Changes

89:3.2 Just about the time [[barbarian]] man was recovering from the wasteful [[practice]] of burning and burying [[property]] with the [[dead]], just as the [[economic]] [[structure]] of the races was beginning to take shape, this new [[religious]] [[doctrine]] of [[renunciation]] appeared, and tens of thousands of earnest [[souls]] began to court [[poverty]]. [[Property]] was regarded as a [[spiritual]] [[handicap]]. These notions of the [[spiritual]] [dangers] of [[material]] possession were widespreadly entertained in the times of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philo Philo] and [[Paul]], and they have markedly [[influenced]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_philosophy European philosophy] ever since.

89:3.2 Just about the time [[barbarian]] man was recovering from the wasteful [[practice]] of burning and burying [[property]] with the [[dead]], just as the [[economic]] [[structure]] of the races was beginning to take shape, this new [[religious]] [[doctrine]] of [[renunciation]] appeared, and tens of thousands of earnest [[souls]] began to court [[poverty]]. [[Property]] was regarded as a [[spiritual]] [[handicap]]. These notions of the [[spiritual]] [dangers] of [[material]] possession were widespreadly entertained in the times of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philo Philo] and [[Paul]], and they have markedly [[influenced]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_philosophy European philosophy] ever since.

89:3.3 [[Poverty]] was just a part of the [[ritual]] of the mortification of the flesh which, unfortunately, became incorporated into the [[writings]] and teachings of many religions, notably [[Christianity]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penance Penance] is the [[negative]] form of this ofttimes foolish [[ritual]] of [[renunciation]]. But all this taught the savage [[self-control]], and that was a worth-while advancement in [[social]] [[evolution]]. Self-denial and [[self-control]] were two of the greatest [[social]] gains from early [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_92#92:3._THE_NATURE_OF_EVOLUTIONARY_RELIGION evolutionary religion]. Self-control gave man a new [[philosophy]] of life; it taught him the art of augmenting life's [[fraction]] by lowering the denominator of [[personal]] demands instead of always attempting to increase the numerator of selfish [[gratification]].

89:3.3 [[Poverty]] was just a part of the [[ritual]] of the mortification of the flesh which, unfortunately, became incorporated into the [[writings]] and teachings of many religions, notably [[Christianity]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penance Penance] is the [[negative]] form of this ofttimes foolish [[ritual]] of [[renunciation]]. But all this taught the savage [[self-control]], and that was a worth-while advancement in [[social]] [[evolution]]. Self-denial and [[self-control]] were two of the greatest [[social]] gains from early [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_92#92:3._THE_NATURE_OF_EVOLUTIONARY_RELIGION evolutionary religion]. Self-control gave man a new [[philosophy]] of life; it taught him the art of augmenting life's [[fraction]] by lowering the denominator of [[personal]] demands instead of always attempting to increase the numerator of selfish [[gratification]].

89:3.4 These olden [[ideas]] of self-[[discipline]] embraced flogging and all sorts of [[physical]] [[torture]]. The [[priests]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Mother_Goddess mother cult] were especially active in teaching the [[virtue]] of [[physical]] [[suffering]], setting the example by submitting themselves to castration. The [[Hebrews]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu Hindus], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism Buddhists] were earnest devotees of this [[doctrine]] of physical [[humiliation]].

89:3.4 These olden [[ideas]] of self-[[discipline]] embraced flogging and all sorts of [[physical]] [[torture]]. The [[priests]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Mother_Goddess mother cult] were especially active in teaching the [[virtue]] of [[physical]] [[suffering]], setting the example by submitting themselves to castration. The [[Hebrews]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu Hindus], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism Buddhists] were earnest devotees of this [[doctrine]] of physical [[humiliation]].

89:3.5 All through the olden times men sought in these ways for extra credits on the self-denial ledgers of their gods. It was once customary, when under some [[emotional]] [[stress]], to make vows of self-denial and self-[[torture]]. In time these [[vows]] assumed the form of [[contracts]] with the gods and, in that sense, represented true [[evolutionary]] [[progress]] in that the gods were supposed to do something definite in return for this [[self]]-[[torture]] and mortification of the flesh. Vows were both negative and positive. Pledges of this harmful and extreme nature are best observed today among [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fakir certain groups in India].

89:3.5 All through the olden times men sought in these ways for extra credits on the self-denial ledgers of their gods. It was once customary, when under some [[emotional]] [[stress]], to make vows of self-denial and self-[[torture]]. In time these [[vows]] assumed the form of [[contracts]] with the gods and, in that sense, represented true [[evolutionary]] [[progress]] in that the gods were supposed to do something definite in return for this [[self]]-[[torture]] and mortification of the flesh. Vows were both negative and positive. Pledges of this harmful and extreme nature are best observed today among [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fakir certain groups in India].

89:3.6 It was only [[natural]] that the [[cult]] of [[renunciation]] and [[humiliation]] should have paid [[attention]] to [[sexual]] [[gratification]]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_abstinence continence cult] originated as a [[ritual]] among soldiers prior to engaging in battle; in later days it became the practice of "saints." This [[cult]] tolerated [[marriage]] only as an [[evil]] lesser than [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fornication fornication]. Many of the world's great [[religions]] have been adversely [[influenced]] by this ancient [[cult]], but none more markedly than [[Christianity]]. The [[Apostle Paul]] was a devotee of this cult, and his [[personal]] views are [[reflected]] in the teachings which he fastened onto [[Christian]] [[theology]]: "It is good for a man not to touch a woman." "I would that all men were even as I myself."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=1st_Letter_of_Paul_to_the_Corinthians#1st_Letter_of_Paul_to_the_Corinthians.2C_VII] "I say, therefore, to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them to abide even as I."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=1st_Letter_of_Paul_to_the_Corinthians#1st_Letter_of_Paul_to_the_Corinthians.2C_VII] Paul well knew that such teachings were not a part of [[Jesus]]' [[gospel]], and his acknowledgment of this is [[illustrated]] by his [[statement]], "I speak this by permission and not by commandment."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=1st_Letter_of_Paul_to_the_Corinthians#1st_Letter_of_Paul_to_the_Corinthians.2C_VII] But this [[cult]] led [[Paul]] to look down upon [[women]]. And the [[pity]] of it all is that his [[personal]] [[opinions]] have long [[influenced]] the teachings of a great world [[religion]]. If the advice of the tentmaker-teacher were to be [[literally]] and [[universally]] [[obeyed]], then would the human [[race]] come to a sudden and inglorious end. Furthermore, the involvement of a [[religion]] with the [[ancient]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_abstinence continence cult] leads directly to a [[war]] against [[marriage]] and the [[home]], [[society]]'s veritable [[foundation]] and the basic [[institution]] of human [[progress]]. And it is not to be wondered at that all such [[beliefs]] fostered the formation of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celibacy celibate] [[priesthoods]] in the many [[religions]] of various peoples.

89:3.6 It was only [[natural]] that the [[cult]] of [[renunciation]] and [[humiliation]] should have paid [[attention]] to [[sexual]] [[gratification]]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_abstinence continence cult] originated as a [[ritual]] among soldiers prior to engaging in battle; in later days it became the practice of "saints." This [[cult]] tolerated [[marriage]] only as an [[evil]] lesser than [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fornication fornication]. Many of the world's great [[religions]] have been adversely [[influenced]] by this ancient [[cult]], but none more markedly than [[Christianity]]. The [[Apostle Paul]] was a devotee of this cult, and his [[personal]] views are [[reflected]] in the teachings which he fastened onto [[Christian]] [[theology]]: "It is good for a man not to touch a woman." "I would that all men were even as I myself."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=1st_Letter_of_Paul_to_the_Corinthians#1st_Letter_of_Paul_to_the_Corinthians.2C_VII] "I say, therefore, to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them to abide even as I."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=1st_Letter_of_Paul_to_the_Corinthians#1st_Letter_of_Paul_to_the_Corinthians.2C_VII] Paul well knew that such teachings were not a part of [[Jesus]]' [[gospel]], and his acknowledgment of this is [[illustrated]] by his [[statement]], "I speak this by permission and not by commandment."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=1st_Letter_of_Paul_to_the_Corinthians#1st_Letter_of_Paul_to_the_Corinthians.2C_VII] But this [[cult]] led [[Paul]] to look down upon [[women]]. And the [[pity]] of it all is that his [[personal]] [[opinions]] have long [[influenced]] the teachings of a great world [[religion]]. If the advice of the tentmaker-teacher were to be [[literally]] and [[universally]] [[obeyed]], then would the human [[race]] come to a sudden and inglorious end. Furthermore, the involvement of a [[religion]] with the [[ancient]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_abstinence continence cult] leads directly to a [[war]] against [[marriage]] and the [[home]], [[society]]'s veritable [[foundation]] and the basic [[institution]] of human [[progress]]. And it is not to be wondered at that all such [[beliefs]] fostered the formation of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celibacy celibate] [[priesthoods]] in the many [[religions]] of various peoples.

89:3.7 Someday man should learn how to [[enjoy]] [[liberty]] without [[license]], nourishment without gluttony, and [[pleasure]] without [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debauchery debauchery]. [[Self-control]] is a better human [[policy]] of [[behavior]] regulation than is extreme self-denial. Nor did [[Jesus]] ever teach these unreasonable views to his followers.

89:3.7 Someday man should learn how to [[enjoy]] [[liberty]] without [[license]], nourishment without gluttony, and [[pleasure]] without [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debauchery debauchery]. [[Self-control]] is a better human [[policy]] of [[behavior]] regulation than is extreme self-denial. Nor did [[Jesus]] ever teach these unreasonable views to his followers.

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_89 Go to Paper 89]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_89 Go to Paper 89]</center>

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

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

[[Category:Paper 89 - Sin, Sacrifice, and Atonement]]

[[Category:Paper 89 - Sin, Sacrifice, and Atonement]]

[[Category: Sacrifice]]

[[Category: Sacrifice]]

[[Category: Asceticism]]

[[Category: Asceticism]]