Magic and Religion

Name: Magic and Religion
Author: Andrew Lang

By Andrew Lang

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About This Book

A series of scholarly essays surveys comparative evidence about religion, magic, and ritual while warning against overbold theorizing. The author advances a tentative view that elevated religious notions may precede and become lowered through social change, examines the idea of borrowed deities, and offers detailed criticisms of rival accounts of sacrificial kingship and ritual regicide. Other chapters analyse taboos, fire-walking, the alleged mortality of gods, and specific rites such as the Sacæa and Purim, and present regional studies and puzzles like Australian and South African beliefs and cup-and-ring marks, combining ethnographic examples with methodological reflection.

About the Author

Andrew Lang

Andrew Lang was a Scottish poet, novelist, and literary critic, known for his contributions to folklore and mythology. He is perhaps best recognized for his work "A Collection of Ballads," which showcases his interest in traditional narratives. Lang was a prolific writer, producing numerous essays and books on various subjects, including history and literature. His literary style often blended humor with scholarly insight, making his works accessible to a broad audience. In addition to his original writings, he is celebrated for his role in popularizing fairy tales through his collections, which have become integral to the study of folklore.