Magic and Religion - Classic Reprint Author:Andrew Lang MAGIC AND RELIGION T SCIENCE AND SUPERSTITION We all know what we mean by science; science is 'organised common sense.' Her aim is the acquisition of reasoned and orderly knowledge. Presented with a collection of verified facts, it is the part of science to reduce them to order, and to account for their existence in accordance with her recognise... more »d theory of things. If the facts cannot be fitted into the theory, it must be expanded or altered; for we must admit that, if the facts are verified, there is need for change and expansion in the theory. The ' colligation ' of facts demands hypotheses, and these may not, at the moment of their construction, be verifiable. The deflections of a planet from its apparently normal course may be accounted for by the hypothesis of the attraction of another heavenly body not yet discovered. The hypothesis is legitimate, for such bodies are known to exist, and to produce such effects. When the body is discovered, the hypothesis becomes n. certaint
Table of Contents
CONTENTS; Fact; I SCIENCE AND SUPERSTITION1; II THE THEORY OF LOAN-COPS: OR BORROWED RELIGION 15; III MAGIC AND BEMUIOX 46; IV THE ORIGIN OK THK CHRISTIAN FAITH 76; V TKK APPROACHES TO MR FEAZKR'^ THEORY Si; 1 THK EVOLUTION Of GOP* S2; II THK ALLEGED MORTALITY OF GODS 8y; III RELIGIOVS RKCICTDK 94; IV ANNUAL RELIGIOUS REGICIDE 100; V THK SAT LEX ALIA ICS; VI TOE GREEK CRONIA 15; VII THE SACEA US; VI ATTEMPTS TO PHOVK THK sAC-EAN CRIMINAL DIVINE 128; I SACRTnCK BV HANGING DOKS IT EXIST ? 127; II STAGES IN MR FRAZEK'b THEORY 182; HI A POSSIBLE RECONCILIATION 186; IV THK SACiEA SUDDENLY CIIAXGES ITS DATE 13?; V VARIOUS THEOKIKS OK THK VICTIM , 13S; VII ZAKAICK SAC*:A, AND PURIU 141; I HISTORICAL DIFFICULTY 144; II PERSIANS ARK NOT BAEVLONL> 147; III ORIGIN OF PURIM 147; IV IS PURIM PRE-KXILIAX OV POST-EXILIAN loO; V TUEOBY OF A HUMAN VICTIM AT PURI1I 153 VI CONTRADICTORY CONJECTURE 15f>; VII A NEW THEORY OF TIIK V« less