Porijeklo religije

The book The Origin of Religion by French historian and thinker Lucien Henry (with contributions and analyses by C. Albrecht) stands as a classic work of critical and materialist historiography from the early to mid-20th century, dedicated to the phenomenology and evolution of religious thought. In his work, the author draws upon findings from ethnology, anthropology, and the comparative history of religion to demystify the origins of religious rituals and beliefs. The central thesis of the work is based on the understanding that religion is not of divine origin, but rather a social and psychological product of humanity’s endeavor to explain and master natural phenomena that were not yet understood. Henry systematically analyzes the earliest forms of belief—such as fetishism, animism, totemism, and magic—and explains how, with the development of productive forces and social structures, these primordial myths evolved into complex polytheistic and monotheistic systems. This study offers profound insight into how religious dogmas have, throughout history, served both as a means of social cohesion and as an instrument of power. The book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of ideas, the sociology of religion, and a philosophical-scientific approach to the origins of human beliefs.