A much-sought-after volume, as it provides a glimpse into philosophy of religion in the early twentieth century. Wilhelm Schmidt, based on his research and observations as an anthropologist, contends the opposite of the evolutionary theory of religion -- which is, that all religions of the world originate in monotheistic worship. Translated by H. J. Rose, a noted scholar of classics, this edition features a new Foreword by Winfried Corduan, Ph.D.

Examining a wide array of ancient writings, Brent Nongbri dispels the commonly held idea that there is such a thing as ancient religion. Nongbri shows how misleading it is to speak as though religion was a concept native to pre-modern cultures.

A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice An ABC Australia Best Book on Religion and Ethics of the Year Distinguished Book Award, Sociology of Religion Section of the American Sociological Association Religion in Human Evolution is a work of extraordinary ambition—a wide-ranging, nuanced probing of our biological past to discover the kinds of lives that human beings have most often imagined were worth living. It offers what is frequently seen as a forbidden theory of the origin of religion that goes deep into evolution, especially but not exclusively cultural evolution. “Of Bellah’s brilliance there can be no doubt. The sheer amount this man knows about religion is otherworldly...Bellah stands in the tradition of such stalwarts of the sociological imagination as Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Only one word is appropriate to characterize this book’s subject as well as its substance, and that is ‘magisterial.’” —Alan Wolfe, New York Times Book Review “Religion in Human Evolution is a magnum opus founded on careful research and immersed in the ‘reflective judgment’ of one of our best thinkers and writers.” —Richard L. Wood, Commonweal

My purpose in these Lectures is to give a short history, as clear as I can make it, of the Religion of the Old Testament. By this I mean that I have endeavored to group the religious material contained in that book in chronological order, and to trace the historical development, which then becomes visible, from its beginning to its end. This beginning has been but lightly touched upon, partly because of its extreme obscurity and partly because of my own insufficient equipment to deal adequately with so complex a problem; but more space has thus been won for the delineation of that phase of the Jewish religion in which it stood at the close of the Old Testament period, and on the lines of which it was destined to develop for many subsequent centuries. from the Preface

This book is a collection of a series of lectures delivered at Oxford and London, In April and May, 1884 published in book form in the same year. The author was a distinguished French Protestant theologian and a prolific writer on the comparative history of world religions.

Albert Réville's 'Lectures on the Origin and Growth of Religion as Illustrated by the Native Religions of Mexico and Peru' is a meticulous examination of the religious beliefs and practices of the indigenous peoples of Mexico and Peru. Réville's scholarly approach delves deep into the historical and cultural context of these native religions, providing a comprehensive analysis of their origins and evolution. Through detailed case studies and comparative analysis, Réville offers valuable insights into the development of religious thought and rituals in these ancient civilizations. His lucid and engaging prose makes this book a rewarding read for anyone interested in the history of religion. As a prominent 19th-century French Protestant theologian and historian of religions, Albert Réville's expertise in the field is evident in his well-researched and thoughtful exploration of indigenous belief systems in Mexico and Peru. His passion for understanding different cultures and their religious traditions shines through in this book, as he presents a nuanced and insightful perspective on the complex dynamics of religious evolution. For readers interested in exploring the rich tapestry of indigenous religions and tracing the roots of religious practices in ancient civilizations, Albert Réville's 'Lectures on the Origin and Growth of Religion' is a highly recommended read that offers a fascinating journey into the spiritual world of Mexico and Peru.