The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion

"The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion" by James George Frazer is a landmark work in the fields of anthropology, comparative religion, and mythology. In this extensive study, Frazer explores the connections between magic, religion, and science across various cultures and time periods. His central thesis is that human belief systems evolve in three stages: from primitive magic to organized religion, and finally, to science.The work takes its title from the myth of the Golden Bough in Virgil’s Aeneid, which Frazer uses as a metaphor for the transition between old and new forms of belief. Frazer investigates numerous myths, rituals, and folklore traditions from cultures worldwide, from ancient European civilizations to indigenous societies in Africa and the Pacific Islands. He explores themes such as the worship of vegetation deities, fertility rites, sacred kingship, and the concept of the dying and resurrecting god, which he believes are key to understanding early human attempts to control nature and ensure survival.