Write a short note on give a brief account of E.B. Taylor’s contribution to study of the primitive religion.
Write a short note on give a brief account of E.B. Taylor’s contribution to study of the primitive religion.
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Edward Burnett Tylor, often referred to as E.B. Tylor, was a pioneering anthropologist whose work laid the foundation for the study of primitive religion, also known as animism. In his seminal work "Primitive Culture" (1871), Tylor proposed a comprehensive theory of the evolution of religion, positing that primitive religion emerged as an attempt to explain and make sense of natural phenomena and human experiences.
Tylor's most significant contribution to the study of primitive religion lies in his concept of animism, which he defined as the belief in spiritual beings or souls inhabiting natural objects and phenomena. According to Tylor, animism represents the earliest stage of religious development, characterized by a belief in spirits that animate the natural world. He argued that primitive peoples attributed consciousness and agency to various elements of the environment, including animals, plants, rocks, and celestial bodies, in an effort to explain the forces at work in the world around them.
Tylor's theory of animism laid the groundwork for subsequent anthropological inquiries into the origins and development of religion. While his ideas have been subject to critique and revision over time, his emphasis on the universality of religious beliefs and the psychological foundations of religious experience continues to inform contemporary debates in anthropology, religious studies, and the study of human culture. Tylor's work remains a foundational text in the field of anthropology, shaping our understanding of the diversity and complexity of human religious beliefs and practices.