• E.B. Tylor and Max Muller were two influential scholars in the field of religious studies during the 19th century. Both of them made significant contributions to the understanding of religion, but their views and approaches were quite different. In this answer, we will critically compare their views on religion.
• E.B. Tylor (1832-1917) was an English anthropologist who is often considered the founder of modern anthropology. He is best known for his work on animism, which he regarded as the most basic form of religion. Tylor believed that religion originated from human beings’ attempts to explain natural phenomena and the world around them. He argued that primitive people, in their efforts to understand the world, attributed life and intention to inanimate objects and natural forces, leading to the belief in spirits and supernatural beings. This belief system, according to Tylor, evolved into more complex religious systems over time.
• Tylor’s approach to the study of religion was primarily based on the comparative method, which involved comparing different religious beliefs and practices across cultures to identify common elements. He believed that by studying the similarities and differences between religions, scholars could trace the development of religious ideas and institutions. Tylor’s work was influential in establishing the field of anthropology as a scientific discipline, and his theories on the evolution of religion were widely accepted at the time.
• Max Muller (1823-1900), on the other hand, was a German-born philologist and orientalist who focused on the study of ancient texts, particularly those from India. Muller’s approach to the study of religion was primarily based on the analysis of sacred texts and the historical development of religious ideas. He believed that religion was a universal human phenomenon, and that its origins could be traced back to a common source, which he called the “Ur-religion.”
• Muller’s main contribution to the study of religion was his emphasis on the importance of language and mythology. He argued that myths were not just primitive stories, but rather expressions of deep religious truths that could only be understood through the study of language and symbolism. Muller believed that by analyzing the linguistic and mythological elements of different religions, scholars could uncover the underlying religious ideas that were common to all human cultures.

There are several key differences between the views of E.B. Tylor and Max Muller on religion:-

1. The origin of religion: Tylor believed that religion originated from human beings’ attempts to explain natural phenomena, while Muller believed that religion had a common source, the “Ur-religion,” which was expressed through language and mythology.

2. The nature of religion: Tylor saw religion as a belief system that evolved over time, while Muller saw it as a universal human phenomenon that was expressed through language and mythology.

3. The method of studying religion: Tylor used the comparative method to study religion, comparing different religious beliefs and practices across cultures. Muller, on the other hand, focused on the analysis of sacred texts and the historical development of religious ideas.

4. The role of mythology: Tylor saw myths as primitive attempts to explain natural phenomena, while Muller believed that myths were expressions of deep religious truths that could only be understood through the study of language and symbolism.

     E.B. Tylor and Max Muller had thus significantly different views on religion, with Tylor focusing on the evolutionary development of religious beliefs and practices, and Muller emphasizing the importance of language and mythology in understanding religion. While both scholars made important contributions to the study of religion, their approaches and theories have been subject to criticism and revision by later scholars in the field.