ABSTRACT
Earlier chapters have referred continually to myth, with many formulations analyzing Eliade's theory of myth and with numerous examples of myth illustrating Eliade's analysis of reductionism, religion, and symbolism. Most of what has been presented has not been unique to myth. For example, one cannot grasp Eliade's theory of myth without appreciating his antireductionist approach. It is necessary to be cognizant of the fact that whenever Eliade writes about myth, he is assuming the irreducibility of the sacred, thus focusing on certain religious dimensions of his data while ignoring, devaluing, and sometimes attacking and dismissing other aspects emphasized by reductionist theorists of myth. But Eliade's antireductionism is not restricted to myth. He assumes the irreducibility of the sacred and claims to be giving antireductionistic interpretations of nonmythic religious, as well as mythic, phenomena.
