IF WE ARE GOING to look for the most primitive and simple
religion which we can observe, it is necessary to begin by
defining what is meant by a religion; for without this, we
would run the risk of giving the name to a system of ideas and
practices which has nothing at all religious about it, or else of
leaving to one side many religious facts, without perceiving
their true nature. That this is not an imaginary danger, and
that nothing is thus sacrificed to a vain formalism of method,
is well shown by the fact that owing to his not having taken
this precaution, a certain scholar to whom the science of com-
parative religions owes a great deal, Professor Frazer, has not
been able to recognize the profoundly religious character of
the beliefs and rites which will be studied below, where, ac-
cording to our view, the initial germ of the religious life of
humanity is to be found. So this is a prejudicial question,
which must be treated before all others. It is not that we
dream of arriving at once at the profound characteristics
which really explain religion: these can be determined only
at the end of our study. But that which is necessary and
possible, is to indicate a certain number of external and easily

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