Religion and Myth of Africa (Forgotten Books)

This pioneering Victorian study of comparative African religious beliefs, draws on ethnographies, folklore studies, historical and traveler's accounts. Macdonald examines in detail taboos, magic, divination, prophecy, sacrifice, sorcery, sexual practices, and the status of women. He also ties in data from Celtic, Ancient Near East, Pacific and other cultures. Particularly, he includes comparative points from his native land, Scotland. Macdonald demonstrates that there are broad similarities between African belief systems and those of other pre-industrial peoples.

In his final chapter he critiques European attempts to 'civilize' Africans, by selling them useless or harmful trade goods, converting them to Christianity, or by forcing them to wear European clothes (!). He observes that Africans have just as much cultural potential as any other people, if allowed to develop on their own terms. This was a very progressive view for his time. This book will enhance any study of African spirituality. (Quote from sacred-texts.com)

About the Author

Emanuel Swedenborg (1688 - 1772)
Emanuel Swedenborg (born Emanuel Swedberg) was a Swedish scientist, philosopher, Christian mystic, and theologian. Swedenborg had a prolific career as an inventor and scientist. At the age of fifty-six he entered into a spiritual phase, in which he experienced dreams and visions. This culminated in a spiritual awakening, where he claimed he was appointed by the Lord to write a heavenly doctrine to reform Christianity. He claimed that the Lord had opened his eyes, so that from then on he could freely visit heaven and hell, and talk with angels, demons, and other spirits. For the remaining 28 years of his life, he wrote and published 18 theological works, of which the best known was Heaven and Hell (17