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==PAPER 91: THE EVOLUTION OF PRAYER==

==PAPER 91: THE EVOLUTION OF PRAYER==

91:0.1 Prayer, as an agency of religion, evolved from previous nonreligious monologue and dialogue expressions. With the attainment of self-consciousness by primitive man there occurred the inevitable corollary of other-consciousness, the dual potential of social response and God recognition.

91:0.1 [[Prayer]], as an [[agency]] of [[religion]], evolved from previous nonreligious monologue and [[dialogue]] [[expressions]]. With the [[attainment]] of [[self-consciousness]] by [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_52#52:1._PRIMITIVE_MAN primitive man] there occurred the [[inevitable]] corollary of [[other]]-[[consciousness]], the [[dual]] [[potential]] of [[social]] [[response]] and [[God]] [[recognition]].

91:0.2 The earliest prayer forms were not addressed to Deity. These expressions were much like what you would say to a friend as you entered upon some important undertaking, " Wish me luck. " Primitive man was enslaved to magic; luck, good and bad, entered into all the affairs of life. At first, these luck petitions were monologues—just a kind of thinking out loud by the magic server. Next, these believers in luck would enlist the support of their friends and families, and presently some form of ceremony would be performed which included the whole clan or tribe.

91:0.2 The earliest [[prayer]] forms were not addressed to [[Deity]]. These [[expressions]] were much like what you would say to a [[friend]] as you entered upon some important undertaking, "[[Wish]] me [[luck]]." [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_52#52:1._PRIMITIVE_MAN Primitive man] was [[enslaved]] to [[magic]]; [[luck]], good and bad, entered into all the affairs of life. At first, these luck [[petitions]] were monologues—just a kind of [[thinking]] out loud by the [[magic]] server. Next, these believers in [[luck]] would enlist the support of their [[friends]] and [[families]], and presently some [[form]] of [[ceremony]] would be [[performed]] which included the whole [[clan]] or [[tribe]].

91:0.3 When the concepts of ghosts and spirits evolved, these petitions became superhuman in address, and with the consciousness of gods, such expressions attained to the levels of genuine prayer. As an illustration of this, among certain Australian tribes primitive religious prayers antedated their belief in spirits and superhuman personalities.

91:0.3 When the [[concepts]] of [[ghosts]] and spirits evolved, these [[petitions]] became [[superhuman]] in address, and with the [[consciousness]] of [[gods]], such [[expressions]] [[attained]] to the levels of genuine [[prayer]]. As an [[illustration]] of this, among certain Australian [[tribes]] primitive religious [[prayers]] antedated their [[belief]] in spirits and [[superhuman]] [[personalities]].

91:0.4 The Toda tribe of India now observes this practice of praying to no one in particular, just as did the early peoples before the times of religious consciousness. Only, among the Todas, this represents a regression of their degenerating religion to this primitive level. The present-day rituals of the dairymen priests of the Todas do not represent a religious ceremony since these impersonal prayers do not contribute anything to the conservation or enhancement of any social, moral, or spiritual values.

91:0.4 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toda_Tribe Toda] [[tribe]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India India] now [[observes]] this [[practice]] of praying to no one in particular, just as did the early peoples before the times of religious [[consciousness]]. Only, among the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toda_Tribe Todas], this [[represents]] a regression of their [[degenerating]] [[religion]] to this [[primitive]] level. The present-day [[rituals]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toda_Tribe#Religion dairymen priests] of the Todas do not [[represent]] a [[religious]] [[ceremony]] since these [[impersonal]] [[prayers]] do not contribute anything to the [[conservation]] or enhancement of any [[social]], [[moral]], or [[spiritual]] [[values]].

91:0.5 Prereligious praying was part of the mana practices of the Melanesians, the oudah beliefs of the African Pygmies, and the manitou superstitions of the North American Indians. The Baganda tribes of Africa have only recently emerged from the mana level of prayer. In this early evolutionary confusion men pray to gods—local and national—to fetishes, amulets, ghosts, rulers, and to ordinary people.

91:0.5 Prereligious praying was part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81ori_religion#Tapu_and_mana mana practices] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanesia Melanesians], the [[oudah]] [[beliefs]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmy_peoples African Pygmies], and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitou manitou] [[superstitions]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas North American Indians]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baganda Baganda] [[tribes]] of Africa have only recently emerged from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81ori_religion#Tapu_and_mana mana] level of [[prayer]]. In this early [[evolutionary]] [[confusion]] men pray to gods—local and national—to [[fetishes]], amulets, [[ghosts]], rulers, and to ordinary people.

==91:1. PRIMITIVE PRAYER==

==91:1. PRIMITIVE PRAYER==