The volume begins by examining the fundamental nature of religion, which Crawford Howell Toy defines as man's attitude toward the universe as a social and ethical force. Science and religion are described as coeval, originating from early man's efforts to interpret active phenomena in the world around him. Early humans endowed physical objects with life and will, leading to a system of dependence, fear, and utilitarian bargaining with mysterious powers.
A central focus of the study is the universal belief in the soul. Early observers deduced its existence from physical phenomena such as breath, shadow, and blood, conceiving it as a sublimated double of the corporeal body. The work traces the evolution of these ideas into more complex doctrines regarding polypsychism, the future of the soul in the underworld or through reincarnation, and the eventual introduction of moral retribution.
Early religious ceremonies are categorized into emotional, decorative, economic, and apotropaic practices. The author shows how communal dances, purifications, and seasonal festivals served the practical needs of the tribe, securing food and warding off hostile influences. Many of these rituals originated in social habits or magical procedures before acquiring a religious coloring.
The volume explores early cults dedicated to animals, plants, stones, and waters. Animals deeply impressed early man, leading to intimate social relations, totemism, and occasional worship. Similarly, plants and geographical features were revered as living entities or abodes of spirits. The transition from these animistic practices to the worship of human beings and ancestors illustrates a gradual social growth.
The study concludes by tracing the higher theistic developments, moving from polytheism and dualism toward monotheism, pantheism, and ethical systems. The author demonstrates how external worship, ritual, priesthoods, and sacred books evolved alongside human society, culminating in universal religious structures and the integration of scientific and ethical elements.
