Download or read book The Archaeology of Ritual and Magic written by Ralph Merrifield and published by New Amsterdam Books. This book was released on 1988 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ralph Merrifield systematically examines the evidence from prehistoric times to the present and demonstrates that all through the fundamental changes of belief--from primitive animism to Christianity to scientific rationalism--the same kinds of simple ritual have survived because they answer deep human needs.