Since this book first appeared twelve years ago it has been several times reprinted without change. Advantage has now been taken, however, of a call for a fresh issue, to introduce into it some alterations and additions, such as its stereotyped form allows. Some mistakes have been corrected, the names of recent books have been added to the bibliographies, and in some chapters, especially those dealing with the Semitic religions, considerable changes have been made. In going over the book for this purpose, I have seen very clearly that if it had been called for and written at this time instead of twelve years ago, some things which are in it need not have appeared, and additions might have been made which are not now possible. The last twelve years have made a great change in the study of religions; the prejudices with which it was regarded have almost passed away, powerful forces have been enlisted in its service, and admirable works have appeared dealing with various parts of the vast field. Yet I am glad to think that the attempt made in this book to furnish a simple introduction to a deeply important study, and especially to promote the understanding of the religions of the Bible by placing them in their connection with the religion of mankind at large, may still prove useful. ST. ANDREWS, _June_ 1907. PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION This book is now being reprinted in a somewhat larger type, and an opportunity is given, less restricted than the last, for making changes in it. It is impossible for me at present to re-write it; it appears substantially as it was. Some alterations and additions have been made in the earlier chapters, and the bibliographies have been brought more nearly up to date. I would take this opportunity of directing the attention of readers of this book to the published Proceedings of the Oxford Congress of the History of Religion, held in September 1908. They will there see how large this field of study has now grown, and what varied life and movement every part of it contains. I have given references only to the addresses of the Presidents of the Sections of the Congress, in which a fresh review will be found of recent progress in the study of each of the great religions. ST. ANDREWS, _July_ 1910. CONTENTS PART I THE RELIGION OF THE EARLY WORLD CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION PAGE Position of the science--Unity of all religion--The growth of religion continuous--Preliminary definition of religion-- Criticism of other definitions--Fuller definition--Religion and civilisation advance together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18 CHAPTER II THE BEGINNING OF RELIGION Origin of civilisation--It was from the savage state that civilisation was by degrees produced--The religion of savages--All savages have religion--It is a psychological necessity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-28 CHAPTER III THE EARLIEST OBJECTS OF WORSHIP