The origins of religions1994
by J. Ries
This attractively illustrated volume is the first comprehensive work for general readers on the origins of humankind's religious nature. By examining the footprints along the course of humanity's religious journey, Julien Ries is able to effectively counter attempts to root the origins of religion in evolutionary, ethnological, and sociological causes.
His study uncovers the presence of a religious sense in humankind from our very first appearance on earth and shows that an inner religious structure is in fact an essential characteristic of our being human: homo religiosus.
The Origins of Religions opens with a look at prehistoric man's first steps on the planet, then moves on to examine the cultic rituals, artistic expression, and expanding mythology that developed throughout the...