[Transcriber's note: The spelling inconsistencies of the originalare retained in this etext.]

An Essay in Economic Interpretation

By

UPTON SINCLAIR

CONTENTS

NEW YORK
VANGUARD PRESS

VANGUARD PRINTINGS
First—January, 1927
Second—April, 1927
Third—June, 1928

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

OFFERTORY

This book is a study of Supernaturalism from a new point of view—as aSource of Income and a Shield to Privilege. I have searched thelibraries through, and no one has done it before. If you read it, youwill see that it needed to be done. It has meant twenty-five years ofthought and a year of investigation. It contains the facts.

I publish the book myself, so that it may be available at the lowestpossible price. I am giving my time and energy, in return for onething which you may give me—the joy of speaking a true word andgetting it heard.

Note to fifth edition, 1926: "The Profits of Religion" was firstpublished early in 1917. The present edition represents a sale of over60,000 copies, without counting a dozen translations. In this editiona few errors have been corrected, but otherwise the book has not beenchanged. The reader will understand that references to the World Warare of the date 1917, prior to America's entrance.

This book is the first of a series of volumes, an economicinterpretation of culture, which now includes "The Brass Check," "TheGoose-step," "The Goslings," and "Mammonart."

CONTENTS

• Introductory

• Bootstrap-lifting
• Religion
  
  

• Book One: The Church of the Conquerors

• The Priestly Lie
• The Great Fear
• Salve Regina!
• Fresh Meat
• Priestly Empires
• Prayer-wheels
• The Butcher-Gods
• The Holy Inquisition
• Hell-fire
  
  

• Book Two: The Church of Good Society

• The Rain Makers
• The Babylonian Fire-God
• The Medicine-men
• ...