Changes

87:2.2 It was once [[thought]] that the great [[desire]] of a [[ghost]] was to be quickly "laid" so that it might proceed undisturbed to deadland. Any error of commission or omission in the [[acts]] of the living in the [[ritual]] of laying the [[ghost]] was sure to delay its [[progress]] to ghostland. This was believed to be displeasing to the ghost, and an angered ghost was supposed to be a [[source]] of [[calamity]], misfortune, and unhappiness.

87:2.2 It was once [[thought]] that the great [[desire]] of a [[ghost]] was to be quickly "laid" so that it might proceed undisturbed to deadland. Any error of commission or omission in the [[acts]] of the living in the [[ritual]] of laying the [[ghost]] was sure to delay its [[progress]] to ghostland. This was believed to be displeasing to the ghost, and an angered ghost was supposed to be a [[source]] of [[calamity]], misfortune, and unhappiness.

87:2.3 The [[funeral]] [[service]] originated in man's [[effort]] to induce the ghost [[soul]] to depart for its [[future]] [[home]], and the funeral sermon was originally designed to instruct the new ghost how to get there. It was the [[custom]] to provide [[food]] and clothes for the ghost's [[journey]], these articles being placed in or near the grave. The savage believed that it required from three days to a year to " lay the ghost "—to get it away from the vicinity of the grave. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskimos Eskimos] still believe that the [[soul]] stays with the [[body]] three days.

87:2.3 The [[funeral]] [[service]] originated in man's [[effort]] to induce the ghost [[soul]] to depart for its [[future]] [[home]], and the funeral sermon was originally designed to instruct the new ghost how to get there. It was the [[custom]] to provide [[food]] and clothes for the ghost's [[journey]], these articles being placed in or near the grave. The savage believed that it required from three days to a year to " lay the ghost "—to get it away from the vicinity of the grave. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskimos Eskimos] still believe that the [[soul]] stays with the [[body]] three days.

87:2.4 [[Silence]] or [[mourning]] was [[observed]] after a [[death]] so that the ghost would not be attracted back [[home]]. Self-[[torture]]—wounds—was a common form of mourning. Many advanced teachers tried to stop this, but they failed. [[Fasting]] and other forms of self-denial were thought to be pleasing to the [[ghosts]], who took [[pleasure]] in the discomfort of the living during the [[transition]] period of lurking about before their actual departure for deadland.

87:2.4 [[Silence]] or [[mourning]] was [[observed]] after a [[death]] so that the ghost would not be attracted back [[home]]. Self-[[torture]]—wounds—was a common form of mourning. Many advanced teachers tried to stop this, but they failed. [[Fasting]] and other forms of self-denial were thought to be pleasing to the [[ghosts]], who took [[pleasure]] in the discomfort of the living during the [[transition]] period of lurking about before their actual departure for deadland.

87:2.5 Long and frequent periods of [[mourning]] inactivity were one of the great obstacles to [[civilization]]'s advancement. Weeks and even months of each year were [[literally]] wasted in this nonproductive and useless [[mourning]]. The [[fact]] that [[professional]] mourners were hired for funeral occasions indicates that mourning was a [[ritual]], not an [[evidence]] of sorrow. [[Moderns]] may mourn the dead out of [[respect]] and because of bereavement, but the [[ancients]] did this because of [[fear]].

87:2.5 Long and frequent periods of [[mourning]] inactivity were one of the great obstacles to [[civilization]]'s advancement. Weeks and even months of each year were [[literally]] wasted in this nonproductive and useless [[mourning]]. The [[fact]] that [[professional]] mourners were hired for funeral occasions indicates that mourning was a [[ritual]], not an [[evidence]] of sorrow. [[Moderns]] may mourn the dead out of [[respect]] and because of bereavement, but the [[ancients]] did this because of [[fear]].

87:2.6 The [[names]] of the dead were never spoken. In [[fact]], they were often banished from the [[language]]. These names became [[taboo]], and in this way the [[languages]] were constantly impoverished. This [[eventually]] produced a multiplication of [[symbolic]] [[speech]] and figurative [[expression]], such as "the name or day one never mentions."[http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Which_one_reindeer_was_never_mentioned_in_The_Night_Before_Christmas]

87:2.6 The [[names]] of the dead were never spoken. In [[fact]], they were often banished from the [[language]]. These names became [[taboo]], and in this way the [[languages]] were constantly impoverished. This [[eventually]] produced a multiplication of [[symbolic]] [[speech]] and figurative [[expression]], such as "the name or day one never mentions."[https://wiki.answers.com/Q/Which_one_reindeer_was_never_mentioned_in_The_Night_Before_Christmas]

87:2.7 The [[ancients]] were so [[anxious]] to get rid of a [[ghost]] that they offered it [[everything]] which might have been desired during life. Ghosts wanted [[wives]] and servants; a well-to-do savage expected that at least one [[slave]] wife would be [[buried]] alive at his [[death]]. It later became the [[custom]] for a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widow widow] to commit [[suicide]] on her [[husband]]'s grave. When a [[child]] died, the [[mother]], aunt, or grandmother was often strangled in order that an adult [[ghost]] might accompany and care for the child ghost. And those who thus gave up their lives usually did so willingly; indeed, had they lived in violation of [[custom]], their [[fear]] of ghost wrath would have denuded life of such few [[pleasures]] as the [[primitives]] enjoyed.

87:2.7 The [[ancients]] were so [[anxious]] to get rid of a [[ghost]] that they offered it [[everything]] which might have been desired during life. Ghosts wanted [[wives]] and servants; a well-to-do savage expected that at least one [[slave]] wife would be [[buried]] alive at his [[death]]. It later became the [[custom]] for a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widow widow] to commit [[suicide]] on her [[husband]]'s grave. When a [[child]] died, the [[mother]], aunt, or grandmother was often strangled in order that an adult [[ghost]] might accompany and care for the child ghost. And those who thus gave up their lives usually did so willingly; indeed, had they lived in violation of [[custom]], their [[fear]] of ghost wrath would have denuded life of such few [[pleasures]] as the [[primitives]] enjoyed.

87:2.8 It was customary to dispatch a large number of subjects to accompany a dead chief; [[slaves]] were killed when their master died that they might serve him in ghostland. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borneo Borneans] still provide a courier companion; a [[slave]] is speared to [[death]] to make the ghost [[journey]] with his deceased master. Ghosts of murdered [[persons]] were believed to be delighted to have the ghosts of their murderers as slaves; this notion motivated men to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_hunting head hunting].

87:2.8 It was customary to dispatch a large number of subjects to accompany a dead chief; [[slaves]] were killed when their master died that they might serve him in ghostland. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borneo Borneans] still provide a courier companion; a [[slave]] is speared to [[death]] to make the ghost [[journey]] with his deceased master. Ghosts of murdered [[persons]] were believed to be delighted to have the ghosts of their murderers as slaves; this notion motivated men to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_hunting head hunting].

87:2.9 [[Ghosts]] supposedly enjoyed the smell of [[food]]; food offerings at funeral feasts were once universal. The primitive method of saying grace was, before eating, to throw a bit of food into the [[fire]] for the [[purpose]] of appeasing the spirits, while mumbling a [[magic]] [[formula]].

87:2.9 [[Ghosts]] supposedly enjoyed the smell of [[food]]; food offerings at funeral feasts were once universal. The primitive method of saying grace was, before eating, to throw a bit of food into the [[fire]] for the [[purpose]] of appeasing the spirits, while mumbling a [[magic]] [[formula]].

87:2.10 The dead were supposed to use the ghosts of the tools and weapons that were theirs in life. To break an article was to "kill it," thus releasing its ghost to pass on for [[service]] in ghostland. [[Property]] [[sacrifices]] were also made by burning or [[burying]]. [[Ancient]] funeral wastes were enormous. Later races made [[paper]] models and substituted drawings for real objects and [[persons]] in these [[death]] [[sacrifices]]. It was a great advance in [[civilization]] when the [[inheritance]] of kin replaced the burning and [[burying]] of [[property]]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iroquois Iroquois] Indians made many reforms in funeral waste. And this [[conservation]] of [[property]] enabled them to become the most [[powerful]] of the northern red men. [[Modern]] man is not supposed to [[fear]] [[ghosts]], but [[custom]] is strong, and much [[terrestrial]] wealth is still consumed on funeral [[rituals]] and [[death]] [[ceremonies]].

87:2.10 The dead were supposed to use the ghosts of the tools and weapons that were theirs in life. To break an article was to "kill it," thus releasing its ghost to pass on for [[service]] in ghostland. [[Property]] [[sacrifices]] were also made by burning or [[burying]]. [[Ancient]] funeral wastes were enormous. Later races made [[paper]] models and substituted drawings for real objects and [[persons]] in these [[death]] [[sacrifices]]. It was a great advance in [[civilization]] when the [[inheritance]] of kin replaced the burning and [[burying]] of [[property]]. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iroquois Iroquois] Indians made many reforms in funeral waste. And this [[conservation]] of [[property]] enabled them to become the most [[powerful]] of the northern red men. [[Modern]] man is not supposed to [[fear]] [[ghosts]], but [[custom]] is strong, and much [[terrestrial]] wealth is still consumed on funeral [[rituals]] and [[death]] [[ceremonies]].

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_87 Go to Paper 87]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_87 Go to Paper 87]</center>