Publisher's Synopsis
""Lectures on the Religion of the Semites: First Series The Fundamental Institutions"" is a book written by W. Robertson Smith. It is a comprehensive study of the religious practices and beliefs of the Semitic people, who are the ancestors of modern-day Arabs, Jews, and other Middle Eastern groups. The book is divided into a series of lectures, each of which focuses on a specific aspect of Semitic religion, such as sacrifice, priesthood, and the role of the deity. Smith explores the origins and development of these religious institutions, drawing on a wide range of sources, including ancient texts, archaeological evidence, and comparative studies of other religions. He also examines the social and cultural contexts in which these institutions arose, and the ways in which they shaped the lives of the Semitic people. Overall, ""Lectures on the Religion of the Semites"" is a seminal work in the field of religious studies, offering a detailed and insightful analysis of one of the world's oldest and most influential religious traditions. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and culture of the Middle East, as well as for scholars of religion and anthropology.1894. Smith studies the primitive religions of the Semitic peoples, viewed in relation to other ancient religions and to the spiritual religion of the Old Testament and of Christianity. Contents: Introduction: The Subject and the Method of Enquiry; The Nature of the Religious Community, and the Relation of the Gods to their Worshippers; The Relations of the Gods to Natural Things-Holy Places-The Jinn; Holy Places in their Relation to Man; Sanctuaries, Natural and Artificial-Holy Waters, Trees, Caves, and Stones; Sacrifice-Preliminary Survey; First-Fruits, Tithes, and Sacrificial Meals; The Original Significance of Animal Sacrifice; The Sacramental Efficacy of Animal Sacrifice, and Cognate Acts of Ritual-The Blood Covenant-Blood and Hair Offerings; The Development of Sacrificial Ritual-Fire-Sacrifices and Piacula; and Sacrificial Gifts and Piacular Sacrifices-The Special Ideas Involved in the Latter.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
