[Transcriber's note: The spelling inconsistencies of the original are 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 a Source of Income and a Shield to Privilege. I have searched the libraries through, and no one has done it before. If you read it, you will see that it needed to be done. It has meant twenty-five years of thought and a year of investigation. It contains the facts.

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

Note to fifth edition, 1926: "The Profits of Religion" was first published early in 1917. The present edition represents a sale of over 60,000 copies, without counting a dozen translations. In this edition a few errors have been corrected, but otherwise the book has not been changed. The reader will understand that references to the World War are of the date 1917, prior to America's entrance.

This book is the first of a series of volumes, an economic interpretation of culture, which now includes "The Brass Check," "The Goose-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
• The Canonization of Incompetence
• Gibson's Preservative
• The Elders
• Church History
• Land and Livings
• Graft in Tail
• Bishops and Beer
• Anglicanism and Alcohol
• Dead Cats
• "Suffer Little Children"
• The Court-circular
• Horn-blowing
• Trinity Corporation
• Spiritual Interpretation
  
  

• Book Three: The Church