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==86:5. THE GHOST-SOUL CONCEPT==

==86:5. THE GHOST-SOUL CONCEPT==

86:5.1 The nonmaterial part of man has been variously termed ghost, spirit, shade, phantom, specter, and latterly soul. The soul was early man's dream double; it was in every way exactly like the mortal himself except that it was not responsive to touch. The belief in dream doubles led directly to the notion that all things animate and inanimate had souls as well as men. This concept tended long to perpetuate the nature-spirit beliefs; the Eskimos still conceive that everything in nature has a spirit.

86:5.1 The nonmaterial part of man has been variously termed [[ghost]], [[spirit]], shade, phantom, specter, and latterly [[soul]]. The soul was early man's [[dream]] double; it was in every way exactly like the [[mortal]] himself except that it was not [[responsive]] to [[touch]]. The [[belief]] in dream doubles led directly to the notion that all [[things]] animate and inanimate had souls as well as men. This [[concept]] tended long to perpetuate the [[nature]]-spirit [[beliefs]]; the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskimos Eskimos] still conceive that [[everything]] in nature has a [[spirit]].

86:5.2 The ghost soul could be heard and seen, but not touched. Gradually the dream life of the race so developed and expanded the activities of this evolving spirit world that death was finally regarded as " giving up the ghost. " All primitive tribes, except those little above animals, have developed some concept of the soul. As civilization advances, this superstitious concept of the soul is destroyed, and man is wholly dependent on revelation and personal religious experience for his new idea of the soul as the joint creation of the God-knowing mortal mind and its indwelling divine spirit, the Thought Adjuster.

86:5.2 The [[ghost]] [[soul]] could be heard and seen, but not [[touched]]. [[Gradually]] the [[dream]] life of the [[race]] so [[developed]] and expanded the [[activities]] of this evolving spirit world that [[death]] was finally regarded as "giving up the ghost."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Genesis#Chapter_.8] All [[primitive]] [[tribes]], except those little above [[animals]], have [[developed]] some [[concept]] of the [[soul]]. As [[civilization]] advances, this [[superstitious]] [[concept]] of the soul is destroyed, and man is wholly dependent on [[revelation]] and [[personal]] [[religious]] [[experience]] for his new [[idea]] of the soul as the joint creation of the [[God]]-knowing [[mortal]] [[mind]] and its indwelling [[divine]] spirit, the [[Thought Adjuster]].

86:5.3 Early mortals usually failed to differentiate the concepts of an indwelling spirit and a soul of evolutionary nature. The savage was much confused as to whether the ghost soul was native to the body or was an external agency in possession of the body. The absence of reasoned thought in the presence of perplexity explains the gross inconsistencies of the savage view of souls, ghosts, and spirits.

86:5.3 Early mortals usually failed to differentiate the [[concepts]] of an [[indwelling spirit]] and a [[soul]] of [[evolutionary]] [[nature]]. The [[savage]] was much [[confused]] as to whether the [[ghost]] soul was [[native]] to the [[body]] or was an external [[agency]] in [[possession]] of the body. The [[absence]] of [[reasoned]] [[thought]] in the [[presence]] of [[perplexity]] [[explains]] the gross inconsistencies of the savage view of [[souls]], [[ghosts]], and [[spirits]].

86:5.4 The soul was thought of as being related to the body as the perfume to the flower. The ancients believed that the soul could leave the body in various ways, as in:

86:5.4 The [[soul]] was [[thought]] of as being related to the [[body]] as the [[perfume]] to the flower. The [[ancients]] believed that the soul could leave the body in various ways, as in:

*1. Ordinary and transient fainting.

*1. Ordinary and transient fainting.

*2. Sleeping, natural dreaming.

*2. [[Sleeping]], natural [[dreaming]].

*3. Coma and unconsciousness associated with disease and accidents.

*3. [[Coma]] and [[unconsciousness]] associated with [[disease]] and [[accidents]].

*4. Death, permanent departure.

*4. [[Death]], permanent departure.

86:5.5 The savage looked upon sneezing as an abortive attempt of the soul to escape from the body. Being awake and on guard, the body was able to thwart the soul's attempted escape. Later on, sneezing was always accompanied by some religious expression, such as " God bless you! "

86:5.5 The [[savage]] looked upon sneezing as an [[abortive]] attempt of the [[soul]] to [[escape]] from the [[body]]. Being [[awake]] and on guard, the body was able to thwart the soul's attempted escape. Later on, sneezing was always accompanied by some [[religious]] [[expression]], such as "God bless you!"

86:5.6 Early in evolution sleep was regarded as proving that the ghost soul could be absent from the body, and it was believed that it could be called back by speaking or shouting the sleeper's name. In other forms of unconsciousness the soul was thought to be farther away, perhaps trying to escape for good—impending death. Dreams were looked upon as the experiences of the soul during sleep while temporarily absent from the body. The savage believes his dreams to be just as real as any part of his waking experience. The ancients made a practice of awaking sleepers gradually so that the soul might have time to get back into the body.

86:5.6 Early in [[evolution]] [[sleep]] was regarded as proving that the [[ghost]] soul could be [[absent]] from the [[body]], and it was believed that it could be called back by speaking or shouting the sleeper's [[name]]. In other forms of [[unconsciousness]] the [[soul]] was thought to be farther away, perhaps trying to [[escape]] for good—impending [[death]]. [[Dreams]] were looked upon as the [[experiences]] of the [[soul]] during [[sleep]] while temporarily absent from the [[body]]. The savage believes his [[dreams]] to be just as real as any part of his [[waking]] [[experience]]. The [[ancients]] made a [[practice]] of awaking sleepers [[gradually]] so that the [[soul]] might have time to get back into the [[body]].

86:5.7 All down through the ages men have stood in awe of the apparitions of the night season, and the Hebrews were no exception. They truly believed that God spoke to them in dreams, despite the injunctions of Moses against this idea. And Moses was right, for ordinary dreams are not the methods employed by the personalities of the spiritual world when they seek to communicate with material beings.

86:5.7 All down through the ages men have stood in [[awe]] of the [[apparitions]] of the [[night]] [[season]], and the [[Hebrews]] were no exception. They truly believed that [[God]] spoke to them in [[dreams]], despite the injunctions of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] against this [[idea]]. And Moses was right, for ordinary dreams are not the [[methods]] employed by the [[personalities]] of the [[spiritual]] world when they seek to communicate with [[material]] [[beings]].

86:5.8 The ancients believed that souls could enter animals or even inanimate objects. This culminated in the werewolf ideas of animal identification. A person could be a law-abiding citizen by day, but when he fell asleep, his soul could enter a wolf or some other animal to prowl about on nocturnal depredations.

86:5.8 The [[ancients]] believed that [[souls]] could enter [[animals]] or even inanimate objects. This culminated in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werewolf werewolf] [[ideas]] of [[animal]] identification. A [[person]] could be a [[law]]-abiding [[citizen]] by day, but when he fell asleep, his [[soul]] could enter a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf wolf] or some other [[animal]] to prowl about on nocturnal depredations.

86:5.9 Primitive men thought that the soul was associated with the breath, and that its qualities could be imparted or transferred by the breath. The brave chief would breathe upon the newborn child, thereby imparting courage. Among early Christians the ceremony of bestowing the Holy Spirit was accompanied by breathing on the candidates. Said the Psalmist: " By the word of the Lord were the heavens made and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. " It was long the custom of the eldest son to try to catch the last breath of his dying father.

86:5.9 [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_52#52:1._PRIMITIVE_MAN Primitive men] [[thought]] that the [[soul]] was [[associated]] with the [[breath]], and that its [[qualities]] could be imparted or transferred by the breath. The [[brave]] chief would breathe upon the newborn [[child]], thereby imparting [[courage]]. Among early [[Christians]] the [[ceremony]] of [[bestowing]] the [[Holy Spirit]] was accompanied by breathing on the [[candidates]]. Said the Psalmist: "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Psalms#Psalm_33] It was long the [[custom]] of the eldest son to try to catch the last [[breath]] of his dying [[father]].

86:5.10 The shadow came, later on, to be feared and revered equally with the breath. The reflection of oneself in the water was also sometimes looked upon as proof of the double self, and mirrors were regarded with superstitious awe. Even now many civilized persons turn the mirror to the wall in the event of death. Some backward tribes still believe that the making of pictures, drawings, models, or images removes all or a part of the soul from the body; hence such are forbidden.

86:5.10 The [[shadow]] came, later on, to be feared and [[revered]] equally with the [[breath]]. The [[reflection]] of oneself in the [[water]] was also sometimes looked upon as [[proof]] of the double [[self]], and [[mirrors]] were regarded with [[superstitious]] [[awe]]. Even now many civilized [[persons]] turn the mirror to the wall in the [[event]] of [[death]]. Some backward [[tribes]] still believe that the making of pictures, drawings, models, or images removes all or a part of the [[soul]] from the [[body]]; hence such are forbidden.

86:5.11 The soul was generally thought of as being identified with the breath, but it was also located by various peoples in the head, hair, heart, liver, blood, and fat. The " crying out of Abel's blood from the ground " is expressive of the onetime belief in the presence of the ghost in the blood. The Semites taught that the soul resided in the bodily fat, and among many the eating of animal fat was taboo. Head hunting was a method of capturing an enemy's soul, as was scalping. In recent times the eyes have been regarded as the windows of the soul.

86:5.11 The [[soul]] was generally [[thought]] of as being identified with the [[breath]], but it was also located by various peoples in the head, hair, [[heart]], liver, blood, and fat. The "crying out of Abel's blood from the ground"[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Genesis#Chapter_.4] is [[expressive]] of the onetime [[belief]] in the [[presence]] of the [[ghost]] in the blood. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semites Semites] taught that the [[soul]] resided in the bodily fat, and among many the eating of [[animal]] fat was [[taboo]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_hunting Head hunting] was a [[method]] of capturing an enemy's [[soul]], as was scalping. In recent times the eyes have been regarded as the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_Luke#Chapter_11 windows of the soul].

86:5.12 Those who held the doctrine of three or four souls believed that the loss of one soul meant discomfort, two illness, three death. One soul lived in the breath, one in the head, one in the hair, one in the heart. The sick were advised to stroll about in the open air with the hope of recapturing their strayed souls. The greatest of the medicine men were supposed to exchange the sick soul of a diseased person for a new one, the " new birth. "

86:5.12 Those who held the [[doctrine]] of three or four souls believed that the loss of one soul meant discomfort, two illness, [[three]] [[death]]. One soul lived in the [[breath]], one in the head, one in the hair, one in the [[heart]]. The sick were advised to stroll about in the open [[air]] with the [[hope]] of recapturing their strayed souls. The greatest of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine_man medicine men] were supposed to exchange the sick soul of a diseased person for a new one, the "new [[birth]]."

86:5.13 The children of Badanan developed a belief in two souls, the breath and the shadow. The early Nodite races regarded man as consisting of two persons, soul and body. This philosophy of human existence was later reflected in the Greek viewpoint. The Greeks themselves believed in three souls; the vegetative resided in the stomach, the animal in the heart, the intellectual in the head. The Eskimos believe that man has three parts: body, soul, and name.

86:5.13 The [[children]] of [[Badanan]] [[developed]] a belief in two souls, the [[breath]] and the [[shadow]]. The early [[Nodite]] races regarded man as consisting of two [[persons]], [[soul]] and [[body]]. This [[philosophy]] of [[human]] [[existence]] was later [[reflected]] in the [[Greek]] [[viewpoint]]. The [[Greeks]] themselves believed in three souls; the vegetative resided in the stomach, the animal in the heart, the [[intellectual]] in the head. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskimos Eskimos] believe that man has three parts: [[body]], [[soul]], and [[name]].

==86:6. THE GHOST-SPIRIT ENVIRONMENT==

==86:6. THE GHOST-SPIRIT ENVIRONMENT==