Changes

==86:3. DEATH—THE INEXPLICABLE==

==86:3. DEATH—THE INEXPLICABLE==

86:3.1 [[Death]] was the supreme [[shock]] to evolving man, the most perplexing combination of [[chance]] and [[mystery]]. Not the [[sanctity]] of life but the shock of [[death]] [[inspired]] [[fear]] and thus effectively fostered [[religion]]. Among [[savage]] peoples [[death]] was ordinarily due to [[violence]], so that nonviolent [[death]] became increasingly [[mysterious]]. [[Death]] as a [[natural]] and expected end of life was not clear to the [[consciousness]] of [[primitive]] people, and it has required age upon age for man to [[realize]] its [[inevitability]].

86:3.1 [[Death]] was the supreme [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acute_stress_reaction shock] to evolving man, the most perplexing combination of [[chance]] and [[mystery]]. Not the [[sanctity]] of life but the shock of [[death]] [[inspired]] [[fear]] and thus effectively fostered [[religion]]. Among [[savage]] peoples [[death]] was ordinarily due to [[violence]], so that nonviolent [[death]] became increasingly [[mysterious]]. [[Death]] as a [[natural]] and expected end of life was not clear to the [[consciousness]] of [[primitive]] people, and it has required age upon age for man to [[realize]] its [[inevitability]].

86:3.2 [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_52#52:1._PRIMITIVE_MAN Early man] [[accepted]] life as a [[fact]], while he regarded [[death]] as a [[visitation]] of some sort. All [[races]] have their [[legends]] of men who did not die, vestigial [[traditions]] of the early [[attitude]] toward death. Already in the [[human]] [[mind]] there existed the nebulous [[concept]] of a hazy and unorganized [[spirit]] world, a [[domain]] whence came all that is inexplicable in human life, and [[death]] was added to this long list of unexplained [[phenomena]].

86:3.2 [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_52#52:1._PRIMITIVE_MAN Early man] [[accepted]] life as a [[fact]], while he regarded [[death]] as a [[visitation]] of some sort. All [[races]] have their [[legends]] of men who did not die, vestigial [[traditions]] of the early [[attitude]] toward death. Already in the [[human]] [[mind]] there existed the nebulous [[concept]] of a hazy and unorganized [[spirit]] world, a [[domain]] whence came all that is inexplicable in human life, and [[death]] was added to this long list of unexplained [[phenomena]].

86:3.3 All human [[disease]] and [[natural]] [[death]] was at first believed to be due to [[spirit]] [[influence]]. Even at the [[present]] time some civilized races regard [[disease]] as having been produced by "the enemy" and depend upon [[religious]] [[ceremonies]] to effect [[healing]]. Later and more [[complex]] systems of [[theology]] still ascribe [[death]] to the [[action]] of the spirit world, all of which has led to such [[doctrines]] as [[original sin]] and the fall of man.

86:3.3 All human [[disease]] and [[natural]] [[death]] was at first believed to be due to [[spirit]] [[influence]]. Even at the [[present]] time some civilized races regard [[disease]] as having been produced by "the enemy" and depend upon [[religious]] [[ceremonies]] to effect [[healing]]. Later and more [[complex]] systems of [[theology]] still ascribe [[death]] to the [[action]] of the spirit world, all of which has led to such [[doctrines]] as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_sin original sin] and the fall of man.

86:3.4 It was the [[realization]] of impotency before the mighty [[forces]] of [[nature]], together with the [[recognition]] of [[human]] weakness before the [[visitations]] of sickness and [[death]], that impelled the [[savage]] to seek for help from the supermaterial world, which he vaguely visualized as the [[source]] of these [[mysterious]] [[vicissitudes]] of life.

86:3.4 It was the [[realization]] of impotency before the mighty [[forces]] of [[nature]], together with the [[recognition]] of [[human]] weakness before the [[visitations]] of sickness and [[death]], that impelled the [[savage]] to seek for help from the supermaterial world, which he vaguely visualized as the [[source]] of these [[mysterious]] [[vicissitudes]] of life.