Devout Observances Summary and Analysis

Anthropomorphic cults are a carry over from earlier cultures and they exist in the forms of various institutions. "Without any intention to command or to deprecate the practices to be spoken of under the head of devout observances, or the spiritual and intellectual traits of which these observances are the expression, the everyday phenomena of current anthropomorphic cults may be taken up from the point of view of the interest which they have for economic theory. What can properly be spoken of here are the tangible, external features of devout observances" (Chap. 12, p. 293).

Veblen says that his point isn't to depreciate the practices of devout observances but to show how they are a part of the culture. It is the mind that is gratified by devout observances, and in many cases it is based on superstitions. The two groups...