Primitive Religion

The book is an important contribution to the history of religion and one of the foundational works in the early development of the sociology of religion. The approach to primitive religions is a rather fresh one, in its close tie-up with social and economic aspects of primitive life, itself a secondary force, opposed to progress, tyrannical and dangerous. The Author has shown the nature of such religion, the temperament instrumental in building it up, the type instrumental in its disruption. The work overlaps that of Frazer’s only to the extent that the aspects he touches upon touch in turn upon religion, and do not belong simply in the realm of superstition, legend, etc. Radin has narrowed his focus to actual religious practices and beliefs, to taboos and superstition where they identify themselves with religion.

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.