beliefs about immortality, magic, fetishism, prayer, sacrifice, and morality before discussing Christianity. Each chapter traces the origins, social functions, and transformations of beliefs and rites, examines how religious and moral ideas evolve and intermingle, and emphasizes practical applications for those engaging with other faiths, particularly in cross-cultural or missionary contexts.