Myth, Ritual, and Religion, Vol. 1 by Andrew Lang Myth, Ritual, and Religion, Vol. 1 by Andrew Lang This etext was prepared by Donald Lainson,
[email protected]. MYTH, RITUAL, AND RELIGION by Andrew Lang Volume One CONTENTS PREFACE TO NEW IMPRESSION. PREFACE TO NEW EDITION. CHAPTER I. -- SYSTEMS OF MYTHOLOGY. page 1 / 422 Definitions of religion--Contradictory evidence--"Belief in spiritual beings"--Objection to Mr. Tylor's definition--Definition as regards this argument--Problem: the contradiction between religion and myth--Two human moods--Examples--Case of Greece-- Ancient mythologists--Criticism by Eusebius--Modern mythological systems--Mr. Max Muller--Mannhardt. CHAPTER II. -- NEW SYSTEM PROPOSED. Chapter I. recapitulated--Proposal of a new method: Science of comparative or historical study of man--Anticipated in part by Eusebius, Fontenelle, De Brosses, Spencer (of C. C. C., Cambridge), and Mannhardt--Science of Tylor--Object of inquiry: to find condition of human intellect in which marvels of myth are parts of practical everyday belief--This is the savage state--Savages described--The wild element of myth a survival from the savage state--Advantages of this method--Partly accounts for wide DIFFUSION as well as ORIGIN of myths--Connected with general theory of evolution--Puzzling example of myth of the water- swallower--Professor Tiele's criticism of the method-- Objections to method, and answer to these--See Appendix B. CHAPTER III. -- THE MENTAL CONDITION OF SAVAGES--CONFUSION WITH NATURE--TOTEMISM. The mental condition of savages the basis of the irrational element page 2 / 422 in myth--Characteristics of that condition: (1) Confusion of all things in an equality of presumed animation and intelligence; (2) Belief in sorcery; (3) Spiritualism; (4) Curiosity; (5) Easy credulity and mental indolence--The curiosity is satisfied, thanks to the credulity, by myths in answer to all inquiries--Evidence for this--Mr.