Science and Religion Studies

Science and Religion Studies

Andrew Lang’s View on the Origin of Religion: From the Criticism of Evolutionary Anthropology to Formulating a New Theory of the Origin of Religion

Document Type : .

Authors
ghorban Elmi 1
Younes Taslimi Pak 2
1 Associate Professor, Department of Comparative Religions and Mysticism, Theology Faculty, University of Tehran
2 PhD student, Department of Comparative Religions and Mysticism, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies
10.30465/srs.2021.37496.1883
Abstract
In the second half of the nineteenth century, evolutionary anthropologists believed that human’s religious belief began with primitive simple forms and, after various phases of historical evolution, turned to the form of contemporary modern religions. This view holds that primitive humans did not have the concept of God and the formation of this concept in human’s mind was considered to occur in the last phase of the development of religious thoughts. Andrew Lang, the Scottish anthropologist, who was one of the foremost opponents of the use of the evolutionary teachings in the explanation of the origin of religion criticized this view and advanced a theory on the existence of the ‘Supreme Being’ in primitive human beliefs. This theory was subsequently complemented and introduced as the 'theory of primitive monotheism' by Wilhelm Schmidt, the Austrian anthropologist.
Lang considers belief in God and belief in the immortality of the soul as two main essential origins of religion. By documenting some evidence, he believes that even amongst the most backward tribes, variants of the idea of worshiping the "Supreme Being" are evident. The present study outlines Lang’s intellectual background and foundations as well as his criticism of the views of evolutionary anthropologists. Moreover, it explores his main theory on the anthropology of religion.
Keywords
Andrew Lang
Origin of Religion
Anthropology of Religion
Evolutionary Anthropology
Supreme Being
Primitive monotheism
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