Abstract

Great religions pass through several stages of development until they reach what we may call crystallization in ritual. Frequently then there arises a revolt because of the excessive demand upon the worshiper's effort to maintain a right attitude toward deity. This may result either in the rise of a new religion, or in the revitalizing of the old by resort to the more spontaneous elements of worship, or in both. But in any of these cases there may develop anew the trend toward a fixed and burdensome ritual, possibly less irksome to the devotee, because of greater light on the character of the gods, but still with demands that that come to be felt as excessive.

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