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==PAPER 87: THE GHOST CULTS==

==PAPER 87: THE GHOST CULTS==

87:0.1 The ghost cult evolved as an offset to the hazards of bad luck; its primitive religious observances were the outgrowth of anxiety about bad luck and of the inordinate fear of the dead. None of these early religions had much to do with the recognition of Deity or with reverence for the superhuman; their rites were mostly negative, designed to avoid, expel, or coerce ghosts. The ghost cult was nothing more nor less than insurance against disaster; it had nothing to do with investment for higher and future returns.

87:0.1 The [[ghost]] [[cult]] evolved as an offset to the hazards of bad [[luck]]; its [[primitive]] religious [[observances]] were the outgrowth of [[anxiety]] about bad luck and of the inordinate [[fear]] of the [[dead]]. None of these early [[religions]] had much to do with the [[recognition]] of [[Deity]] or with [[reverence]] for the [[superhuman]]; their [[rites]] were mostly [[negative]], designed to avoid, expel, or [[coerce]] [[ghosts]]. The ghost cult was nothing more nor less than insurance against disaster; it had nothing to do with investment for higher and [[future]] returns.

87:0.2 Man has had a long and bitter struggle with the ghost cult. Nothing in human history is designed to excite more pity than this picture of man's abject slavery to ghost-spirit fear. With the birth of this very fear mankind started on the upgrade of religious evolution. Human imagination cast off from the shores of self and will not again find anchor until it arrives at the concept of a true Deity, a real God.

87:0.2 Man has had a long and bitter [[struggle]] with the [[ghost]] [[cult]]. Nothing in [[human]] [[history]] is designed to excite more [[pity]] than this picture of man's abject [[slavery]] to [[ghost]]-spirit [[fear]]. With the [[birth]] of this very fear [[mankind]] started on the upgrade of [[religious]] [[evolution]]. Human [[imagination]] cast off from the shores of [[self]] and will not again find anchor until it arrives at the [[concept]] of a true [[Deity]], a real [[God]].

==87:1. GHOST FEAR==

==87:1. GHOST FEAR==

87:1.1 Death was feared because death meant the liberation of another ghost from its physical body. The ancients did their best to prevent death, to avoid the trouble of having to contend with a new ghost. They were always anxious to induce the ghost to leave the scene of death, to embark on the journey to deadland. The ghost was feared most of all during the supposed transition period between its emergence at the time of death and its later departure for the ghost homeland, a vague and primitive concept of pseudo heaven.

87:1.1 [[Death]] was feared because [[death]] meant the [[liberation]] of another [[ghost]] from its [[physical]] [[body]]. The [[ancients]] did their best to prevent death, to avoid the trouble of having to contend with a new [[ghost]]. They were always [[anxious]] to induce the ghost to leave the scene of [[death]], to embark on the [[journey]] to deadland. The ghost was feared most of all during the supposed [[transition]] period between its [[emergence]] at the time of death and its later departure for the ghost homeland, a vague and primitive [[concept]] of pseudo [[heaven]].

87:1.2 Though the savage credited ghosts with supernatural powers, he hardly conceived of them as having supernatural intelligence. Many tricks and stratagems were practiced in an effort to hoodwink and deceive the ghosts; civilized man still pins much faith on the hope that an outward manifestation of piety will in some manner deceive even an omniscient Deity.

87:1.2 Though the [[savage]] credited ghosts with [[supernatural]] powers, he hardly conceived of them as having [[supernatural]] [[intelligence]]. Many tricks and stratagems were [[practiced]] in an [[effort]] to hoodwink and deceive the [[ghosts]]; civilized man still pins much [[faith]] on the [[hope]] that an outward [[manifestation]] of [[piety]] will in some [[manner]] [[deceive]] even an [[omniscient]] [[Deity]].

87:1.3 The primitives feared sickness because they observed it was often a harbinger of death. If the tribal medicine man failed to cure an afflicted individual, the sick man was usually removed from the family hut, being taken to a smaller one or left in the open air to die alone. A house in which death had occurred was usually destroyed; if not, it was always avoided, and this fear prevented early man from building substantial dwellings. It also militated against the establishment of permanent villages and cities.

87:1.3 The [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_52#52:1._PRIMITIVE_MAN primitives] feared [[sickness]] because they [[observed]] it was often a harbinger of [[death]]. If the tribal [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine_man medicine man] failed to [[cure]] an afflicted [[individual]], the sick man was usually removed from the [[family]] hut, being taken to a smaller one or left in the open air to die alone. A house in which [[death]] had occurred was usually destroyed; if not, it was always avoided, and this [[fear]] prevented early man from building substantial dwellings. It also militated against the [[establishment]] of permanent villages and [[cities]].

87:1.4 The savages sat up all night and talked when a member of the clan died; they feared they too would die if they fell asleep in the vicinity of a corpse. Contagion from the corpse substantiated the fear of the dead, and all peoples, at one time or another, have employed elaborate purification ceremonies designed to cleanse an individual after contact with the dead. The ancients believed that light must be provided for a corpse; a dead body was never permitted to remain in the dark. In the twentieth century, candles are still burned in death chambers, and men still sit up with the dead. So-called civilized man has hardly yet completely eliminated the fear of dead bodies from his philosophy of life.

87:1.4 The [[savages]] sat up all night and talked when a member of the [[clan]] died; they feared they too would die if they fell [[asleep]] in the vicinity of a corpse. [[Contagion]] from the corpse substantiated the [[fear]] of the [[dead]], and all peoples, at one [[time]] or another, have employed elaborate [[purification]] [[ceremonies]] designed to cleanse an [[individual]] after contact with the dead. The [[ancients]] believed that [[light]] must be provided for a corpse; a dead body was never permitted to remain in the [[dark]]. In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_Century twentieth century], candles are still burned in [[death]] chambers, and men still sit up with the dead. So-called civilized man has hardly yet completely eliminated the [[fear]] of dead bodies from his [[philosophy]] of life.

87:1.5 But despite all this fear, men still sought to trick the ghost. If the death hut was not destroyed, the corpse was removed through a hole in the wall, never by way of the door. These measures were taken to confuse the ghost, to prevent its tarrying, and to insure against its return. Mourners also returned from a funeral by a different road, lest the ghost follow. Backtracking and scores of other tactics were practiced to insure that the ghost would not return from the grave. The sexes often exchanged clothes in order to deceive the ghost. Mourning costumes were designed to disguise survivors; later on, to show respect for the dead and thus appease the ghosts.

87:1.5 But despite all this [[fear]], men still sought to trick the [[ghost]]. If the [[death]] hut was not destroyed, the corpse was removed through a hole in the wall, never by way of the door. These measures were taken to [[confuse]] the ghost, to prevent its tarrying, and to insure against its return. Mourners also returned from a [[funeral]] by a different road, lest the [[ghost]] follow. Backtracking and scores of other [[tactics]] were [[practiced]] to insure that the ghost would not return from the [[grave]]. The sexes often exchanged clothes in order to [[deceive]] the ghost. [[Mourning]] [[costumes]] were designed to [[disguise]] survivors; later on, to show [[respect]] for the dead and thus appease the [[ghosts]].

==87:2. GHOST PLACATION==

==87:2. GHOST PLACATION==