{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2328407258","doi":"https://doi.org/10.2307/1386251","title":"The Myth-Ritualist Theory of Religion","display_name":"The Myth-Ritualist Theory of Religion","publication_year":1980,"publication_date":"1980-06-01","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W2328407258","doi":"https://doi.org/10.2307/1386251","mag":"2328407258"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.2307/1386251","doi":"https://doi.org/10.2307/1386251","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.2307/1386251","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S207420867","display_name":"Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion","issn_l":"0021-8294","issn":["0021-8294","1468-5906"],"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["anvur-class-a","anvur-scientific","cwts-core","erih-plus","jufo-3","norway-2","poland-100","russia-white-list-1","vabb-shw"],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320595","host_organization_name":"Wiley","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320595"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Wiley"],"type":"journal"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion","raw_type":"journal-article"},"volume":null,"type":"article","is_traditional":true,"indexed_in":["crossref"],"open_access":{"is_oa":false,"oa_status":"closed","oa_url":null,"any_repository_has_fulltext":false},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5061108325","display_name":"Robert Alan Segal","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2674-3403","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2674-3403"]},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":true,"raw_author_name":"Robert A. Segal","raw_affiliation_strings":["Religious Studies"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Religious Studies","institution_ids":[]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":0,"institutions_distinct_count":0,"corresponding_author_ids":["https://openalex.org/A5061108325"],"corresponding_institution_ids":[],"apc_list":{"value":3240,"currency":"USD","value_usd":3240},"apc_paid":null,"fwci":0.0,"has_fulltext":false,"cited_by_count":20,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":0.48570709,"is_in_top_1_percent":false,"is_in_top_10_percent":false},"cited_by_percentile_year":{"min":88,"max":96},"biblio":{"volume":"19","issue":"2","first_page":"173","last_page":"173"},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T13150","display_name":"Study and Philosophy of Religion","score":0.9984999895095825,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1211","display_name":"Philosophy"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/12","display_name":"Arts and Humanities"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T13150","display_name":"Study and Philosophy of Religion","score":0.9984999895095825,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1211","display_name":"Philosophy"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/12","display_name":"Arts and Humanities"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10509","display_name":"Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology","score":0.00039999998989515007,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3306","display_name":"Health"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/33","display_name":"Social Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11507","display_name":"Religion and Society Interactions","score":0.00019999999494757503,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3312","display_name":"Sociology and Political Science"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/33","display_name":"Social Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/myth","display_name":"myth","score":0.41600000858306885},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/ritual","display_name":"ritual","score":0.996999979019165},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/science-and-religion","display_name":"science and religion","score":0.7440000176429749},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/religion-and-sexuality","display_name":"religion and sexuality","score":0.4880000054836273},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/beliefs-and-practices","display_name":"belief and practice","score":0.6890000104904175},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/modern-religion","display_name":"modern religion","score":0.574999988079071},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/primitive-religion","display_name":"primitive religion","score":0.6840000152587891},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/sociology-of-religion","display_name":"sociology of religion","score":0.49799999594688416},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/theory-of-religion","display_name":"theory of religion","score":0.41499999165534973},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/religion-and-technology","display_name":"religion and technology","score":0.3400000035762787}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C519517224","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12827256","display_name":"Mythology","level":2,"score":0.739295244216919},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C138885662","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5891","display_name":"Philosophy","level":0,"score":0.4187057316303253},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C144024400","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21201","display_name":"Sociology","level":0,"score":0.3927597999572754},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C24667770","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34187","display_name":"Religious studies","level":1,"score":0.37561434507369995},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C111472728","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9471","display_name":"Epistemology","level":1,"score":0.34608685970306396},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C27206212","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34178","display_name":"Theology","level":1,"score":0.18848496675491333}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":1,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.2307/1386251","doi":"https://doi.org/10.2307/1386251","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.2307/1386251","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S207420867","display_name":"Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion","issn_l":"0021-8294","issn":["0021-8294","1468-5906"],"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["anvur-class-a","anvur-scientific","cwts-core","erih-plus","jufo-3","norway-2","poland-100","russia-white-list-1","vabb-shw"],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320595","host_organization_name":"Wiley","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320595"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Wiley"],"type":"journal"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion","raw_type":"journal-article"}],"best_oa_location":null,"sustainable_development_goals":[],"study_designs":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"pdf":false,"grobid_xml":false},"content_urls":null,"referenced_works_count":21,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W576423110","https://openalex.org/W1492805046","https://openalex.org/W1580547935","https://openalex.org/W1600512441","https://openalex.org/W1686475032","https://openalex.org/W1963520621","https://openalex.org/W1970866642","https://openalex.org/W1975323468","https://openalex.org/W2001723811","https://openalex.org/W2041603749","https://openalex.org/W2042049365","https://openalex.org/W2085754712","https://openalex.org/W2270192830","https://openalex.org/W2316583734","https://openalex.org/W2319957064","https://openalex.org/W2321031999","https://openalex.org/W2329694714","https://openalex.org/W2798654426","https://openalex.org/W2799156793","https://openalex.org/W3198462779","https://openalex.org/W4285719527"],"related_works":["https://openalex.org/W1991078753","https://openalex.org/W2791397673","https://openalex.org/W3169919836","https://openalex.org/W4406875707","https://openalex.org/W53302213","https://openalex.org/W4312411869","https://openalex.org/W2494275113","https://openalex.org/W3116846259","https://openalex.org/W7096536877","https://openalex.org/W3106883865"],"abstract_inverted_index":{"According":[0],"to":[1,187,272,329,425],"the":[2,23,27,36,47,80,102,155,178,189,202,206,209,219,231,254,268,274,287,290,294,311,337,340,345,352,356,362,395,400,409,414,422,428,453],"myth-ritualist":[3,48,195,291,341,410,429],"theory,":[4,151,210,455],"religion":[5,20,31,56,70,85,90,110,141,168,198,257,301,348,359,398,406,445,457],"is":[6,50,86,180,199,373,390,431],"primitive":[7,284],"science:":[8],"through":[9],"myth":[10],"and":[11,16,38,42,104,116,169,224,252,258,304,318,349,360,370],"ritual,":[12],"which":[13,57,71,142,211],"operate":[14],"together":[15],"constitute":[17],"its":[18,64,434],"core,":[19],"magically":[21],"manipulates":[22],"world.":[24],"Many":[25],"of":[26,30,35,40,55,69,84,89,101,109,140,157,177,197,221,242,256,276,297,334,402,437,444],"leading":[28,328],"theories":[29,88,108,443],"present":[32],"alternative":[33],"views":[34],"relationship":[37,346],"function":[39],"myths":[41,223,251,308],"rituals.":[43],"Even":[44],"if":[45],"false,":[46,119],"theory":[49,196,269,292,312,342,411,430],"valuable":[51,132],"in":[52,79,159,191,201,215,226,239,246,279,300,417],"suggesting":[53],"aspects":[54,68,139],"might":[58,72,143],"otherwise":[59,144],"get":[60,122],"overlooked.":[61,146],"Similarly,":[62],"charting":[63],"alternatives":[65],"suggests":[66,164,217,412],"other":[67],"also":[73],"be":[74,145,213,419],"missed.":[75],"A":[76],"common":[77],"assumption":[78,296],"social":[81,106],"scientific":[82,107],"study":[83],"that":[87,316,413],"are":[91,97,131,321,376,440],"useful":[92,200],"only":[93],"insofar":[94],"as":[95,124,264,266,281,283,407,446],"they":[96,120,130,381,385],"true.":[98],"Since":[99],"most":[100],"classic":[103],"contemporary":[105],"have":[111],"proved":[112],"at":[113,117,162,183,262],"best":[114,423],"moot":[115],"worst":[118],"often":[121],"dismissed":[123],"worthless.":[125],"Yet":[126],"even":[127],"when":[128],"false":[129],"for":[133,152],"being":[134],"suggestive.":[135],"They":[136],"point":[137],"out":[138],"Whether":[147,171],"or":[148,172],"not":[149,173,379],"Freud's":[150,174],"example,":[153],"exaggerates":[154],"place":[156],"sexuality":[158],"religion,":[160],"it":[161,182,372,389],"least":[163,184,263],"a":[165,298],"link":[166,179,190],"between":[167,302,347,358],"sexuality.":[170],"own":[175],"explanation":[176],"correct,":[181],"prompts":[185],"one":[186,271],"explain":[188],"some":[192],"fashion.":[193],"The":[194,448],"same":[203],"way.":[204],"In":[205,286,336],"first":[207],"place,":[208,289,339],"will":[212],"described":[214],"detail,":[216],"exactly":[218],"importance":[220],"both":[222,277],"rituals":[225,253,261],"religion.":[227,248,285,438],"Modern":[228],"skepticism":[229],"toward":[230,234],"two,":[232],"especially":[233,245],"rituals,":[235,310],"has":[236,364],"perhaps":[237],"resulted":[238],"an":[240],"underestimation":[241],"their":[243,367],"significance,":[244],"modern":[247,280],"By":[249,306,404],"making":[250,260],"heart":[255],"by":[259,314,432],"important":[265],"myths,":[267],"compels":[270],"reconsider":[273],"status":[275],"-":[278,378],"well":[282],"second":[288],"challenges":[293],"ordinary":[295],"gap":[299],"beliefs":[303,317],"practices.":[305],"incorporating":[307],"into":[309],"suggests,":[313],"extrapolation,":[315],"practices":[319],"generally":[320],"more":[322],"united":[323],"than":[324,327],"separate.":[325],"Rather":[326],"practice,":[330],"belief":[331],"becomes":[332],"part":[333],"practice.":[335],"third":[338],"questions":[343],"anew":[344],"science.":[350],"If":[351],"nineteenth":[353],"century":[354],"witnessed":[355,366],"clash":[357],"science,":[361,371,408],"twentieth":[363],"supposedly":[365],"reconciliation.":[368],"Religion":[369],"widely":[374],"preached,":[375],"compatible":[377],"because":[380,384],"coincide":[382],"but":[383],"run":[386],"askew.":[387],"Where,":[388],"typically":[391],"said,":[392],"science":[393],"explains":[394],"physical":[396],"world,":[397],"provides":[399],"meaning":[401],"life.":[403],"treating":[405],"two":[415,442],"may":[416],"fact":[418],"rivals.":[420],"Probably":[421],"way":[424],"begin":[426],"presenting":[427],"describing":[433],"scientific-like":[435],"view":[436],"There":[439],"really":[441],"scientific-like.":[447],"better":[449],"known":[450],"one,":[451],"called":[452],"intellectualist":[454],"considers":[456]},"counts_by_year":[{"year":2025,"cited_by_count":2},{"year":2024,"cited_by_count":3},{"year":2023,"cited_by_count":2},{"year":2022,"cited_by_count":1},{"year":2020,"cited_by_count":1},{"year":2019,"cited_by_count":2},{"year":2017,"cited_by_count":1},{"year":2015,"cited_by_count":2},{"year":2012,"cited_by_count":1}],"updated_date":"2026-11-07T11:25:07.637180","created_date":"2016-06-24T00:00:00"}
