The Golden Bough - J. G. Frazer "The Golden Bough" is a comparative study of mythology and religion, written by Scottish anthropologist Sir James George Frazer. Frazer posited that human belief progressed through three stages: primitive magic, replaced by religion, in turn replaced by science. The book surveys the spiritual beliefs, practices, and institutions of cultures worldwide and provides detailed descriptions of esoteric rites and ceremonies, analysis of recurrent motifs in myth, and interpretation of the "primitive" worldview. Frazer's work continues to be an important reference, drawing on the beliefs and customs of ancient European civilisations and primitive cultures throughout the world.