vnr THE EVOLUTION OF THEOLOGY 319 



I do not quote myself with any intention of 

 making a claim to originality in putting forth this 

 view ; for I have since discovered that the same 

 conception is virtually contained in the great 

 " Discours sur 1'Histoire Universelle " of Bossuet, 

 now more than two centuries old : 



Le culte des hommes morts faisoit presque tout le fond de 

 1'idolatrie : presque tous les homines sacrifioient aux manes, 

 c'est-a-dire aux ames des morts. De si anciennes erreurs nous 

 font voir a la verite combien etoit ancienne la croyance de 

 rimmortalite de 1'ame, et nous montrent qu'elle doit etre rangee 

 parmi les premieres traditions du genre humain. Mais 1'homme, 

 qui gatoit tout, en avoit etrangement abuse, puisqu'elle le 

 portoit a sacrifier aux morts. On alloit meme jusqu'a cet exces, 

 de leur sacrifier des hommes vivans : on tuoit leurs esclaves, et 

 meme leurs femmes, pour les aller servir dans 1'autre monde. 1 



Among more modern writers J. G. Miiller, in his 

 excellent " Geschichte der amerikanischen Urre- 

 ligionen" (1855), clearly recognises "gespenster- 

 hafter Geisterglaube " as the foundation of all 

 savage and semi-civilised theology, and I need do 

 no more than mention the important develop- 

 ments of the same view which are to be found 

 in Mr. Tylor's "Primitive Culture," and in the 

 writings of Mr. Herbert Spencer, especially his 

 recently -published " Ecclesiastical Institutions." 2 



1 (Euvres de Bossuet, ed. 1808, t. xxxv. p. 282. 



2 I should like further to add the expression of my indebted- 

 ness to two works by Herr Julius Lippert, Der Seelcncult in 

 seincn czichungen zur alt-hebraischen Jleligion, and Die Reli- 

 gionen der eiiropdischen Culturvolkcr, both published in 1881. 

 I have found them full of valuable suggestions. 



