This book is a survey summarising the approaches taken to religion and magic by the principal scholars in the preceding and present centuries. It is simple, straightforward and short, with a clear, easy-to-read style. It is the perfect reference tool for students, introducing them to the main theories and debates in a readable and informative manner.Key Features* Prepares student for more complex texts on Religious Studies and the idea of religion* Addresses contemporary as well as historical ideas and figures* Includes contextual details on scholars* Over forty individuals covered including: Hegel, Marx, Engels, Weber, Frazer, Freud, Jung, Durkheim, Levy-Bruhl, Skorupski, Levi-Strauss, Lawson, McCauley