Preface Of The Book 'The Origin And Development Of Religion' By Gurbachan Singh Talib 

The present book is the last in the series of text­books on the subject of Religious Studies and is designed to meet the requirements of the syllabus for the third year of the Degree Course. In the scheme of studies for this class stress has been laid on the origins of Religion; the attitudes, beliefs and propitiatory rituals of man in the primitive stages of civilization; his deification of the forces of nature, along with such expressions of the religious experience as myth and superstition. The attitudes of the primitive man continue to linger in civilized societies, though under veiled forms. A great deal of the social ceremonial, for example, is basically religious in character and till now, religion continues to play an important role, conscious or unconscious, in our daily life. All these phenomenca have survived down to the present age in most societies, though they tend to be overlaid with new forms of expression. Men still pray for blessings and boons and to avert or escape failure or disaster. Man's life moves between the poles of fear and hope, and at the least disturbance of the even tenor of his life, the basic religious self in him comes to the surface.

Science and modern thought are of course, eroding religion both in its primitive and more civilized forms. Still, the vast majority of mankind may still be described as religious, whether in the primitive or the more civilized sense. Particularly when man is face to face, with the aweful, the mysterious and the unknown-the 'numinous' as it is called in philosophy-his mind reacts to this situation with prayer, some propitiatory rites-or in the case of the more enlightened, with the solemn attempt to penetrate the mystery of existence, whose bases are also provided by religion. So prayer, sacrifice, philosophy---all these survive, though they have changed their forms with the development of civilization. In each age religions amalgamate with elements from other religions and systems of thought, and hence assume new forms.

In an introductory study of religion, common superstitions, sacrifices, propitiation of the powers believed to be fearful or responsive to the human approach through prayer and offerings, rites connected with the dead-these and other related fascinating topics may be touched upon. Certain manifestations in society of religious beliefs and injunctions, as for example, witch-hunting in medieval Europe, 'holy' robbery in the form of Thuggee in India, along with the customs such as suttee and such others may similarly be touched upon. This aspect of their study would help the student to realize the developing and evolutionary character of religion and the various stages through which humanity has arrived at the higher religions with the overwhelmingly mataphysical, mystical and ethical content of their teaching. This is an essential and important aspect of what is known as 'Comparative' Religion, and a book such as this compilation, may provide the threshold for its study.

Another significant topic to be touched upon at this stage of the study of religion is the relationship between religion and ethics. While religion in all its forms inevitably seeks to guide human conduct, the evolution of the higher morality in the form of humanitarianism and social responsibility should be a subject of perennial interest to the thoughtful mind. Religion in its tribal or 'national' application may lead to a narrow code or chauvinism, but transcending these it must lead man to that vision wherein in the words of the great Sankara, 'For the man of a noble personality the entire earth is as his family', or where like a St. Francis or a Ramana Maharishi he may feel boundless love for all creation. The higher morality takes_ such forms as the service of mankind, sacrifice of personal comfort and even embracing martyrdom. These are some of the noblest forms of the practice of religion.

The last topic in this study concerns certain expressions to which the practice of religion has led the Indian society. Beginning with the ubiquitous phenomenon of Caste, a brief study has been made of some significant recent movements of reform in some important religious traditions – Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Sikhism.

With all this matter, the book I trust is not, however, heavy fare. Discursive portions have been made easier of comprehension by concrete details and illustrations drawn from the history of religion and society. With this book, the students knowledge particularly of the religious traditions associated with the Indian people and professed by the various societies forming the Indian humanity should be fairly competent.

I take occasion here to express my gratitude to my colleagues in the Department of Religious Studies in this University who have gone into the various themes of this book and the one preceding it, entitled An Advanced Book of Religious Studies and written handy, readable chapters.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         GURBACHAN SINGH TALIB

Department of Religious Studies,

Punjabi University, Patiala.

June 16, 1975.