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87:5.1 [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_52#52:1._PRIMITIVE_MAN Primitive man] viewed the spirits and [[ghosts]] as having almost unlimited [[rights]] but no [[duties]]; the spirits were [[thought]] to regard man as having manifold duties but no rights. The spirits were believed to look down upon man as constantly failing in the discharge of his [[spiritual]] [[duties]]. It was the general [[belief]] of [[mankind]] that ghosts levied a [[continuous]] [[tribute]] of [[service]] as the price of noninterference in [[human]] affairs, and the least mischance was laid to ghost [[activities]]. Early [[humans]] were so afraid they might overlook some [[honor]] due the gods that, after they had [[sacrificed]] to all known spirits, they did another turn to the "unknown gods,"[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Acts_of_the_Apostles#Acts.17] just to be thoroughly safe.

87:5.1 [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_52#52:1._PRIMITIVE_MAN Primitive man] viewed the spirits and [[ghosts]] as having almost unlimited [[rights]] but no [[duties]]; the spirits were [[thought]] to regard man as having manifold duties but no rights. The spirits were believed to look down upon man as constantly failing in the discharge of his [[spiritual]] [[duties]]. It was the general [[belief]] of [[mankind]] that ghosts levied a [[continuous]] [[tribute]] of [[service]] as the price of noninterference in [[human]] affairs, and the least mischance was laid to ghost [[activities]]. Early [[humans]] were so afraid they might overlook some [[honor]] due the gods that, after they had [[sacrificed]] to all known spirits, they did another turn to the "unknown gods,"[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Acts_of_the_Apostles#Acts.17] just to be thoroughly safe.

87:5.2 And now the simple [[ghost]] [[cult]] is followed by the [[practices]] of the more advanced and [[relatively]] [[complex]] spirit-ghost cult, the [[service]] and [[worship]] of the higher spirits as they evolved in man's [[primitive]] [[imagination]]. Religious [[ceremonial]] must keep pace with [[spirit]] [[evolution]] and [[progress]]. The expanded [[cult]] was but the art of [[self]]-[[maintenance]] [[practiced]] in relation to [[belief]] in [[supernatural]] [[beings]], [[self]]-[[adjustment]] to spirit environment. [[Industrial]] and [[military]] [[organizations]] were [[adjustments]] to natural and [[social]] [[environments]]. And as [[marriage]] arose to meet the demands of [[bisexuality]], so did [[religious]] [[organization]] evolve in [[response]] to the [[belief]] in higher spirit forces and [[spiritual]] [[beings]]. [[Religion]] [[represents]] man's [[adjustment]] to his [[illusions]] of the [[mystery]] of [[chance]]. Spirit [[fear]] and subsequent [[worship]] were [[adopted]] as insurance against misfortune, as [[prosperity]] [[policies]].

87:5.2 And now the simple [[ghost]] [[cult]] is followed by the [[practices]] of the more advanced and [[relatively]] [[complex]] spirit-ghost cult, the [[service]] and [[worship]] of the higher spirits as they evolved in man's [[primitive]] [[imagination]]. Religious [[ceremonial]] must keep pace with [[spirit]] [[evolution]] and [[progress]]. The expanded [[cult]] was but the art of [[self]]-[[maintenance]] [[practiced]] in relation to [[belief]] in [[supernatural]] [[beings]], [[self]]-[[adjustment]] to spirit environment. [[Industrial]] and [[military]] [[organizations]] were [[adjustments]] to natural and [[social]] [[environments]]. And as [[marriage]] arose to meet the demands of [[bisexuality]], so did [[religious]] [[organization]] evolve in [[response]] to the [[belief]] in higher spirit forces and [[spiritual]] [[beings]]. [[Religion]] [[represents]] man's [[adjustment]] to his [[illusions]] of the [[mystery]] of [[chance]]. Spirit [[fear]] and subsequent [[worship]] were [[adopted]] as insurance against misfortune, as [[prosperity]] [[policies]].

87:5.3 The [[savage]] [[visualizes]] the good spirits as going about their [[business]], requiring little from [[human being]]s. It is the bad ghosts and spirits who must be kept in good [[humor]]. Accordingly, [[primitive]] peoples paid more [[attention]] to their malevolent [[ghosts]] than to their benign spirits.

87:5.3 The [[savage]] [[visualizes]] the good spirits as going about their [[business]], requiring little from [[human being]]s. It is the bad ghosts and spirits who must be kept in good [[humor]]. Accordingly, [[primitive]] peoples paid more [[attention]] to their malevolent [[ghosts]] than to their benign spirits.

87:5.4 [[Human]] [[prosperity]] was supposed to be especially provocative of the [[envy]] of [[evil]] spirits, and their [[method]] of retaliation was to strike back through a [[human]] [[agency]] and by the [[technique]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_eye evil eye]. That [[phase]] of the [[cult]] which had to do with [[spirit]] avoidance was much concerned with the [[machinations]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_eye evil eye]. The [[fear]] of it became almost world-wide. Pretty [[women]] were veiled to [[protect]] them from the evil eye; subsequently many women who [[desired]] to be considered [[beautiful]] adopted this [[practice]]. Because of this fear of bad spirits, [[children]] were seldom allowed out after [[dark]], and the early [[prayers]] always included the petition, "deliver us from the evil eye."[http://www.sacred-texts.com/evil/tee/tee15.htm]

87:5.4 [[Human]] [[prosperity]] was supposed to be especially provocative of the [[envy]] of [[evil]] spirits, and their [[method]] of retaliation was to strike back through a [[human]] [[agency]] and by the [[technique]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_eye evil eye]. That [[phase]] of the [[cult]] which had to do with [[spirit]] avoidance was much concerned with the [[machinations]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_eye evil eye]. The [[fear]] of it became almost world-wide. Pretty [[women]] were veiled to [[protect]] them from the evil eye; subsequently many women who [[desired]] to be considered [[beautiful]] adopted this [[practice]]. Because of this fear of bad spirits, [[children]] were seldom allowed out after [[dark]], and the early [[prayers]] always included the petition, "deliver us from the evil eye."[https://www.sacred-texts.com/evil/tee/tee15.htm]

87:5.5 The [[Koran]] contains a whole chapter devoted to the evil eye and [[magic]] spells, and the Jews fully believed in them. The whole [http://www.archaeology.org/0103/newsbriefs/cult.html phallic cult] grew up as a [[defense]] against evil eye. The organs of [[reproduction]] were thought to be the only [[fetish]] which could render it powerless. The evil eye gave [[origin]] to the first [[superstitions]] respecting prenatal marking of [[children]], maternal impressions, and the [[cult]] was at one time well-nigh [[universal]].

87:5.5 The [[Koran]] contains a whole chapter devoted to the evil eye and [[magic]] spells, and the Jews fully believed in them. The whole [https://www.archaeology.org/0103/newsbriefs/cult.html phallic cult] grew up as a [[defense]] against evil eye. The organs of [[reproduction]] were thought to be the only [[fetish]] which could render it powerless. The evil eye gave [[origin]] to the first [[superstitions]] respecting prenatal marking of [[children]], maternal impressions, and the [[cult]] was at one time well-nigh [[universal]].

87:5.6 [[Envy]] is a deep-seated [[human]] trait; therefore did [[primitive]] man ascribe it to his early gods. And since man had once [[practiced]] [[deception]] upon the [[ghosts]], he soon began to deceive the spirits. Said he, "If the spirits are [[jealous]] of our [[beauty]] and [[prosperity]], we will disfigure ourselves and speak lightly of our success." Early [[humility]] was not, therefore, debasement of [[ego]] but rather an attempt to foil and deceive the envious spirits.

87:5.6 [[Envy]] is a deep-seated [[human]] trait; therefore did [[primitive]] man ascribe it to his early gods. And since man had once [[practiced]] [[deception]] upon the [[ghosts]], he soon began to deceive the spirits. Said he, "If the spirits are [[jealous]] of our [[beauty]] and [[prosperity]], we will disfigure ourselves and speak lightly of our success." Early [[humility]] was not, therefore, debasement of [[ego]] but rather an attempt to foil and deceive the envious spirits.

87:5.8 Under the spirit [[cult]], life was at best a [[gamble]], the result of spirit [[control]]. One's [[future]] was not the result of [[effort]], [[industry]], or [[talent]] except as they might be utilized to [[influence]] the spirits. The [[ceremonies]] of spirit propitiation constituted a heavy burden, rendering life tedious and virtually unendurable. From age to age and from [[generation]] to generation, [[race]] after race has sought to improve this superghost [[doctrine]], but no [[generation]] has ever yet dared to wholly reject it.

87:5.8 Under the spirit [[cult]], life was at best a [[gamble]], the result of spirit [[control]]. One's [[future]] was not the result of [[effort]], [[industry]], or [[talent]] except as they might be utilized to [[influence]] the spirits. The [[ceremonies]] of spirit propitiation constituted a heavy burden, rendering life tedious and virtually unendurable. From age to age and from [[generation]] to generation, [[race]] after race has sought to improve this superghost [[doctrine]], but no [[generation]] has ever yet dared to wholly reject it.

87:5.9 The [[intention]] and will of the spirits were [[studied]] by means of omens, [[oracles]], and signs. And these spirit [[messages]] were [[interpreted]] by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divination divination], soothsaying, [[magic]], [[ordeals]], and [[astrology]]. The whole [[cult]] was a scheme [[designed]] to placate, satisfy, and buy off the spirits through this [[disguised]] bribery.

87:5.9 The [[intention]] and will of the spirits were [[studied]] by means of omens, [[oracles]], and signs. And these spirit [[messages]] were [[interpreted]] by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divination divination], soothsaying, [[magic]], [[ordeals]], and [[astrology]]. The whole [[cult]] was a scheme [[designed]] to placate, satisfy, and buy off the spirits through this [[disguised]] bribery.

87:5.10 And thus there grew up a new and expanded world [[philosophy]] consisting in:

87:5.10 And thus there grew up a new and expanded world [[philosophy]] consisting in:

*3. [[Truth]] —the correct [[understanding]] of, and [[attitude]] toward, spirits, and hence toward life and [[death]].

*3. [[Truth]] —the correct [[understanding]] of, and [[attitude]] toward, spirits, and hence toward life and [[death]].

87:5.11 It was not merely out of [[curiosity]] that the [[ancients]] sought to know the [[future]]; they wanted to dodge ill [[luck]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divination Divination] was simply an attempt to avoid trouble. During these times, [[dreams]] were regarded as [[prophetic]], while [[everything]] out of the ordinary was considered an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omen omen]. And even today the civilized [[races]] are [[cursed]] with the [[belief]] in signs, tokens, and other superstitious remnants of the advancing [[ghost]] [[cult]] of old. Slow, very slow, is man to abandon those [[methods]] whereby he so [[gradually]] and painfully ascended the [[evolutionary]] [[scale]] of life.

87:5.11 It was not merely out of [[curiosity]] that the [[ancients]] sought to know the [[future]]; they wanted to dodge ill [[luck]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divination Divination] was simply an attempt to avoid trouble. During these times, [[dreams]] were regarded as [[prophetic]], while [[everything]] out of the ordinary was considered an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omen omen]. And even today the civilized [[races]] are [[cursed]] with the [[belief]] in signs, tokens, and other superstitious remnants of the advancing [[ghost]] [[cult]] of old. Slow, very slow, is man to abandon those [[methods]] whereby he so [[gradually]] and painfully ascended the [[evolutionary]] [[scale]] of life.

<center>[http://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>

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>

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[[Category:Paper 87 - The Ghost Cults]]

[[Category:Paper 87 - The Ghost Cults]]