James George Frazer

Sir James George Frazer FRS FRSE FBA OM (1 January 1854 – 7 May 1941), was a Scottish social anthropologist influential in the early stages of the modern studies of mythology and comparative religion. He is often considered one of the founding fathers of modern anthropology.

His most famous work, The Golden Bough (1890), documents and details similar magical and religious beliefs across the globe. Frazer posited that human belief progressed through three stages: primitive magic, replaced by religion, in turn replaced by science.

He is buried at the Parish of the Ascension Burial Ground in Cambridge, with his wife Lilly, who died the 8th of May 1941, the day after his own death.

Read more about James George Frazer:  Biography, Origin-of-death Stories, Selected Works

Famous quotes containing the words james, george and/or frazer:

    Since belief is measured by action, he who forbids us to believe religion to be true, necessarily also forbids us to act as we should if we did believe it to be true.
    —William James (1842–1910)

    He that rebels against reason is a real rebel, but he that in defence of reason rebels against tyranny has a better title to “Defender of the Faith,” than George the Third.
    Thomas Paine (1737–1809)

    The awe and dread with which the untutored savage contemplates his mother-in-law are amongst the most familiar facts of anthropology.
    —Sir James George Frazer (1854–1941)