LEADING CONCEPTIONS OF THE ELEMENTARY RELIGION
I.--The three theses of animism: Genesis of the idea of the soul; Formation of the idea of spirits; Transformation of the cult of spirits into the cult of nature 49
II.--Criticism of the first thesis--Distinction of the idea of the soul from that of a double--Dreams do not account for the idea of the soul 55
III.--Criticism of the second thesis--Death does not explain the transformation of a soul into a spirit--The cult of the souls of the dead is not primitive 60
IV.--Criticism of the third thesis--The anthropomorphic instinct--Spencer's criticism of it; reservations on this point--Examination of the facts by which this instinct is said to be proved--Difference between a soul and the spirits of nature--Religious anthropomorphism is not primitive 65
V.--Conclusion: animism reduces religion to nothing more than a system of hallucinations 68
LEADING CONCEPTIONS OF THE ELEMENTARY RELIGION--(_continued_)
I.--Exposition of Max Müller's naturism 73
II.--If the object of religion is to express natural forces, it is hard to see how it has maintained itself, for it expresses them in an erroneous manner--Pretended distinction between religion and mythology 78
III.--Naturism does not explain the division of things into sacred and profane 84
I.--Brief history of the question of totemism 88
II.--Reasons of method for which our study will be given specially to the totemism of Australia--The place which will be given to facts from America 93
I.--Definition of the clan--The totem as name of the clan--Nature of the things which serve as totems--Ways in which the totem is acquired--The totems of phratries; of matrimonial classes 102
II.--The totem as emblem--Totemic designs engraved or carved upon objects; tatooings or designs upon the body 113
III.--Sacred character of the totemic emblem--The churinga--The nurtunja--The waninga--Conventional character of totemic emblems 119
I.--Sacred character of the totemic animals--Prohibition to eat them, kill them or pick the totemic plants--Different moderations given these prohibitions--Prohibition of contact--The sacred character of the animal is less marked than that of the emblem 128
II.--The man--His relationship with the totemic animal or plant--Different myths explaining this relationship--The sacred character of the man is more apparent in certain parts of the organism: the blood, hair, etc.--How this character varies with sex and age--Totemism is not plant or animal worship 134