Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 3, 1892.djvu/313

Rh conception of Mutual Influence. And as, under the same Query, we have found that the conception underlying Witchcraft is a conception of Mutual Influence, we must conclude that, of the two opposed conceptions underlying Witchcraft and Religion respectively, it is the fundamental conception of Witchcraft that is primary, and the fundamental conception of Religion, as defined by Dr. Tylor, which is secondary. The same conclusions may be also otherwise reached from the facts and arguments brought forward under the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Queries. But first I must note that Dr. Tylor, in his definition of Religion as "belief in Spiritual Beings", takes no account of the profound distinction shown by Sir Alfred Lyall to exist between Witchcraft and Religion as ordinarily defined. For the Magician may also believe in what Dr. Tylor calls "Spiritual Beings", and what I prefer to call Supernals. But notwithstanding such occasional and partial community of belief, there is still a profound difference between the Religionist and the Magician. For while it is the object of the Magician to force the Supernals, he may believe in, to do his bidding, it is the object of the less audacious Religionist to persuade them by prayer, prostration, and praise to grant him his desires. And if, therefore, Religion is to be defined as by Dr. Tylor, its more complete and accurate definition would be—belief in Spiritual Beings with Observances of Supplication rather than of Command. And now to indicate our other line of argument for the secondary character of the Religious, as compared with the Magical Conception of Nature. Under the Third Query I pointed out that there is absolutely no evidence of such observations and reflections by Savages as those from which Dr. Tylor maintains that the notion of "Souls" was primarily generalised, and the notion of Gods ultimately developed. Under the Fourth Query, I showed that the very terms "soul", "ghost", and "spirit" were in the highest degree misleading when applied to the very