Question

Who propounded Animism theory of religion?

• A. Tylor
• B. Frazer
• C. Max Weber
• D. Durkheim

Hint:

For early theories of religion, remember these key associations: Animism → Tylor; Magic and Religion → Frazer; Totemism and Social Solidarity → Durkheim.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks to identify the scholar who proposed the theory of 'Animism' as the origin of religion. Animism is the belief that all natural objects, phenomena, and the universe itself possess souls or spirits.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The theory of Animism was propounded by the English anthropologist Sir Edward Burnett Tylor in his book "Primitive Culture" (1871).
- Tylor argued that the earliest form of religion was the belief in spirits, which arose from early humans' attempts to explain phenomena like dreams, visions, and death.
- He considered this belief in spiritual beings as the minimum definition of religion.
- James Frazer, his student, further developed these ideas in "The Golden Bough," but Tylor is credited with originating the theory.
Step 3: Final Answer:
E. B. Tylor propounded the Animism theory of religion.