1. Why do we speak of ‘basic” rather than “primitive” religions? We speak of basic religion because basic religion came from prehistory or are practiced in remote places. And elements of the basic religions are found to some degree in all religions. Basic religions represent the majority of the total religious experience of humankind. While primitive religion carries with it connotations of being backward, simple, even childlike. Christian or Muslim or Jew may tend to look down on these religions as being superstitious, uncivilized, or even savage. The term is misleading in suggesting that the religions of those peoples are somehow less complex than the religions of "advanced" societies.
2. What are the two primary sources of information about basic religions? How trustworthy are these sources?
The first is contemporary basic religions and the second source of information is archaeology. It is more difficult to use contem- porary data to speculate about the origins and earliest forms of religion. All contemporary societies, even the most technologically simple, have long and complex histories. While on the other hand Archaeologists main sources of information are likely burial sites, weapons, and tools. Archaeological results depend on the interpretations of the investigator. Therefore information we can’t say archaeological sources are trustworthy; we can only give credit to their investigation.
3. What do we believe was the purpose of the Cro-Magnon cave paintings? The purpose of these paintings is that they were placed on the hidden walls of the caves by priests or magicians before the hunt. It is believed that by painting the animals being killed or by retracing the paintings, the priests were hoping to predict the events of a successful hunt.
4. Define animism , and give several examples of surviving animism in modern life.
Animism is the belief