How did E.B. Tylor explain the evolution of religious ideas?

E.B. Tylor, a foundational figure in cultural anthropology, explained the evolution of religious ideas through the lens of progressive development, moving from simple to complex forms.1

The Theory of Animism

Tylor identified animism—defined as the "belief in spiritual beings"—as the most rudimentary form of religion. He proposed that this belief arose from early human attempts to apply reason to natural phenomena. Specifically, he argued that primitive individuals observed the difference between a living body and a corpse, and experienced vivid dreams or apparitions of distant or deceased kin. These experiences led them to conclude that a soul or spirit exists independently of the body.21

Evolution and Survivals

Tylor viewed this "doctrine of souls" as the starting point for a series that expanded into a broader "doctrine of spirits," eventually encompassing powerful deities and demons. He believed cultures evolved from this "crude childlike natural philosophy" toward more complex religious doctrines.2

He also introduced the concept of survivals, which are customs or beliefs that persist into modern times despite losing their original utility or context. For Tylor, these vestiges served as evidence of an earlier, more primitive stage of cultural development.32