Difference between revisions of "68:3 Socializing Influence of Ghost Fear"
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68:3.2 Probably the greatest single [[factor]] in the [[evolution]] of [[human]] [[society]] was the [[ghost]] [[dream]]. Although most [[dreams]] greatly perturbed the [[primitive]] [[mind]], the [[ghost]] [[dream]] actually [[terrorized]] early men, driving these [[superstitious]] dreamers into each other's arms in willing and [[earnest]] [[association]] for [[mutual]] [[protection]] against the vague and [[unseen]] [[imaginary]] [[dangers]] of the [[spirit]] world. The [[ghost]] [[dream]] was one of the earliest appearing [[differences]] between the [[animal]] and [[human]] types of [[mind]]. [[Animals]] do not [[visualize]] [[survival]] after [[death]]. | 68:3.2 Probably the greatest single [[factor]] in the [[evolution]] of [[human]] [[society]] was the [[ghost]] [[dream]]. Although most [[dreams]] greatly perturbed the [[primitive]] [[mind]], the [[ghost]] [[dream]] actually [[terrorized]] early men, driving these [[superstitious]] dreamers into each other's arms in willing and [[earnest]] [[association]] for [[mutual]] [[protection]] against the vague and [[unseen]] [[imaginary]] [[dangers]] of the [[spirit]] world. The [[ghost]] [[dream]] was one of the earliest appearing [[differences]] between the [[animal]] and [[human]] types of [[mind]]. [[Animals]] do not [[visualize]] [[survival]] after [[death]]. | ||
| − | 68:3.3 Except for this [[ghost]] [[factor]], all [[society]] was founded on [[fundamental]] needs and basic [[biologic]] urges. But [[ghost]] [[fear]] introduced a new [[factor]] in [[civilization]], a [[fear]] which reaches out and away from the elemental needs of the [[individual]], and which rises far above even the [[struggles]] to [[maintain]] the [[group]]. The dread of the departed [[spirits]] of the [[dead]] brought to [[light]] a new and amazing form of [[fear]], an appalling and [[powerful]] [[terror]], which [[contributed]] to whipping the loose [[social]] orders of early ages into the more thoroughly [[disciplined]] and better [[controlled]] [[primitive]] [[groups]] of ancient times. This senseless [[superstition]], some of which still [[persists]], [[prepared]] the [[minds]] of men, through [[superstitious]] [[fear]] of the unreal and the [[supernatural]], for the later [[discovery]] of "the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom."[ | + | 68:3.3 Except for this [[ghost]] [[factor]], all [[society]] was founded on [[fundamental]] needs and basic [[biologic]] urges. But [[ghost]] [[fear]] introduced a new [[factor]] in [[civilization]], a [[fear]] which reaches out and away from the elemental needs of the [[individual]], and which rises far above even the [[struggles]] to [[maintain]] the [[group]]. The dread of the departed [[spirits]] of the [[dead]] brought to [[light]] a new and amazing form of [[fear]], an appalling and [[powerful]] [[terror]], which [[contributed]] to whipping the loose [[social]] orders of early ages into the more thoroughly [[disciplined]] and better [[controlled]] [[primitive]] [[groups]] of ancient times. This senseless [[superstition]], some of which still [[persists]], [[prepared]] the [[minds]] of men, through [[superstitious]] [[fear]] of the unreal and the [[supernatural]], for the later [[discovery]] of "the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Proverbs#Proverb_.9] The baseless [[fears]] of [[evolution]] are [[designed]] to be supplanted by the [[awe]] for [[Deity]] [[inspired]] by [[revelation]]. The early [[cult]] of [[ghost]] [[fear]] became a [[powerful]] [[social]] bond, and ever since that far-distant day [[mankind]] has been striving more or less for the [[attainment]] of [[spirituality]]. |
68:3.4 [[Hunger]] and [[love]] drove men [[together]]; [[vanity]] and [[ghost]] [[fear]] held them [[together]]. But these [[emotions]] alone, without the [[influence]] of [[peace]]-promoting [[revelations]], are unable to [[endure]] the [[strain]] of the [[suspicions]] and irritations of [[human]] [[interassociations]]. Without help from superhuman [[sources]] the strain of [[society]] breaks down upon reaching certain [[limits]], and these very [[influences]] of social mobilization—[[hunger]], [[love]], [[vanity]], and [[fear]]—[[conspire]] to plunge [[mankind]] into [[war]] and bloodshed. | 68:3.4 [[Hunger]] and [[love]] drove men [[together]]; [[vanity]] and [[ghost]] [[fear]] held them [[together]]. But these [[emotions]] alone, without the [[influence]] of [[peace]]-promoting [[revelations]], are unable to [[endure]] the [[strain]] of the [[suspicions]] and irritations of [[human]] [[interassociations]]. Without help from superhuman [[sources]] the strain of [[society]] breaks down upon reaching certain [[limits]], and these very [[influences]] of social mobilization—[[hunger]], [[love]], [[vanity]], and [[fear]]—[[conspire]] to plunge [[mankind]] into [[war]] and bloodshed. | ||
| − | 68:3.5 The [[peace]] [[tendency]] of the [[human]] [[race]] is not a [[natural]] [[endowment]]; it is derived from the [[teachings]] of [[revealed]] [[religion]], from the accumulated [[experience]] of the [[progressive]] [[races]], but more especially from the [[teachings]] of [[Jesus]], the [ | + | 68:3.5 The [[peace]] [[tendency]] of the [[human]] [[race]] is not a [[natural]] [[endowment]]; it is derived from the [[teachings]] of [[revealed]] [[religion]], from the accumulated [[experience]] of the [[progressive]] [[races]], but more especially from the [[teachings]] of [[Jesus]], the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_52#52:6._URANTIA.27S_POST-BESTOWAL_AGE Prince of Peace]. |
| − | <center>[ | + | <center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_68 Go to Paper 68]</center> |
| − | <center>[ | + | <center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center> |
[[Category:Paper 68 - The Dawn of Civilization]] | [[Category:Paper 68 - The Dawn of Civilization]] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:55, 12 December 2020
68:3.1 Primitive desires produced the original society, but ghost fear held it together and imparted an extrahuman aspect to its existence. Common fear was physiological in origin: fear of physical pain, unsatisfied hunger, or some earthly calamity; but ghost fear was a new and sublime sort of terror.
68:3.2 Probably the greatest single factor in the evolution of human society was the ghost dream. Although most dreams greatly perturbed the primitive mind, the ghost dream actually terrorized early men, driving these superstitious dreamers into each other's arms in willing and earnest association for mutual protection against the vague and unseen imaginary dangers of the spirit world. The ghost dream was one of the earliest appearing differences between the animal and human types of mind. Animals do not visualize survival after death.
68:3.3 Except for this ghost factor, all society was founded on fundamental needs and basic biologic urges. But ghost fear introduced a new factor in civilization, a fear which reaches out and away from the elemental needs of the individual, and which rises far above even the struggles to maintain the group. The dread of the departed spirits of the dead brought to light a new and amazing form of fear, an appalling and powerful terror, which contributed to whipping the loose social orders of early ages into the more thoroughly disciplined and better controlled primitive groups of ancient times. This senseless superstition, some of which still persists, prepared the minds of men, through superstitious fear of the unreal and the supernatural, for the later discovery of "the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom."[1] The baseless fears of evolution are designed to be supplanted by the awe for Deity inspired by revelation. The early cult of ghost fear became a powerful social bond, and ever since that far-distant day mankind has been striving more or less for the attainment of spirituality.
68:3.4 Hunger and love drove men together; vanity and ghost fear held them together. But these emotions alone, without the influence of peace-promoting revelations, are unable to endure the strain of the suspicions and irritations of human interassociations. Without help from superhuman sources the strain of society breaks down upon reaching certain limits, and these very influences of social mobilization—hunger, love, vanity, and fear—conspire to plunge mankind into war and bloodshed.
68:3.5 The peace tendency of the human race is not a natural endowment; it is derived from the teachings of revealed religion, from the accumulated experience of the progressive races, but more especially from the teachings of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
