The

Religions of Mankind

By

Edmund Davison Soper

Abingdon-Cokesbury Press

New York

1938

This scarce edition traces the history of spiritual paths and traditions the world over, covering the animistic and magical belief, pagan and pre-christian mystical teachings as well as the more well known monotheistic religions. Includes references to shamanism and totemism, initiation rites and ceremonies, ancestor worship and the communion with the dead, as well as the various early influences on modern mysticism such as gnosticism, zoroastrianism and neo- platonic philosophy.

Contents below:

Preface

Chapter I: The Nature of Religion

The Approach to the Study of Religion - The Fitting Attitude Toward Other Faiths - The Definition of Religion - The Origin of Religion - The Development of Religion - Suggestions for Further Study

Chapter II: Animistic Religion

Animistic Peoples and Their Habitat - Animism and the Mysterious Power - The Higher Powers of Animistic Religion - Totemism and Tabu - Animistic Worship - Magic and Religion - Suggestions for Further Study

Chapter III: Egypt and Mesopotamia

The Nile Valley and Its Inhabitants - The Egyptian Pantheon - The Individual Here and Hereafter - The Gods of Babylonia and Assyria - Man's Approach to the Divine Powers - Suggestions For Further Study

Chapter IV: Greece and Rome

Religion Before Homer - The Homeric Contribution - The Mysteries - The Philosophers - Early Roman Religion - The Contact With Greece - The Influence of the East - Suggestions for Further Study

Chapter V: The Religion of Zoroaster

The Indo-Europeans and Their Religion - Zoroaster and His Reformation - Development Since Zoroaster - The Parsis of the Present Day - Suggestions for Further Study

Chapter VI: Hinduism

The Religion of the Vedas - The Philosophic Development - The Caste System - Hinduism since the Rise of Buddhism - Modern Reform Movements - Suggestions for Further Study

Chapter VII: Buddhism

Gautama the Buddha - Early Buddhism - Hinayana and Mahayana - Buddhism Among the Peoples -

Suggestions for Further Study

Chapter VIII: The Religion of the Chinese

The Early Religion - Confucius and His Contribution - Laocius and Taoism - Chinese Buddhism - Suggestions for Further Study

Chapter IX: The Religions of Japan

Shinto - The Coming of Buddhism - The Adoption of Confucianism - Suggestion for Further Study

Chapter X: Judaism

The Religion of the Semites - The Heritage of the Old Testament - Judaism Since the Time of Christ - Orthodoxy and Reform - Suggestions for Further Study

Chapter XI: Mohammedanism

The Prophet - Faith and Practice - Islam in History - Suggestions for Further Study

Chapter XII: Christianity

Jesus Christ - Development of Life and Teaching - The Church and Its Expansion - The Ground of Its Appeal - Suggestions for Further Study

Index

Excerpts:

Egypt and Mesopotamia

"But there was more to their religion than that. The elaborate ceremonials in the temples, while shot through with the vitiating influences of magic, contained elements of religious aspiration and fervor. The Incantation Rituals were in the hands of a special class of priests who had worked out a gorgeous ceremonial calculated to impress the worshippers deeply."

"Beneath the earth is another called Twet, through which runs a river like the Nile. Here in long passages and in deep caverns the dead dwell. By night they have the light of the sun, for through the twelve sections into which this subterranean river-course is divided the sun makes his progress, ready to appear at sunrise the next morning in the eastern sky of the real Egypt overhead. The gates separating the twelve sections are guarded by serpents and demons, and the sun-god in his magnificent barge must know their names to secure passage. It was believed at a later time, that others might share with the king this nightly voyage of the sun, that is, if they were acquainted with the appropriate incantations and magical for formulae."

Book Format:

Duodecimo, up to 7 - 8" tall. Book is bound in maroon cloth with gilt lettering to spine; deckle edges;

Pagination: 364pp;

Condition:

Very good condition. Boards and spine are in good condition with minor rubbing; minor bumping to corners; some slight chipping to top and bottom of spine and to edges of spine; name in ink on front ffep; no half title page; dedication page is rough cut; slight yellowing to outer edges of pages; interior is clean with no foxing, underlining or marginalia; Binding is tight.

Price: US$65.00

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