The Belief in Immortality and the Worship of the Dead, Volume 2 (of 3) The Belief Among the Polynesians

"The Belief in Immortality and the Worship of the Dead, Volume 2" by Sir James George Frazer is a study of Polynesian cultures' understanding of life, death, and the afterlife. Focusing on societies such as the Maoris, the book examines their unique rituals and spiritual beliefs connected to immortality and honoring the dead. It begins with the discovery of Polynesians and outlines their shared racial and cultural traits despite being spread across the Pacific. The narrative dives into the Maoris, covering their history and unique cultural traits, especially their complex connection to the spirit world. It then shifts to the specific beliefs the Maoris hold about the human soul, how it interacts with the living, and sets the groundwork for exploring their funeral practices and concepts of life after death, revealing how these island cultures navigate the mysteries of existence beyond the physical world.