Changes

86:6.2 Very early in the [[history]] of [[mankind]] the [[realities]] of the [[imaginary]] world of [[ghosts]] and spirits became [[universally]] believed, and this newly imagined spirit world became a [[power]] in [[primitive]] [[society]]. The mental and [[moral]] life of all mankind was [[modified]] for all time by the [[appearance]] of this new factor in [[human]] [[thinking]] and [[acting]].

86:6.2 Very early in the [[history]] of [[mankind]] the [[realities]] of the [[imaginary]] world of [[ghosts]] and spirits became [[universally]] believed, and this newly imagined spirit world became a [[power]] in [[primitive]] [[society]]. The mental and [[moral]] life of all mankind was [[modified]] for all time by the [[appearance]] of this new factor in [[human]] [[thinking]] and [[acting]].

86:6.3 Into this major premise of [[illusion]] and [[ignorance]], mortal [[fear]] has packed all of the subsequent [[superstition]] and [[religion]] of [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_52#52:1._PRIMITIVE_MAN primitive peoples]. This was man's only [[religion]] up to the times of [[revelation]], and today many of the world's races have only this crude [[religion]] of [[evolution]].

86:6.3 Into this major premise of [[illusion]] and [[ignorance]], mortal [[fear]] has packed all of the subsequent [[superstition]] and [[religion]] of [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_52#52:1._PRIMITIVE_MAN primitive peoples]. This was man's only [[religion]] up to the times of [[revelation]], and today many of the world's races have only this crude [[religion]] of [[evolution]].

86:6.4 As evolution [[progressed]], good [[luck]] became associated with good spirits and bad luck with bad spirits. The discomfort of enforced [[adaptation]] to a changing [[environment]] was regarded as ill luck, the displeasure of the spirit [[ghosts]]. [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_52#52:1._PRIMITIVE_MAN Primitive man] slowly evolved [[religion]] out of his innate [[worship]] urge and his misconception of [[chance]]. Civilized man provides [[schemes]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurance insurance] to overcome these chance occurrences; [[modern]] [[science]] puts an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actuarial_science actuary] with [[mathematical]] reckoning in the place of fictitious spirits and whimsical gods.

86:6.4 As evolution [[progressed]], good [[luck]] became associated with good spirits and bad luck with bad spirits. The discomfort of enforced [[adaptation]] to a changing [[environment]] was regarded as ill luck, the displeasure of the spirit [[ghosts]]. [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_52#52:1._PRIMITIVE_MAN Primitive man] slowly evolved [[religion]] out of his innate [[worship]] urge and his misconception of [[chance]]. Civilized man provides [[schemes]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurance insurance] to overcome these chance occurrences; [[modern]] [[science]] puts an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actuarial_science actuary] with [[mathematical]] reckoning in the place of fictitious spirits and whimsical gods.

86:6.5 Each passing [[generation]] smiles at the foolish [[superstitions]] of its [[ancestors]] while it goes on [[entertaining]] those [[fallacies]] of [[thought]] and [[worship]] which will give cause for further smiling on the part of [[enlightened]] posterity.

86:6.5 Each passing [[generation]] smiles at the foolish [[superstitions]] of its [[ancestors]] while it goes on [[entertaining]] those [[fallacies]] of [[thought]] and [[worship]] which will give cause for further smiling on the part of [[enlightened]] posterity.

86:6.6 But at last the [[mind]] of [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_52#52:1._PRIMITIVE_MAN primitive man] was occupied with [[thoughts]] which [[transcended]] all of his [[inherent]] [[biologic]] urges; at last man was about to evolve an [[art of living]] based on something more than [[response]] to [[material]] [[stimuli]]. The beginnings of a primitive philosophic life policy were emerging. A [[supernatural]] [[standard of living]] was about to appear, for, if the spirit [[ghost]] in [[anger]] visits ill luck and in [[pleasure]] good fortune, then must human [[conduct]] be [[regulated]] accordingly. The [[concept]] of [[Morality|right and wrong]] had at last evolved; and all of this long before the times of any [[revelation]] on [[earth]].

86:6.6 But at last the [[mind]] of [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_52#52:1._PRIMITIVE_MAN primitive man] was occupied with [[thoughts]] which [[transcended]] all of his [[inherent]] [[biologic]] urges; at last man was about to evolve an [[art of living]] based on something more than [[response]] to [[material]] [[stimuli]]. The beginnings of a primitive philosophic life policy were emerging. A [[supernatural]] [[standard of living]] was about to appear, for, if the spirit [[ghost]] in [[anger]] visits ill luck and in [[pleasure]] good fortune, then must human [[conduct]] be [[regulated]] accordingly. The [[concept]] of [[Morality|right and wrong]] had at last evolved; and all of this long before the times of any [[revelation]] on [[earth]].

86:6.7 With the [[emergence]] of these [[concepts]], there was initiated the long and wasteful [[struggle]] to appease the ever-displeased spirits, the slavish [[bondage]] to evolutionary religious [[fear]], that long waste of [[human]] [[effort]] upon tombs, [[temples]], [[sacrifices]], and [[priesthoods]]. It was a terrible and frightful price to pay, but it was [[worth]] all it cost, for man therein achieved a [[natural]] [[consciousness]] of [[relative]] right and wrong; human [[ethics]] was born!

86:6.7 With the [[emergence]] of these [[concepts]], there was initiated the long and wasteful [[struggle]] to appease the ever-displeased spirits, the slavish [[bondage]] to evolutionary religious [[fear]], that long waste of [[human]] [[effort]] upon tombs, [[temples]], [[sacrifices]], and [[priesthoods]]. It was a terrible and frightful price to pay, but it was [[worth]] all it cost, for man therein achieved a [[natural]] [[consciousness]] of [[relative]] right and wrong; human [[ethics]] was born!

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_86 Go to Paper 86]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_86 Go to Paper 86]</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 86 - Early Evolution of Religion]]

[[Category:Paper 86 - Early Evolution of Religion]]