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]]. [[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 [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]].

89:3.4 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]].