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==92:3. THE NATURE OF EVOLUTIONARY RELIGION==

==92:3. THE NATURE OF EVOLUTIONARY RELIGION==

92:3.1 The study of human religion is the examination of the fossil-bearing social strata of past ages. The mores of the anthropomorphic gods are a truthful reflection of the morals of the men who first conceived such deities. Ancient religions and mythology faithfully portray the beliefs and traditions of peoples long since lost in obscurity. These olden cult practices persist alongside newer economic customs and social evolutions and, of course, appear grossly inconsistent. The remnants of the cult present a true picture of the racial religions of the past. Always remember, the cults are formed, not to discover truth, but rather to promulgate their creeds.

92:3.1 The [[study]] of [[human]] [[religion]] is the [[examination]] of the [[fossil]]-bearing [[social]] strata of [[past]] ages. The [[mores]] of the [[anthropomorphic]] gods are a truthful [[reflection]] of the [[morals]] of the men who first conceived such [[deities]]. [[Ancient]] religions and [[mythology]] faithfully portray the [[beliefs]] and [[traditions]] of peoples long since lost in obscurity. These olden [[cult]] [[practices]] [[persist]] alongside newer [[economic]] [[customs]] and [[social]] evolutions and, of course, appear grossly inconsistent. The remnants of the [[cult]] present a true picture of the racial religions of the past. Always remember, the cults are formed, not to [[discover]] [[truth]], but rather to promulgate their creeds.

92:3.2 Religion has always been largely a matter of rites, rituals, observances, ceremonies, and dogmas. It has usually become tainted with that persistently mischief-making error, the chosen-people delusion. The cardinal religious ideas of incantation, inspiration, revelation, propitiation, repentance, atonement, intercession, sacrifice, prayer, confession, worship, survival after death, sacrament, ritual, ransom, salvation, redemption, covenant, uncleanness, purification, prophecy, original sin—they all go back to the early times of primordial ghost fear.

92:3.2 [[Religion]] has always been largely a matter of rites, [[rituals]], observances, [[ceremonies]], and [[dogmas]]. It has usually become tainted with that [[persistently]] mischief-making [[error]], the [[chosen-people]] [[delusion]]. The cardinal religious [[ideas]] of [[incantation]], [[inspiration]], [[revelation]], propitiation, [[repentance]], [[atonement]], [[intercession]], [[sacrifice]], [[prayer]], [[confession]], [[worship]], [[survival]] after [[death]], [[sacrament]], [[ritual]], ransom, salvation, redemption, covenant, uncleanness, purification, [[prophecy]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_sin original sin]—they all go back to the early times of primordial [[ghost]] [[fear]].

92:3.3 Primitive religion is nothing more nor less than the struggle for material existence extended to embrace existence beyond the grave. The observances of such a creed represented the extension of the self-maintenance struggle into the domain of an imagined ghost-spirit world. But when tempted to criticize evolutionary religion, be careful. Remember, that is what happened; it is a historical fact. And further recall that the power of any idea lies, not in its certainty or truth, but rather in the vividness of its human appeal.

92:3.3 [[Primitive]] [[religion]] is nothing more nor less than the [[struggle]] for [[material]] [[existence]] extended to [[embrace]] existence beyond the grave. The [[observances]] of such a creed [[represented]] the extension of the [[self]]-[[maintenance]] struggle into the [[domain]] of an [[imagined]] ghost-spirit world. But when tempted to criticize evolutionary religion, be careful. Remember, that is what happened; it is a historical [[fact]]. And further recall that the [[power]] of any [[idea]] lies, not in its certainty or [[truth]], but rather in the vividness of its [[human]] [[appeal]].

92:3.4 Evolutionary religion makes no provision for change or revision; unlike science, it does not provide for its own progressive correction. Evolved religion commands respect because its followers believe it is The Truth; " the faith once delivered to the saints " must, in theory, be both final and infallible. The cult resists development because real progress is certain to modify or destroy the cult itself; therefore must revision always be forced upon it.

92:3.4 Evolutionary [[religion]] makes no provision for [[change]] or revision; unlike [[science]], it does not provide for its own [[progressive]] [[correction]]. Evolved religion commands respect because its followers believe it is The Truth; "the faith once delivered to the saints"[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Letter_of_Jude] must, in [[theory]], be both final and infallible. The [[cult]] resists [[development]] because real [[progress]] is certain to [[modify]] or destroy the [[cult]] itself; therefore must revision always be forced upon it.

92:3.5 Only two influences can modify and uplift the dogmas of natural religion: the pressure of the slowly advancing mores and the periodic illumination of epochal revelation. And it is not strange that progress was slow; in ancient days, to be progressive or inventive meant to be killed as a sorcerer. The cult advances slowly in generation epochs and agelong cycles. But it does move forward. Evolutionary belief in ghosts laid the foundation for a philosophy of revealed religion which will eventually destroy the superstition of its origin.

92:3.5 Only two [[influences]] can [[modify]] and uplift the [[dogmas]] of [[natural]] [[religion]]: the [[pressure]] of the slowly advancing [[mores]] and the periodic [[illumination]] of [[epochal]] [[revelation]]. And it is not strange that [[progress]] was slow; in [[ancient]] days, to be [[progressive]] or [[inventive]] meant to be killed as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magician_%28paranormal%29 sorcerer]. The [[cult]] advances slowly in [[generation]] [[epochs]] and agelong [[cycles]]. But it does move forward. Evolutionary [[belief]] in [[ghosts]] laid the [[foundation]] for a [[philosophy]] of revealed religion which will [[eventually]] destroy the [[superstition]] of its [[origin]].

92:3.6 Religion has handicapped social development in many ways, but without religion there would have been no enduring morality nor ethics, no worth-while civilization. Religion enmothered much nonreligious culture: Sculpture originated in idol making, architecture in temple building, poetry in incantations, music in worship chants, drama in the acting for spirit guidance, and dancing in the seasonal worship festivals.

92:3.6 [[Religion]] has [[handicapped]] [[social]] [[development]] in many ways, but without religion there would have been no enduring [[morality]] nor [[ethics]], no worth-while [[civilization]]. [[Religion]] en[[mother]]ed much nonreligious [[culture]]: [[Sculpture]] originated in [[idol]] making, [[architecture]] in [[temple]] building, [[poetry]] in [[incantations]], [[music]] in [[worship]] [[chants]], [[drama]] in the acting for spirit [[guidance]], and [[dancing]] in the seasonal [[worship]] festivals.

92:3.7 But while calling attention to the fact that religion was essential to the development and preservation of civilization, it should be recorded that natural religion has also done much to cripple and handicap the very civilization which it otherwise fostered and maintained. Religion has hampered industrial activities and economic development; it has been wasteful of labor and has squandered capital; it has not always been helpful to the family; it has not adequately fostered peace and good will; it has sometimes neglected education and retarded science; it has unduly impoverished life for the pretended enrichment of death. Evolutionary religion, human religion, has indeed been guilty of all these and many more mistakes, errors, and blunders; nevertheless, it did maintain cultural ethics, civilized morality, and social coherence, and made it possible for later revealed religion to compensate for these many evolutionary shortcomings.

92:3.7 But while calling [[attention]] to the [[fact]] that [[religion]] was [[essential]] to the [[development]] and preservation of [[civilization]], it should be recorded that [[natural]] [[religion]] has also done much to cripple and [[handicap]] the very [[civilization]] which it otherwise fostered and [[maintained]]. [[Religion]] has hampered [[industrial]] [[activities]] and [[economic]] [[development]]; it has been wasteful of labor and has squandered [[capital]]; it has not always been helpful to the [[family]]; it has not adequately fostered [[peace]] and good will; it has sometimes neglected [[education]] and retarded [[science]]; it has unduly impoverished life for the pretended enrichment of [[death]]. Evolutionary religion, [[human]] [[religion]], has indeed been [[guilty]] of all these and many more mistakes, [[errors]], and blunders; nevertheless, it did maintain [[cultural]] [[ethics]], civilized [[morality]], and social coherence, and made it possible for later revealed [[religion]] to [[compensate]] for these many evolutionary shortcomings.

92:3.8 Evolutionary religion has been man's most expensive but incomparably effective institution. Human religion can be justified only in the light of evolutionary civilization. If man were not the ascendant product of animal evolution, then would such a course of religious development stand without justification.

92:3.8 [[Evolutionary]] religion has been man's most expensive but incomparably [[effective]] [[institution]]. Human religion can be justified only in the light of evolutionary [[civilization]]. If man were not the ascendant product of [[animal]] evolution, then would such a [[course]] of religious [[development]] stand without [[justification]].

92:3.9 Religion facilitated the accumulation of capital; it fostered work of certain kinds; the leisure of the priests promoted art and knowledge; the race, in the end, gained much as a result of all these early errors in ethical technique. The shamans, honest and dishonest, were terribly expensive, but they were worth all they cost. The learned professions and science itself emerged from the parasitical priesthoods. Religion fostered civilization and provided societal continuity; it has been the moral police force of all time. Religion provided that human discipline and self-control which made wisdom possible. Religion is the efficient scourge of evolution which ruthlessly drives indolent and suffering humanity from its natural state of intellectual inertia forward and upward to the higher levels of reason and wisdom.

92:3.9 [[Religion]] [[facilitated]] the accumulation of [[capital]]; it fostered [[work]] of certain kinds; the [[leisure]] of the [[priests]] promoted [[art]] and [[knowledge]]; the [[race]], in the end, gained much as a result of all these early errors in [[ethical]] [[technique]]. The [[shamans]], [[honest]] and dishonest, were terribly expensive, but they were worth all they cost. The learned [[professions]] and [[science]] itself emerged from the [[parasitical]] priesthoods. [[Religion]] fostered [[civilization]] and provided societal [[continuity]]; it has been the [[moral]] [[police]] force of all time. Religion provided that human [[discipline]] and [[self-control]] which made [[wisdom]] possible. [[Religion]] is the [[efficient]] scourge of evolution which ruthlessly drives [[indolent]] and suffering [[humanity]] from its natural [[state]] of [[intellectual]] [[inertia]] forward and upward to the higher levels of [[reason]] and [[wisdom]].

92:3.10 And this sacred heritage of animal ascent, evolutionary religion, must ever continue to be refined and ennobled by the continuous censorship of revealed religion and by the fiery furnace of genuine science.

92:3.10 And this [[sacred]] [[heritage]] of animal [[ascent]], evolutionary [[religion]], must ever continue to be refined and ennobled by the [[continuous]] censorship of revealed religion and by the fiery furnace of [[genuine]] [[science]].

==92:4. THE GIFT OF REVELATION==

==92:4. THE GIFT OF REVELATION==