Immediate Religion

• Main Author: Stewart, Jon
• Format: Book
• Language: unknown
• Published: Oxford University Press 2018
• Subjects: Indian; eskimo*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198829492.003.0003

Chapter 2 is dedicated to the beginning of Hegel’s historical narrative about the world religions, which he claims is found in “magic” or “sorcery.” According to Hegel’s view, this is the most rudimentary, immediate form of religious thinking, indeed, so rudimentary that it cannot be designated as a religion proper. Hegel mentions several peoples such as the Eskimos, Indian tribes of North America, and native tribes of Mongolia and Africa that practice magic and, to his mind, have not progressed beyond this initial state. This is a notorious part of Hegel’s thought which has attracted the attention of many modern commentators, who are rightly outraged by his racism and Eurocentrism. Indeed, there is also no denying that his general tone is rather demeaning when it comes to discussing these non-European peoples. A detailed account of Hegel’s analysis is given along with an overview of his sources of information.