CHAPTER I

DEFINITION OF RELIGIOUS PHENOMENA AND OF RELIGION

Usefulness of a preliminary definition of religion; method to be followed in seeking this definition--Why the usual definitions should be examined first 23

I.--Religion defined by the supernatural and mysterious-- Criticism: the notion of mystery is not primitive 24

II.--Religion defined in connection with the idea of God or a spiritual being.--Religions without gods--Rites in deistic religions which imply no idea of divinity 29

III.--Search for a positive definition--Distinction between beliefs and rites--Definition of beliefs--First characteristic: division of things between sacred and profane--Distinctive characteristics of this definition--Definition of rites in relation to beliefs--Definition of religion 36

IV.--Necessity of another characteristic to distinguish magic from religion--The idea of the Church--Do individualistic religions exclude the idea of a Church? 42

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