第3章

[1]SeeAncientPaganandModernChristianSymbolism，byThomasInman(Trubner，1874)，p。55。

[2]ZoologicalMythology，vol。ii，pp。410sq。

Thusweseethenatural-magictendencyofthehumanmindassertingitself。TosomeofusindeedthistendencyisevengreaterinthecaseoftheSnakethaninthatoftheTree。W。H。Hudson，inFarAwayandLongAgo，speaksof“thatsenseofsomethingsupernaturalintheserpent，whichappearstohavebeenuniversalamongpeoplesinaprimitivestateofculture，andstillsurvivesinsomebarbarousorsemi-barbarouscountries。”ThefascinationoftheSnake——thefascinationofitsmysteriouslyglidingmovement，ofitsvividenergy，itsglitteringeye，itsintensityoflife，combinedwithitsfataldartofDeath——isathingfeltevenmorebywomenthanbymen——andforareason(fromwhatwehavealreadysaid)notfartoseek。

ItwastheWomanwhointhestoryoftheFallwasthefirsttolistentoitssuggestions。Nowonderthat，asProfessorMurraysays，[1]theGreeksworshipedagiganticsnake(Meilichios)

thelordofDeathandLife，withceremoniesofappeasement，andsacrifices，longbeforetheyarrivedattheworshipofZeusandtheOlympiangods。

[1]FourStagesofGreekReligion，p。29。

OrletustaketheexampleofanEarofCorn。Somepeoplewonder——hearingnowadaysthatthefolkofoldusedtoworshipaCorn-spiritorCorn-god——wonderthatanyhumanbeingscouldhavebeensofoolish。ButprobablythegoodpeoplewhowonderthushaveneverREALLYLOOKED

(withtheirtown-dazedeyes)atagrowingspikeofwheat。[1]

OfallthewonderfulthingsinNatureIhardlyknowanythatthrillsonemorewithasenseofwizardrythanjustthisverything——toobserve，eachyear，thisdisclosureoftheEarwithintheBlade——firstaswellingofthesheath，thenatransparencyandawhitey-greenfacewithinahoodedshroud，andthentheperfectspikeofgraindisengagingitselfandspiringupwardtowardsthesky——“theresurrectionofthewheatwithpalevisageappearingoutoftheground。”

[1]Eventhethrice-learnedDr。FamellquotesapparentlywithapprovalthescornfulwordsofHippolytus，who(hesays)“speaksoftheAtheniansimitatingpeopleattheEleusinianmysteriesandshowingtotheepoptae(initiates)thatgreatandmarvelousmysteryofperfectrevelation——insolemnsilence——aCUTCORNSTALK

()。”——CultsoftheGreekStates，vol。iii，p。182。

Ifthisspectacleamazesoneto-day，whatemotionsmustitnothavearousedinthebreastsoftheearlierfolk，whoseoutlookontheworldwassomuchmoredirectthanours——more"animistic"ifyoulike！Whatwonderment，whatgratitude，whatdeliverancefromfear(ofstarvation)，whatcertaintythatthisbeingwhohadbeenruthlesslycutdownandsacrificedlastyearforhumanfoodhadindeedarisenagainasasaviorofmen，whatreadinesstomakesomehumansacrificeinreturn，bothasanacknowledgmentofthedebt，andasagiftofsomethingwhichwouldnodoubtbegraciouslyaccepted！——(forwasitnotwellknownthatwherebloodhadbeenspiltonthegroundthefuturecropwassomuchmoregenerous?)——whatreadinesstoadoptsomemagicrituallikelytopropitiatetheunseenpower——eventhoughtheoutlineandformofthelatterwerevagueanduncertainintheextreme！Dr。Frazer，speakingoftheEgyptianOsirisasoneoutofmanycorn-godsoftheabovecharacter，says[1]:“Theprimitiveconceptionofhimasthecorn-godcomesclearlyoutinthefestivalofhisdeathandresurrection，whichwascelebratedthemonthofAthyr。Thatfestivalappearstohavebeenessentiallyafestivalofsowing，whichproperlyfellatthetimewhenthehusbandmanactuallycommittedtheseedtotheearth。Onthatoccasionaneffigyofthecorn-god，mouldedofearthandcorn，wasburiedwithfuneralritesinthegroundinorderthat，dyingthere，hemightcometolifeagainwiththenewcrops。Theceremonywasinfactacharmtoensurethegrowthofthecornbysympatheticmagic，andwemayconjecturethatassuchitwaspractisedinasimpleformbyeveryEgyptianfarmeronhisfieldslongbeforeitwasadoptedandtransfiguredbythepriestsinthestatelyritualofthetemple。”[2]

[1]TheGoldenBough，iv，p。330。

[2]Seech。xv。

Themagicinthiscasewasofagentledescription；theclayimageofOsirissproutingalloverwiththeyounggreenbladewaspatheticallypoetic；but，ashasbeensuggested，bloodthirstyceremonieswerealsocommonenough。Humansacrifices，itissaid，hadatonetimebeenofferedatthegraveofOsiris。WebearthattheIndiansinEcuadorusedtosacrificemen"sheartsandpourouthumanbloodontheirfieldswhentheysowedthem；thePawneeIndiansusedahumanvictimthesame，allowinghisbloodtodropontheseed-corn。ItissaidthatinMexicogirlsweresacrificed，andthattheMexicanswouldsometimesGRINDtheir(male)victim，likecorn，betweentwostones。(“I"llgrindhisbonestomakemebread。”)AmongtheKhondsofEastIndia——whowereparticularlygiventothiskindofritual——theveryTEARS

ofthesuffererwereanincitementtomorecruelties，fortearsofcourseweremagicforRain。[1]

[1]TheGoldenBough，vol。vii，“TheCorn-Spirit，“pp。236sq。

Andsoon。WehavereferredtotheBullmanytimes，bothinhisastronomicalaspectaspioneeroftheSpring-

Sun，andinhismoredirectroleasplougherofthefields，andprovideroffoodfromhisownbody。“Thetremendousmanaofthewildbull，“saysGilbertMurray，“occupiesalmosthalfthestageofpre-Olympicritual。”[1]Eventousthereissomethingmesmericandoverwhelminginthesenseofthisanimal"sgloryofstrengthandfuryandsexualpower。

Nowondertheprimitivesworshipedhim，orthattheydevisedritualswhichshouldconveyhispowerandvitalitybymerecontact，orthatinsacramentalfeaststheyatehisfleshanddrankhisbloodasamagicsymbolandmeansofsalvation。

[1]FourStages，p。34。

VI。MAGICIANS，KINGSANDGODS

Itisperhapsnecessary，atthecommencementofthischapter，tosaya，fewmorewordsaboutthenatureandoriginofthebeliefinMagic。Magicrepresentedononeside，andclearlyenough，thebeginningsofReligion——i。e。theinstinctivesenseofMan"sinnercontinuitywiththeworldaroundhim，TAKINGSHAPE:afancifulshapeitistrue，butwithveryrealreactiononhispracticallifeandfeelings。[1]

OntheothersideitrepresentedthebeginningsofScience。

ItwashisfirstattemptnotmerelytoFEELbuttoUNDERSTANDthemysteryofthings。

[1]ForanexcellentaccountoftherelationofMagictoReligionseeW。McDougall，SocialPsychology(1908)，pp。317-320。

Inevitablythesefirsteffortstounderstandwereverypuerile，verysuperficial。AsE。B。Tylorsays[1]ofprimitivefolkingeneral，“theymistookanimaginaryforarealconnection。”AndheinstancesthecaseoftheinhabitantsoftheCityofEphesus，wholaiddownarope，sevenfurlongsinlength，fromtheCitytothetempleofArtemis，inordertoplacetheformerundertheprotectionofthelatter！WEshouldlaydownatelephonewire，andconsiderthatweestablishedamuchmoreefficientconnection；

butinthebeginning，andquitenaturally，men，likechildren，relyonsurfaceassociations。AmongtheDyaksofBorneo[2]whenthemenareawayfighting，theWOMENmustuseasortoftelepathicmagicinordertosafeguardthem——thatis，theymustthemselvesriseearlyandkeepawakeallday(lestdarknessandsleepshouldgiveadvantagetotheenemy)；theymustnotOILtheirhair(lesttheirhusbandsshouldmakeanySLIPS)；theymusteatsparinglyandputasidericeateverymeal(sothatthemenmaynotwantforfood)。Andsoon。Similarsuperstitionsarecommon。Buttheygraduallyleadtoalittlethought，andthentoalittlemore，andsotothediscoveryofactualandprovableinfluences。PerhapsonedaythecordconnectingthetemplewithEphesuswasdrawnTIGHTanditwasfoundthatmessagescouldbe，bytapping，transmittedalongit。Thatwaylaythediscoveryofafact。Inanagewhichworshipedfertility，whetherinmankindoranimals，TWINSwereevercountedespeciallyblest，andwerecreditedwithamagicpower。(TheConstellationoftheTwinswasthoughtpeculiarlylucky。)Perhapsafteratimeitwasdiscoveredthattwinssometimesruninfamilies，andinsuchcasesreallydobringfertilitywiththem。Incattleitisknownnowadaysthattherearemoretwinsofthefemalesexthanofthemalesex。[3]

[1]PrimitiveCulture，vol。i，p。106。

[2]SeeTheGoldenBough，i，127。

[3]SeeEvolutionofSex，byGeddesandThomson(1901)，p。41，note。

Observationsofthiskindwerenaturallymadebytheablestmembersofthetribe——whowereinallprobabilitythemedicine-menandwizards——andbroughtinconsequencepowerintotheirhands。Theroadtopowerinfact——andespeciallywasthisthecaseinsocietieswhichhadnotyetdevelopedwealthandproperty——laythroughMagic。

AsfarasmagicrepresentedearlysuperstitionlandreligionitlaidholdoftheHEARTSofmen——theirhopesandfears；asfarasitrepresentedscienceandthebeginningsofactualknowledge，itinspiredtheirmindswithasenseofpower，andgaveformtotheirlivesandcustoms。

Wehavenoreasontosupposethattheearlymagiciansandmedicine-menwerepeculiarlywickedorbentonmereself-aggrandizement——anymorethanwehavetothinkthesameoftheaveragecountryvicarorcountrydoctorofto-day。Theyweremerelymenatriflewiserormoreinstructedthantheirflocks。Butthoughprobablyinmostcasestheiroriginalintentionsweredecentenough，theywerenotproofagainstthetemptationswhichthepossessionofpoweralwaysbrings，andastimewentontheybecameliabletotrademoreandmoreuponthispowerfortheirownadvancement。InthematterofReligionthehistoryoftheChristianpriesthoodthroughthecenturiesshowssufficientlytowhatmisusesuchpowercanbeput；andinthematterofScienceitisawarningtousofthedangersattendingtheformationofascientificpriesthood，suchasweseegrowinguparoundusto-day。

Inbothcases——whetherScienceorReligion——vanity，personalambition，lustofdominationandahundredothervices，unlesscorrectedbyarealdevotiontothepublicgood，mayeasilybringasmanyevilsintheirtrainasthosetheyprofesstocure。

TheMedicine-man，orWizard，orMagician，orPriest，slowlybutnecessarilygatheredpowerintohishands，andthereismuchevidencetoshowthatinthecaseofmanytribesatanyrate，itwasHEwhobecameultimatechiefandleaderandlaidthefoundationsofKingship。TheBasileuswasalwaysasacredpersonality，andoftenunitedinhimselfasheadoftheclantheofficesofchiefinwarfareandleaderinpriestlyrites——likeAgamemnoninHomer，orSaulorDavidintheBible。Asamagicianhehadinfluenceoverthefertilityoftheearthand，liketheblamelesskingintheOdyssey，underhissway“thedarkearthbearethinseasonBarleyandwheat，andthetreesareladenwithfruitage，andalwayYeanunfailingtheflocks，andtheseagivesfishinabundance。”[1]

[1]Odysseyxix，109sq。TranslationbyH。B。Cotterill。

Asamagiciantoohewastrustedforsuccessinwarfare；

andSchoolcraft，inapassagequotedbyAndrewLang，[1]saysoftheDacotahIndians“thewar-chiefwholeadsthepartytowarisalwaysoneofthesemedicine-men。”Thisconnection，however，bywhichthemagicianistransformedintothekinghasbeenabundantlystudied，andneednotbefurtherdweltuponhere。

Andwhatofthetransformationofthekingintoagod——

oroftheMagicianorPriestdirectlyintothesame?

Perhapsinordertoappreciatethis，onemustmakeafurtherdigression。

Fortheearlypeoplestherewere，asitwouldappear，twomainobjectsinlife:(1)topromotefertilityincattleandcrops，forfood；and(2)toplacateorwardoffDeath；

anditseemedveryobvious——evenbeforeanydistinctfiguresofgods，oranyideaofprayer，hadarisen——toattaintheseobjectsbymagicritual。TheritesofBaptism，ofInitiation(orConfirmation)andthemanyceremoniesofaSecondBirth，whichweassociatewithfully-formedreligions，didbelongalsototheageofMagic；andtheyallimpliedabeliefinsomekindofre-incarnation——inalifegoingforwardcontinuallyandbeingrenewedinbirthagainandagain。Itiscuriousthatwefindsuchabeliefamongthelowestsavagesevento-day。Dr。Frazer，speakingoftheCentralAustraliantribes，saysthebeliefisfirmlyrootedamongthem“thatthehumansoulundergoesanendlessseriesofre-incarnations——thelivingmenandwomenofonegenerationbeingnothingbutthespiritsoftheirancestorscometolifeagain，anddestinedthemselvestobereborninthepersonsoftheirdescendants。Duringtheintervalbetweentwore-incarnationsthesoulsliveintheirnanjaspots，orlocaltotem-centres，whicharealwaysnaturalobjectssuchastreesorrocks。Eachtotem-

clanhasanumberofsuchtotem-centresscatteredoverthecountry。Therethesoulsofthedeadmenandwomenofthetotem，butnoothers，congregate，andarebornagaininhumanformwhenafavorableopportunitypresentsitself。”[2]

[1]Myth，RitualandReligion，vol。i，p。113。

[2]TheGoldenBough，vol。i，p。96。

Andwhattheearlypeoplebelievedofthehumanspirit，theybelievedofthecorn-spiritsandthetreeandvegetationspiritsalso。AtthegreatSpring-ritualamongtheprimitiveGreeks“thetribeandthegrowingearthwererenovatedtogether:theeartharisesafreshfromherdeadseeds，thetribefromitsdeadancestors。”Andthewholeprocessprojectsitselfintheideaofaspiritoftheyear，who“inthefirststageisliving，thendieswitheachyear，andthirdlyrisesagainfromthedead，raisingthewholedeadworldwithhim。TheGreekscalledhiminthisstage"TheThirdOne"[TritosSoter]or"theSaviour"；andtherenovationceremonieswereaccompaniedbyacasting-offoftheoldyear，theoldgarments，andeverythingthatispollutedbytheinfectionofdeath。”[1]Thusthemultiplicationofthecropsandtherenovationofthetribe，andatthesametimetheevasionandplacationofdeath，wereallassuredbysimilarritesandbefittingceremonialmagic。[2]

[1]GilbertMurray，FourStages，p。46。

[2]Itisinterestingtofind，withregardtotherenovationofthetribe，thatamongtheCentralAustralianstheforeskinsormalemembersofthosewhodiedweredepositedintheabove-mentionednanjaspots——theideaevidentlybeingthatliketheseedsofthecorntheseedsofthehumancropmustbecarefullyandceremoniallypreservedfortheirre-incarnation。

Inallthesecases，andmanyothersthatIhavenotmentioned——

ofthemagicalworshipofBullsandBearsandRamsandCatsandEmusandKangaroos，ofTreesandSnakes，ofSunandMoonandStars，andthespiritoftheCorninitsyearlyandmiraculousresurrectionoutoftheground——thereisstillthesameideaormovinginspiration，thesensementionedintheforegoingchapter，thefeeling(hardlyyetconsciousofitsownmeaning)ofintimaterelationshipandunitywithallthisouterworld，theinstinctiveconvictionthattheworldcanbeswayedbythespiritofMan，ifthemancanonlyfindtherightritual，therightword，therightspell，wherewithtomoveit。Anauraofemotionsurroundedeverything——ofterror，oftabu，offascination，ofdesire。Theworld，tothesepeople，wastransparentwithpresencesrelatedtothemselves；

andthoughhungerandsexmayhavebeenthedominantandoverwhelminglypracticalneedsoftheirlife，yettheiroutlookontheworldwasessentiallypoeticandimaginative。

Moreoveritwillbeseenthatinthisageofmagicandthebeliefinspirits，thoughtherewasanintensesenseofeverythingbeingalive，thegods，inthemoremodernsenseoftheworld，hardlyexisted[1]——thatis，therewasnoveryclearvision，tothesepeople，ofsupra-mundanebeings，sittingapartandordainingtheaffairsofearth，asitwerefromadistance。Doubtlessthisconceptionwasslowlyevolving，butitwasonlyincipient。Forthetimebeing——thoughtheremightbeordersanddegreesofspirits(andofgods)——everysuchbeingwasonlyconceivedof，andcouldonlybeconceivedof，asactuallyapartofNature，dwellinginandinterlacedwithsomephenomenonofEarthandSky，andhavingnoseparateexistence。

[1]ForadiscussionoftheevolutionofRELIGIONoutofMAGIC，seeWestermarck"sOriginofMoralIdeas，ch。47。

Howwasitthen，itwillbeasked，thatthebeliefinseparateandseparablegodsandgoddesses——eachwithhisorherwell-markedoutlineandcharacterandfunction，likethedivinitiesofGreece，orofIndia，oroftheEgyptianorChristianreligions，ultimatelyarose?TothisquestionJaneHarrison(inherThemisandotherbooks)givesaningeniousanswer，whichasitchimesinwithmyownspeculations(intheArtofCreationandelsewhere)Iaminclinedtoadopt。Itisthatthefiguresofthesupranaturalgodsarosefromaprocessinthehumanmindsimilartothatwhichthephotographeradoptswhenbyphotographinganumberoffacesonthesameplate，andsosuperposingtheirimagesononeanother，heproducesaso-called“composite“photographorimage。Thus，inthephotographicsphere，theportraitsofalotofmembersofthesamefamilysuperposedupononeanothermayproduceacompositeimageoridealofthatfamilytype，ortheportraitsofanumberofAztecsorofanumberofApacheIndianstheidealsrespectivelyoftheAztecoroftheApachetypes。Andsointhementalsphereofeachmemberofatribethemanyimagesofthewell-knownWarriorsorPriestsorwiseandgraciousWomenofthattribedidinevitablycombineatlasttocompositefiguresofgodsandgoddesses——onwhomtheenthusiasmandadorationofthetribewasconcentrated。[1]MissHarrisonhasingeniouslysuggestedhowtheleadingfiguresinthemagicritualsofthepast——beingthefiguresonwhichalleyeswouldbeconcentrated；andwhoseimportancewouldbeimprintedoneverymind——lentthemselvestothisprocess。

ThesufferingVictim，boundandscourgedandcrucified，recurringyearafteryearasthecentre-figureofathousandritualprocessions，wouldatlastbedramatizedandidealizedinthegreatrace-consciousnessintotheformofaSufferingGod——aJesusChristoraDionysusorOsiris——dismemberedorcrucifiedforthesalvationofmankind。ThePriestorMedicine-Man——orratherthesuccessionofPriestsorMedicine-Men——whosefigureswouldrecuragainandagainasleadersandordainersoftheceremonies，wouldbeglorifiedatlastintothecomposite-

imageofaGodinwhomwereconcentratedallmagicpowers。“Recentresearches，“saysGilbertMurray，“haveshownusinabundancetheearlyGreekmedicine-chiefsmakingthunderandlightningandrain。”HereisthegermofaZeusoraJupiter。Theparticularmedicine-manmayfail；thatdoesnotsomuchmatter；heisonlytheindividualrepresentativeoftheglorifiedandcompositebeingwhoexistsinthemindofthetribe(justasapresent-dayKingmaybeunworthy，butissurroundedallthesamebytheagelongglamourofRoyalty)。“Thereal，tremendous，infallible，issomewherefaraway，hiddenincloudsperhaps，onthesummitofsomeinaccessiblemountain。

Ifthemountainisonceclimbedthegodwillmovetotheuppersky。Themedicine-chiefmeanwhilestaysonearth，stillinfluential。Hehassomeconnectionwiththegreatgodmoreintimatethanthatofothermen……heknowstherulesforapproachinghimandmakingprayerstohim。”[2]ThusdidtheMedicine-man，orPriest，orMagician(forthesearebutthreenamesforonefigure)representonestepintheevolutionofthegod。

[1]SeeTheArtofCreation，ch。viii，“TheGodsasApparitionsoftheRace-Life。”

[2]TheFourStages，p。140。

Andfartherbackstillintheevolutionaryprocesswemaytrace(asinchapterivabove)thedivinizationordeificationoffour-footedanimalsandbirdsandsnakesandtreesandthelike，fromthepersonificationofthecollectiveemotionofthetribetowardsthesecreatures。Forpeoplewhosechieffoodwasbear-meat，forinstance，whosetotemwasabear，andwhobelievedthemselvesdescendedfromanursineancestor，therewouldgrowupinthetribalmindanimagesurroundedbyahaloofemotions——

emotionsofhungrydesire，ofreverence，fear，gratitudeandsoforth——animageofadivineBearinwhomtheylivedandmovedandhadtheirbeing。ForanothertribeorgroupinwhoseyearlyritualaBulloraLamboraKangarooplayedaleadingparttherewouldinthesamewayspringtiptheimageofaholybull，adivinelamb，orasacredkangaroo。AnothergroupagainmightcometoworshipaSerpentasitspresidinggenius，oraparticularkindofTree，simplybecausetheseobjectswereandhadbeenforcenturiesprominentfactorsinitsyearlyandseasonalMagic。AsReinachandotherssuggest，itwastheTaboo(bredbyFear)whichbyfirstforbiddingcontactwiththetotem-animalorpriestormagician-chiefgraduallyinvestedhimwithAweandDivinity。

Accordingtothistheorythegod——thefull-growngodinhumanshape，dwellingapartandbeyondtheearth——didnotcomefirst，butwasalateandmorefinishedproductofevolution。Hegrewupbydegreesandoutoftheprecedinganimal-worshipsandtotem-systems。Andthistheoryismuchsupportedandcorroboratedbythefactthatinavastnumberofearlycultsthegodsarerepresentedbyhumanfigureswithanimalheads。TheEgyptianreligionwasfullofsuchdivinities——thejackal-headedAnubis，theram-headedAmmon，thebull-frontedOsiris，orMuth，queenofdarkness，cladinavulture"sskin；MinosandtheMinotaurinCrete；inGreece，Athenawithanowl"shead，orHeraklesmaskedinthehideandjawsofamonstrouslion。Whatcouldbemoreobviousthanthat，followingonthetribalworshipofanytotem-animal，thepriestormedicine-manoractualkinginleadingthemagicritualshoulddontheskinandheadofthatanimal，andwearthesameasakindofmask——thispartlyinordertoappeartothepeopleasthetruerepresentativeofthetotem，andpartlyalsoinordertoobtainfromtheskinthemagicvirtuesandmanaofthebeast，whichhecouldthendulyimparttothecrowd?Zeus，itmustberemembered，wearstheaegis，orgoat-skin——saidtobethehideofthegoatAmaltheiawhosuckledhiminhisinfancy；thereareanumberoflegendswhichconnectedtheArcadianArtemiswiththeworshipofthebear，Apollowiththewolf，andsoforth。And，mostcuriousasshowingsimilarityofritesbetweentheOldandNewWorlds，therearefoundplentyofexamplesofthewearingofbeast-masksinreligiousprocessionsamongthenativetribesofbothNorthandSouthAmerica。IntheAtlasofSpixandMartius(whotravelledtogetherintheAmazonianforestsabout1820)thereisanunderstandingandcharacteristicpictureofthemen(andsomewomen)ofthetribeoftheTecunasmovinginprocessionthroughthewoodsmostlynaked，exceptforwearinganimalheadsandmasks——

themasksrepresentingCranesofvariouskinds，Ducks，theOpossum，theJaguar，theParrot，etc。，probablysymbolicoftheirrespectiveclans。

Bysomesuchprocessasthis，itmayfairlybesupposed，theformsoftheGodswereslowlyexhaledfromtheactualfiguresofmenandwomen，ofyouthsandgirls，whoyearafteryeartookpartintheancientrituals。JustastheQueenoftheMayorFatherChristmaswithusareidealizedformsderivedfromthemanyhappymaidensorwhite-beardedoldmenwhotookleadingpartsintheMayorDecembermummingsandthusgainedtheirapotheosisinourliteratureandtradition——sodoubtlessZeuswithhisthunderboltsandarrowsoflightningistheidealizationintoHeavenofthePriestlyrain-makerandstorm-controller；AresthegodofWar，thesimilaridealizationoftheleadingwarriorintheritualwar-danceprecedinganattackonaneighboringtribe；andMercuryofthefoot-runningMessengerwhoseswiftnessinthosedays(devoidofsteamorelectricity)

wassopreciousatribalpossession。

AndhereitmustberememberedthatthisexplanationofthegenesisofthegodsonlyappliestotheSHAPESandFIGURES

ofthevariousdeities。ItdoesnotapplytothegenesisofthewidespreadbeliefinspiritsoraGreatSpiritgenerally；that，asIthinkwillbecomeclear，hasquiteanothersource。Somepeoplehavejeeredatthe"animistic"or"anthropomorphic"tendencyofprimitivemaninhiscontemplationoftheforcesofNatureorhisimaginationsofreligionandthegods。Withakindofsuperiorpitytheyspeakof“thepoorIndianwhoseuntutoredmindseesGodincloudsandhearshiminthewind。”ButImustconfessthattomethe“poorIndian“seemsonthewholetoshowmoregoodsensethanhiscritics，andtohaveaimedhisrudearrowsatthephilosophicmarkmoresuccessfullythanavastnumberofhislearnedandscientificsuccessors。AconsiderationofwhatwehavesaidabovewouldshowthatearlypeoplefelttheirunitywithNaturesodeeplyandintimatelythat——liketheanimalsthemselves——

theydidnotthinkconsciouslyortheorizeaboutit。

Itwasjusttheirlifetobe——likethebeastsofthefieldandthetreesoftheforest——apartofthewholefluxofthings，non-differentiatedsotospeak。Whatmorenaturalorindeedmorelogicallycorrectthanforthemtoassume(whentheyfirstbegantothinkordifferentiatethemselves)thattheseothercreatures，thesebirds，beastsandplants，andeventhesunandmoon，wereofthesamebloodasthemselves，theirfirstcousins，sotospeak，andhavingthesameinteriornature?Whatmorereasonable(ifindeedtheycreditedTHEMSELVESwithhavingsomekindofsoulorspirit)thantocredittheseothercreatureswithasimilarsoulorspirit?ImThurn，speakingoftheGuianaIndians，saysthatforthem“thewholeworldswarmswithbeings。”Surelythiscouldnotbetakentoindicateanuntutoredmind——unlessindeedaminduntutoredinthenonsenseoftheSchools——butratheraverydirectlyperceptivemind。Andagainwhatmorereasonable(seeingthatthesepeoplethemselveswereintheanimalstageofevolution)

thanthattheyshouldpaygreatreverencetosomeidealanimal——firstcousinorancestor——whoplayedanimportantpartintheirtribalexistence，andmakeofthisanimalatotememblemandasymboloftheircommonlife?

And，furtherstill，whatmorenaturalthanthatwhenthetribepassedtosomedegreebeyondtheanimalstageandbegantorealizealifemoreintelligentandemotional——morespeciallyhumaninfact——thanthatofthebeastsofthefield，thatitshouldtheninitsritualsandceremoniesthrowoffthebeast-maskandpayreverencetotheinteriorandmorehumanspirit。Risingtoamoreenlightenedconsciousnessofitsownintimatequality，andstilldeeplypenetratedwiththesenseofitskinshiptoexternalnature，itwouldinevitablyandperfectlylogicallycreditthelatterwithaninnerlifeandintelligence，moredistinctlyhumanthanbefore。ItsreligioninfactwouldbecomeMORE

"anthropomorphic"insteadoflessso；andoneseesthatthisisaprocessthatisinevitable；andinevitablenotwithstandingacertainparenthesisintheprocess，duetoobviouselementsinour"Civilization"andtothetemporaryandfallaciousdominationofaleaden-eyedso-called"Science。"AccordingtothisviewthetrueevolutionofReligionandMan"soutlookontheworldhasproceedednotbythedenialbymanofhisunitywiththeworld，butbyhisseeingandunderstandingthatunitymoredeeply。

AndthemoredeeplyheunderstandshimselfthemorecertainlyhewillrecognizeintheexternalworldaBeingorbeingsresemblinghimself。

W。H。Hudson——whosemindiscertainlynotofaqualitytobejeeredat——speaksofAnimismas“theprojectionofourselvesintonature:thesenseandapprehensionofanintelligencelikeourown，butmorepowerful，inallvisiblethings“；andcontinues，“oldasIamthissameprimitivefacultywhichmanifesteditselfinmyearlyboyhood，stillpersists，andinthoseearlyyearswassopowerfulthatIamalmostafraidtosayhowdeeplyIwasmovedbyit。”[1]NorwillitbequiteforgottenthatShelleyoncesaid:——

Themovelesspillarofamountain"sweightIsactivelivingspirit。EverygrainIssentientbothinunityandpart，AndtheminutestatomcomprehendsAworldoflovesandhatreds。

[1]FarAwayandLongAgo，ch。xiii，p。225。

ThetendencytoanimismandlatertoanthropomorphismisIsayinevitable，andperfectlylogical。ButthegreatvalueoftheworkdonebysomeofthoseinvestigatorswhomIhavequotedhasbeentoshowthatamongquiteprimitivepeople(whoseinteriorlifeand"soul-sense"wasonlyveryfeeble)theirprojectionsofintelligenceintoNaturewerecorrespondinglyfeeble。Thereflectionsofthemselvesprojectedintotheworldbeyondcouldnotreachthestatureofeternal"gods，"butwereratherofthequalityofephemeralphantomsandghosts；andtheceremonialsandcreedsofthatperiodareconsequentlymoreproperlydescribedas，MagicthanasReligion。Therehaveindeedbeengreatcontroversiesastowhethertherehasorhasnotbeen，inthecourseofreligiousevolution，aPRE-

animisticstage。Probablyofcoursehumanevolutioninthismattermusthavebeenperfectlycontinuousfromstagespresentingtheveryfeeblestoranabsolutelydeficientanimisticsensetotheveryhighestmanifestationsofanthropomorphism；butasthereisagooddealofevidencetoshowthatANIMALS(notablydogsandhorses)

seeghosts，theinquiryoughtcertainlytobeenlargedsofarastoincludethepre-humanspecies。AnyhowitmustberememberedthatthequestionisoneofCONSCIOUSNESS——

thatis，ofhowfarandtowhatdegreeconsciousnessofselfhasbeendevelopedintheanimalortheprimitivemanorthecivilizedman，andthereforehowfarandtowhatdegreetheanimalorhumancreaturehascreditedtheoutsideworldwithasimilarconsciousness。ItisnotaquestionofwhetherthereISaninnerlifeandSUB-consciousnesscommontoallthesecreaturesoftheearthandsky，becausethat，Itakeit，isafactbeyondquestion；theyallemergeorhaveemergedfromthesamematrix，andarerootedinidentity；butitisaquestionofhowfartheyareAWAREofthis，andhowfarbyseparation(whichisthegeniusofevolution)eachindividualcreaturehasbecomeconsciousoftheinteriornaturebothofitselfandoftheothercreaturesANDofthegreatwholewhichincludesthemall。

Finally，andtoavoidmisunderstanding，letmesaythatAnthropomorphism，inman"sconceptionofthegods，isitselfofcourseonlyastageanddestinedtopassaway。

Insofar，thatis，asthetermindicatesabeliefindivinebeingscorrespondingtoourPRESENTconceptionofourselves——thatisasseparatepersonalitieshavingeachaseparateandlimitedcharacterandfunction，andanimatedbytheseparatistmotivesofambition，possession，power，vainglory，superiority，patronage，self-greed，self-satisfaction，etc——insofarasanthropomorphismistheexpressionofthatkindofbeliefitisofcoursedestined，withtheillusionfromwhichitsprings，topassaway。Whenmanarrivesatthefinalconsciousnessinwhichtheideaofsuchaself，superiororinferiororinanywayantagonistictoothers，ceasestooperate，thenhewillreturntohisfirstandprimalcondition，andwillceasetoneedANY

specialreligionorgods，knowinghimselfandallhisfellowstobedivineandtheoriginandperfectfruitionofall。

VII。RITESOFEXPIATIONANDREDEMPTION

ThereisapassageinRichardJefferies"imperishablybeautifulbookTheStoryofmyHeart——apassagewellknowntoallloversofthatprose-poet——inwhichhefigureshimselfstanding“infrontoftheRoyalExchangewherethewidepavementreachesoutlikeapromontory，“

andponderingonthevastcrowdandthemysteryoflife。“Isthereanytheory，philosophy，orcreed，“hesays，“isthereanysystemofculture，anyformulatedmethod，abletomeetandsatisfyeachseparateitemofthisagitatedpoolofhumanlife?Bywhichtheymaybeguided，bywhichtheymayhope，bywhichlookforward?Notamereillusionofthecravingheart——somethingreal，asrealasthesolidwallsoffactagainstwhich，likeseaweed，theyaredashed；somethingtogiveeachseparatepersonalitysunshineandaflowerinitsownexistencenow；somethingtoshapethismillion-handedlabortoanendandoutcomethatwillleavemoresunshineandmoreflowerstothosewhomustsucceed?Somethingrealnow，andnotinthespirit-land；inthishournow，asIstandandthesunburns……Fullwellawarethatallhasfailed，yet，sidebysidewiththesadnessofthatknowledge，therelivesoninmeanunquenchablebelief，thoughtburninglikethesun，thatthereisyetsomethingtobefound……Itmustbedraggedforthbythemightofthoughtfromtheimmenseforcesoftheuniverse。”

Inanswertothispassagewemaysay“No，——athousandtimesNo！thereisnotheory，philosophy，creed，systemorformulatedmethodwhichwillmeetoreversatisfythedemandofeachseparateitemofthehumanwhirlpool。”

Andhappyarewetoknowthereisnosuchthing！

Howterribleifoneofthesebloodless"systems"whichstrewthehistoryofreligionandphilosophyandthepoliticalandsocialpathsofhumanendeavorHADbeenfoundabsolutelycorrectanduniversallyapplicable——sothateveryhumanbeingwouldbecompelledtopassthroughitsmachine-likemaw，everypersonalitytobecrushedunderitsJuggernathwheels！No，thankHeaven！thereisnotheoryorcreedorsystem；andyetthereissomething——

asJefferiespropheticallyfeltandwithagreatlongingdesired——thatCANsatisfy；andthat，therootofallreligion，hasbeenhintedatinthelastchapter。ItistheCONSCIOUSNESSoftheworld-lifeburning，blazing，deepdownwithinus:itistheSoul"sintuitionofitsrootsinOmnipresenceandEternity。

Thegodsandthecreedsofthepast，asshowninthelastchapter——whatevertheymayhavebeen，animisticoranthropomorphicortranscendental，whethergrosslybrutishorserenelyidealandabstract——areessentiallyprojectionsofthehumanmind；andnodoubtthosewhoareanxioustodiscreditthereligiousimpulsegenerallywillcatchatthis，saying“Yes，theyaremereformsandphantomsofthemind，ephemeraldreams，projectedonthebackgroundofNature，andhavingnorealsubstanceorsolidvalue。ThehistoryofReligion(theywillsay)isahistoryofdelusionandillusion；whywastetimeoverit?ThesedivinegrizzlyBearsorAesculapianSnakes，thesecat-facedPashts，thisIsis，queenofheaven，andAstarteandBaalandIndraandAgniandKaliandDemeterandtheVirginMaryandApolloandJesusChristandSatanandtheHolyGhost，areonlyshadowscastoutwardsontoascreen；theconstitutionofthehumanmindmakesthemalltendtobeanthropomorphic；butthatisall；theyeachandallinevitablypassaway。Whywastetimeoverthem?“

Andthisisinasenseaperfectlyfairwayoflookingatthematter。ThesegodsandcreedsAREonlyprojectionsofthehumanmind。Butallthesameitmisses，doesthisview，theessentialfact。Itmissesthefactthatthereisnoshadowwithoutafire，thattheveryexistenceofashadowarguesalightsomewhere(thoughwemaynotdirectlyseeit)aswellastheexistenceofasolidformwhichinterceptsthatlight。Deep，deepinthehumanmindthereisthatburningblazinglightoftheworld-consciousness——

sodeepindeedthatthevastmajorityofindividualsarehardlyawareofitsexistence。Theirgazeturnedoutwardsisheldandrivetedbythegiganticfiguresandprocessionspassingacrosstheirsky；theyareunawarethatthelatterareonlyshadows——silhouettesoftheformsinhabitingtheirownminds。[1]Thevastmajorityofpeoplehaveneverobservedtheirownminds；theirownmentalforms。

Theyhaveonlyobservedthereflectionscastbythese。

Thusitmaybesaid，inthismatter，thattherearethreedegreesofreality。Therearethemereshadows——theleastrealandmostevanescent；therearetheactualmentaloutlinesofhumanity(andoftheindividual)，muchmorereal，butthemselvesalsoofcourseslowlychanging；

andmostrealofall，andpermanent，thereisthelight“whichlightetheverymanthatcomethintotheworld“——thegloriouslightoftheworld-consciousness。Ofthislastitmaybesaidthatitneverchanges。Everythingisknowntoit——eventheveryIMPEDIMENTStoitsshining。

Butasitisfromtheimpedimentstotheshiningofalightthatshadowsarecast，sowenowmayunderstandthatthethingsofthisworldandofhumanity，thoughrealintheirdegree，havechieflyakindofnegativevalue；theyareopaquenesses，clouds，materialisms，ignorances，andtheinnerlightfallinguponthemgraduallyrevealstheirnegativecharacterandgraduallydissolvesthemawaytilltheyarelostintheextremeandeternalSplendor。IthinkJefferies，whenheaskedthatquestionwithwhichIhavebegunthischapter，wasinsomesensesubconsciously，ifnotquiteconsciously，awareoftheanswer。HisfrequentreferencestotheburningblazingsunthroughoutTheStoryoftheHeartseemtobeanindicationofhisrealdeep-downattitudeofmind。

[1]See，inthesameconnection，Plato"sallegoryoftheCave，Republic，Bookvii。

Theshadow-figuresofthecreedsandtheogoniespassawaytrulylikeephemeraldreams；buttosaythattimespentintheirstudyiswasted，isamistake，fortheyhavevalueasbeingindicationsofthingsmuchmorerealthanthemselves，namely，ofthestagesofevolutionofthehumanmind。Thefactthatacertaingod-figure，howevergrotesqueandqueer，oracertaincreed，howeverchildish，cruel，andillogical，heldswayforaconsiderabletimeovertheheartsofmeninanycornerorcontinentoftheworldisgoodevidencethatitrepresentedarealformativeurgeatthetimeintheheartsofthosegoodpeople，andadefinitestageintheirevolutionandtheevolutionofhumanity。Certainlyitwasdestinedtopassaway，butitwasastep，andanecessarystepinthegreatprocess；andcertainlyitwasopaqueandbrutish，butitisthroughtheopaquethingsoftheworld，andnotthroughthetransparent，thatwebecomeawareofthelight。

Itmaybeworthwhiletogiveinstancesofhowsomeearlyritualsandcreeds，inthemselvesapparentlybarbarousorpreposterous，werereallytheindicationsofimportantmoralandsocialconceptionsevolvingintheheartofman。Letustake，first，thereligiouscustomsconnectedwiththeideasofSacrificeandofSin，ofwhichsuchinnumerableexamplesarenowtobefoundinthemodernbooksonAnthropology。Ifweassume，asIhavedonemorethanonce，thattheearlieststateofManwasoneinwhichhedidnotconsciouslyseparatehimselffromtheworld，animateandinanimate，whichsurroundedhim，then(asIhavealsosaid)itwasperfectlynaturalforhimtotakesomeanimalwhichbulkedlargeonhishorizon——

somefood-animalforinstance——andtopayrespecttoitasthebenefactorofhistribe，itsfar-backancestorandtotem-symbol；or，seeingtheboundlessblessingofthecornfields，tobelieveinsomekindofspiritofthecorn(notexactlyagodbutratheramagicalghost)which，reincarnatedeveryyear，spranguptosavemankindfromfamine。Butthennosoonerhadhedonethisthanhewasboundtoperceivethatincuttingdownthecornorineatinghistotem-bearorkangaroohewasslayinghisownbestselfandbenefactor。InthatinstanttheconsciousnessofDISUNITY，thesenseofsininsomeundefinedyetnolessdisturbingandalarmingformwouldcomein。

If，before，hisritualmagichadbeenconcentratedonthesimplepurposeofmultiplyingtheanimalor，vegetableformsofhisfood，nowinadditionhismagicalendeavorwouldbeturnedtoavertingthejustwrathofthespiritswhoanimatedtheseforms——justindeed，fortherudestsavagewouldperceivethewrongdoneandtheprobabilityofitsretribution。Clearlythewrongdonecouldonlybeexpiatedbyanequivalentsacrificeofsomekindonthepartoftheman，orthetribe——thatisbytheofferingtothetotem-

animalortothecorn-spiritofsomevictimwhomthesenaturepowersintheirturncouldfeeduponandassimilate。

Inthiswaythenature-powerswouldbeappeased，thesenseofunitywouldberestored，andthefirstAt-one-menteffected。

Itishardlynecessarytoreciteinanydetailthecruelandhideoussacrificeswhichhavebeenperpetratedinthissenseallovertheworld，sometimesinappeasementofawrongcommittedorsupposedtohavebeencommittedbythetribeorsomememberofit，sometimesinplacationorfortheavertingofdeath，ordefeat，orplague，sometimesmerelyinfulfilmentofsomelong-standingcustomofforgottenorigin——theflayingsandfloggingsandburningsandcrucifixionsofvictimswithoutend，carriedoutinalldeliberationandsolemnityofestablishedritual。

Ihavementionedsomecasesconnectedwiththesowingofthecorn。TheBibleisfullofsuchthings，fromtheintendedsacrificeofIsaacbyhisfatherAbraham，totheactualcrucifixionofJesusbytheJews。Thefirst-

bornsonswereclaimedbyagodwhocalledhimself“jealous“andwereonlytoberedeemedbyasubstitute。[1]

OftheCanaanitesitwassaidthat“eventheirdaughterstheyhaveBURNTinthefiretotheirgods“；[2]andoftheKingofMoab，thatwhenhesawhisarmyindangerofdefeat，“hetookhiseldestsonthatshouldhavereignedinhissteadandofferedhimforaburnt-offeringonthewall！“[3]Dr。Frazer[4]mentionsthesimilarcaseoftheCarthaginians(aboutB。C。300)sacrificingtwohundredchildrenofgoodfamilyasapropitiationtoBaalandtosavetheirbelovedcityfromtheassaultsoftheSiciliantyrantAgathocles。AndevensowehearthatonthatoccasionthreehundredmoreyoungfolkVOLUNTEEREDtodieforthefatherland。

[1]Exodusxxxiv。20。

[2]Deut。xii。31。

[3]2Kingsiii。27。

[4]TheGoldenBough，vol。“TheDyingGod，“p。167。

TheawfulsacrificesmadebytheAztecsinMexicototheirgodsHuitzilopochtli，Texcatlipoca，andothersaredescribedinmuchdetailbySahagun，theSpanishmissionaryofthesixteenthcentury。Thevictimsweremostlyprisonersofwaroryoungchildren；theywerenumberedbythousands。InonecaseSahagundescribesthehugeIdolorfigureofthegodaslargelyplatedwithgoldandholdinghishandspalmupwardandinadownwardslopingpositionoveracauldronorfurnaceplacedbelow。Thechildren，whohadpreviouslybeenborneintriumphalstateonlittersoverthecrowdanddecoratedwitheveryornamentaldeviceoffeathersandflowersandwings，wereplacedonebyoneonthevasthandsandROLLEDDOWNintotheflames——asifthegodwerehimselfofferingthem。[1]Astheprocessionapproachedthetemple，themembersofitweptanddancedandsang，andhereagaintheabundanceoftearswastakenforagoodauguryofrain。[2]

[1]Itiscurioustofindthatexactlythesamestory(oftheslopinghandsandthechildrenrolleddownintotheflames)isrelatedconcerningtheabove-mentionedBaalimageatCarthage(seeDiodorusSiculus，xx。14；alsoBaringGould"sReligiousBelief，vol。i，p。375)。

[2]“Alosninosquemataban，componianlosenmuchosataviosparallevarlosalsacrificio，yllevabosenunasliterassobreloshombros，estasliterasibanadornadasconplumagesyconflores:

ibantanendo，cantandoybailandodelantedeellos……CuandoIlevibanlosninosamatar，sillevabanyechabanmuchoslagrimas，alegrabansilosquelosllevabanporquetomabanpronosticodequehabiandetenermuchasaguasenaquelano。”

Sahagun，HistoriaNuevaEspana，Bk。II，ch。i。

BernalDiazdescribeshowhesawoneofthesemonstrousfigures——thatofHuitzilopochtli，thegodofwar，allinlaidwithgoldandpreciousstones；andbesideitwere“braziers，whereinburnedtheheartsofthreeIndians，tornfromtheirbodiesthatveryday，andthesmokeofthemandthesavorofincensewerethesacrifice。”

Sahagunagain(inBookII，ch。5)givesalongaccountofthesacrificeofaperfectyouthatEaster-time——whichdateSabagunconnectswiththeChristianfestivaloftheResurrection。Forawholeyeartheyouthhadbeenheldinhonorandadoredbythepeopleastheveryimageofthegod(Tetzcatlipoca)towhomhewastobesacrificed。Everyluxuryandfulfilmentofhislastwish(includingsuchfourcourtesansashedesired)hadbeengrantedhim。Atthelastandonthefatalday，leavinghiscompanionsandhisworshipersbehind，beslowlyascendedtheTemplestaircase；strippingoneachsteptheornamentsfromhisbody；andbreakingandcastingawayhisflutesandothermusicalinstruments；till，reachingthesummit，hewasstretched，curvedonhisback，andbellyupwards，overthealtarstone，whilethepriestwithobsidianknifecuthisbreastopenand，snatchingtheheartout，helditup，yetbeating，asanofferingtotheSun。Inthemeantime，andwhiletheheartstilllived，hissuccessorforthenextyearwaschosen。

InBookII，ch。7ofthesameworkSahagundescribesthesimilarofferingofawomantoagoddess。Inbothcases(heexplains)ofyoungmanoryoungwoman，thevictimswererichlyadornedintheguiseofthegodorgoddesstowhomtheywereoffered，andatthesametimegreatlargesseoffoodwasdistributedtoallwhoneeded。

[Hereweseetheconnectioninthegeneralmindbetweenthegiftoffood(bythegods)andthesacrificeofpreciousblood(bythepeople)。]MorethanonceSahagunmentionsthatthevictimsintheseMexicanceremonialsnotinfrequentlyofferedTHEMSELVESasavoluntarysacrifice；andPrescottsays[1]thattheofferingofone"slifetothegodswas“sometimesvoluntarilyembraced，asamostgloriousdeathopeningasurepassageintoParadise。”

[1]ConquestofMexico，Bk。I，ch。3。

Dr。Frazerdescribes[1]thefar-backBabylonianfestivaloftheSacaeainwhich“aprisoner，condemnedtodeath，wasdressedintheking"srobes，seatedontheking"sthrone，allowedtoissuewhatevercommandshepleased，toeat，drinkandenjoyhimself，andeventoliewiththeking"sconcubines。”

Butattheendofthefivedayshewasstrippedofhisroyalrobes，scourged，andhangedorimpaled。ItiscertainlyastonishingtofindcustomssosimilarprevailingamongpeoplessofarremovedinspaceandtimeastheAztecsofthesixteenthcenturyA。D。andtheBabyloniansperhapsofthesixteenthcenturyB。C。ButweknowthatthissubjectoftheyearlysacrificeofavictimattiredasakingorgodisonethatDr。Frazerhasespeciallymadehisown，andforfurtherinformationonithisclassicworkshouldbeconsulted。

[1]GoldenBough，“TheDyingGod，“p。114。SeealsoS。Reinach，Cults，MythsandReligion，p。94)onthemartyrdomofSt。Dasius。

AndrewLangalso，withregardtotheAztecs，quoteslargelyfromSahagun，andsummarizeshisconclusionsinthefollowingpassage:“Thegeneraltheoryofworshipwastheadorationofadeity，firstbyinnumerablehumansacrifices，nextbythespecialsacrificeofaMANforthemalegods，ofaWOMANforeachgoddess。[1]Thelattervictimswereregardedasthelivingimagesorincarnationsofthedivinitiesin，eachcase；fornosystemofworshipcarriedfarthertheidentificationofthegodwiththesacrifice[?victim]，andofbothwiththeofficiatingpriest。Theconnectionwasemphasizedbythepriestswearingthenewly-flayedskinsofthevictims——justasinGreece，EgyptandAssyria，thefawn-skinorbull-hideorgoat-skinorfish-

skinofthevictimsiswornbythecelebrants。Finally，animageofthegodwasmadeoutofpaste，andthiswasdividedintomorselsandeateninahideoussacramentbythosewhocommunicated。”[2]

[1]ComparethefestivalofThargeliaatAthens，originallyconnectedwiththeripeningofthecrops。AprocessionwasformedandthefirstfruitsoftheyearofferedtoApollo，ArtemisandtheHorae。Itwasanexpiatoryfeast，topurifytheStatefromallguiltandavertthewrathofthegod[theSun]。Amanandawoman，asrepresentingthemaleandfemalepopulation，wereledaboutwithagarlandoffigs[fertility]roundtheirnecks，tothesoundofflutesandsinging。Theywerethenscourged，sacrificed，andtheirbodiesburnedbytheseashore。(NettleshipandSandys。)

[2]ALang，Myth，RitualandReligion，vol。ii，p。97。

Revoltingasthiswholepictureis，itrepresentsasweknowamerethumbnailsketchoftheawfulpracticesofhumansacrificeallovertheworld。WeholdupourhandsinhorroratthethoughtofHuitzilopochtlidroppingchildrenfromhisfingersintotheflames，butwehavetorememberthatourownmostChristianSaintAugustinewascontenttodescribeunbaptizedinfantsascrawlingforeveraboutthefloorofHell！Whatsortofgod，wemayask，didAugustineworship?TheBeingwhocouldcondemnchildrentosuchafatewascertainlynobetterthantheMexicanIdol。

AndyetAugustinewasagreatandnobleman，withsomebynomeansunworthyconceptionsofthegreatnessofhisGod。InthesamewaytheAztecswereinmanyrespectsarefinedandartisticpeople，andtheirreligionwasnotallsuperstitionandbloodshed。Prescottsaysofthem[1]thattheybelievedinasupremeCreatorandLord“omnipresent，knowingallthoughts，givingallgifts，withoutwhomManisasnothing——invisible，incorporeal，oneGod，ofperfectperfectionandpurity，underwhosewingswefindreposeandasuredefence。”HowcanwereconcileSt。Augustinewithhisowndevilishcreed，orthereligiousbeliefoftheAztecswiththeirunspeakablecruelties?

PerhapswecanonlyreconcilethembyrememberingoutofwhatdeepsofbarbarismandwhatnightmaresofhauntingFear，manhasslowlyemerged——andisevennowonlyslowlyemerging；byrememberingalsothattheancientceremoniesandritualsofMagicandFearremainedonandwerecultivatedbythemultitudeineachnationlongafterthebolderandnoblerspiritshadattainedtobreatheapurerair；byrememberingthateventothepresentdayineachindividualtheOldandtheNewareforalongperiodthusintricatelyintertangled。Itishardtobelievethatthepracticeofhumanandanimalsacrifice(withwhateverrevoltingdetails)shouldhavebeencultivatedbynine-tenthsofthehumanraceovertheglobeoutofsheerperversityandwithoutsomereasonwhichatanyratetotheperpetratorsthemselvesappearedcommandingandconvincing。To-day[1918]wearewitnessingintheGreatEuropeanWaracarnivalofhumanslaughterwhichinmagnitudeandbarbarityeclipsesinonestrokealltheaccumulatedceremonialsacrificesofhistoricalages；andwhenweaskthewhyandwhereforeofthishorridspectaclewearetold，apparentlyinallsincerity，andbyboththepartiesengaged，ofthenobleobjectsandcommandingmoralitieswhichinspireandcompelit。Wecanhardly，inthislastcase，disbelievealtogetherinthegenuinenessoftheplea，sowhyshouldwedosointheformercase?InbothcasesweperceivethatunderneaththesurfacepretextsandmoralitiesFearisandwasthegreaturgingandcommandingforce。

[1]ConquestofMexico，Bk。I，ch。3。

ThetruthisthatSinandSacrificerepresent——ifyouonceallowfortheoverwhelmingswayoffear——perfectlyreasonableviewsofhumanconduct，adoptedinstinctivelybymankindsincetheearliesttimes。Ifinamomentofdangeroranaccessofselfishgreedyoudesertedyourbrothertribesmanortookameanadvantageofhim，you"sinned"againsthim；andnaturallyyouexpiatedthesinbyanequivalentsacrificeofsomekindmadetotheoneyouhadwronged。Suchanideaandsuchapracticeweretheveryfoundationofsociallifeandhumanmorality，andmusthavesprungupassoonasever，inthecourseofevolution，manbecameCAPABLEofdifferentiatinghimselffromhisfellowsandregardinghisownconductasthatofa"separateself。"Itwasintheveryconceptionofaseparateselfthat"sin"anddisunityfirstbegan；anditwasby"sacrifice"thatunityandharmonywererestored，appeasementandatonementeffected。

Butinthoseearliesttimes，asIhavealreadyindicatedmorethanonce，manfelthimselfintimatelyrelatednotonlytohisbrothertribesman，buttotheanimalsandtogeneralNature。ItwasnotsomuchthatheTHOUGHTthusasthatheneverthoughtOTHERWISE！HeFELTsubconsciouslythathewasapartofallthisouterworld。Andsoheadoptedforhistotemsorpresidingspiritseverypossibleanimal，aswehaveseen，andallsortsofnature-phenomena，suchasrainandfireandwaterandclouds，andsun，moonandstars——whichWEconsiderquitesenselessandinanimate。

TowardstheseapparentlysenselessthingsthereforehefeltthesamecompunctionasIhavedescribedhimfeelingtowardshisbrothertribesmen。Hecouldsinagainstthemtoo。Hecouldsinagainsthistotem-animalbyeatingit；hecouldsinagainsthis"brothertheox"byconsumingitsstrengthinthelaboroftheplough；hecouldsinagainstthecornbycuttingitdownandgrindingitintoflour，oragainstthepreciousandbeautifulpine-

treebylayinghisaxetoitsrootsandconvertingitintomeretimberforhishouse。Furtherstill，nodoubthecouldsinagainstelementalnature。Thismightbemoredifficulttobecertainof，butwhenthesignsofelementaldispleasurewerenottobemistaken——whentherainwithhelditselfformonths，orthestormsandlightningdealtdeathanddestruction，whenthecropsfailedorevilplaguesafflictedmankind——thentherecouldbelittleuncertaintythathehadsinned；andFear，whichhadhauntedhimlikeademonfromthefirstdaywhenhebecameconsciousofhisseparationfromhisfellowsandfromNature，stoodoverhimandurgedtodreadfulpropitiations。

Inallthesecasessomesacrificeinreparationwastheobviousthing。Wehaveseenthattoatoneforthecutting-downofthecornahumanvictimwouldoftenbeslaughtered。Thecorn-spiritclearlyapprovedofthis，forwhereverthebloodandremainsofthevictimwerestrewnthecornalwayssprangupmoreplentifully。Thetribeorhumangroupmadereparationthustothecorn；thecorn-spiritsignifiedapproval。The"sin"wasexpiatedandharmonyrestored。Sometimesthesacrificewasvoluntarilyofferedbyatribesman；sometimesitwasenforced，bylotorotherwise；sometimesthevictimwasaslave，oracaptiveenemy；sometimesevenananimal。Allthatdidnotsomuchmatter。Themainthingwasthattheformalexpiationhadbeencarriedout，andthewrathofthespiritsaverted。

Itisknownthattribeswhosechieffood-animalwasthebearfeltitnecessarytokillandcatabearoccasionally；

buttheycouldnotdothiswithoutasenseofguilt，andsomefearofvengeancefromthegreatBear-spirit。Sotheyatetheslainbearatacommunalfeastinwhichthetribesmensharedtheguiltandcelebratedtheircommunitywiththeirtotemandwitheachother。AndsincetheycouldnotmakeanyreparationdirectlytotheslainanimalitselfAFTERitsdeath，theymadetheirreparationBEFORE，bringingallsortsofpresentsandfoodtoitforalonganteriorperiod，andpayingeverykindofworshipandrespecttoit。Thesamewiththebullandtheox。AtthefestivaloftheBouphonia，insomeofthecitiesofGreeceasIhavealreadymentioned，theactualbullsacrificedwasthehandsomestandmostcarefullynurturedthatcouldbeobtained；itwascrownedwithflowersandledinprocessionwitheverymarkofreverenceandworship。Andwhen——asI

havealreadypointedout——atthegreatSpringfestival，insteadofabulloragoatoraram，aHUMANvictimwasimmolated，itwasacustom(whichcanbetracedverywidelyovertheworld)tofeedandindulgeandhonorthevictimtothelastdegreeforaWHOLEYEARbeforethefinalceremony，arrayinghimoftenasakingandplacingacrownuponhishead，bywayofacknowledgmentofthenobleandnecessaryworkhewasdoingforthegeneralgood。

Whatatouchingandbeautifulceremonywasthat——belongingespeciallytotheNorthofSyria，andlandswherethepineissobeneficentandbelovedatree——themourningceremonyofthedeathandburialofAttis！whenapine-tree，felledbytheaxe，washollowedout，andinthehollowanimage(oftenitselfcarvedoutofpinewood)oftheyoungAttiswasplaced。Couldanysymbolismexpressmoretenderlytheideathatthegloriousyouth——whorepresentedSpring，toosoonslainbytherudetuskofWinter——

washimselftheveryhumansoulofthepine-tree?[1]Atsomeearlierperiod，nodoubt，arealyouthhadbeensacrificedandhisbodyboundwithinthepine；butnowitwasdeemedsufficientforthemaidenstosingtheirwildsongsoflamentation；andforthepriestsandmaleenthusiaststocutandgashthemselveswithknives，ortosacrifice(astheydid)totheEarth-motherthepreciousbloodofferingoftheirvirileorgans——symbolsoffertilityinreturnforthepromisedandexpectedrenewalofNatureandthecropsinthecomingSpring。Fortheceremony，aswehavealreadyseen，didnotendwithdeathandlamentation，butledon，perfectlynaturally，afteradayortwotoafestivalofresurrection，whenitwasdiscovered——

justasinthecaseofOsiris——thatthepine-treecoffinwasempty，andtheimmortallifehadflown。HowstrangethesimilarityandparallelismofallthesethingstothestoryofJesusintheGospels——thesacrificeofalifemadeinordertobringsalvationtomenandexpiationofsins，thecrowningofthevictim，andarrayinginroyalattire，thescourgingandthemockery，thebindingornailingtoatree，thetearsofMary，andtheresurrectionandtheemptycoffin！——orhownotatallstrangewhenweconsiderinwhatnumerousformsandamonghowmanypeoples，thissameparableandritualhadasamatteroffactbeencelebrated，andhowithadultimatelycomedowntobringitsmessageofredemptionintoasomewhatobscureSyriancity，inthespecialshapewithwhichwearefamiliar。

[1]SeeJuliusFirmicus，whosays(DeErrore，c。28):“insacrisPhrygiis，quaeMatrisdeumdicunt，perannossingulosarborpineacaeditur，etinmediaarboresimulacrumuvenissubligatur。InIsiacissacrisdepineaarborecaediturtruncus；hujustruncimediaparssubtiliterexcavatur，illisdesegminibusfactumidolumOsiridissepelitur。InProsperpinaesacriscaesaarborineffigiemvirginisformaraquecomponitur，etcumintracivitatemfueritillata，quadragintanoctibuspIangitur，quadragesimaveronoctecomburitur。”

ThoughtheparableorlegendinitsspecialChristianformbearswithittheconsciousnessofthepresenceofbeingswhomwemaycallgods，itisimportanttorememberthatinmanyormostofitsearlierforms，thoughitdealtin"spirits"——thespiritofthecorn，orthespiritoftheSpring，orthespiritsoftherainandthethunder，orthespiritsoftotem-animals——ithadnotyetquiterisentotheideaofgods。Ithadnotrisentotheconceptionofeternaldeitiessittingapartandgoverningtheworldinsolemnconclave——asfromtheslopesofOlympusortherecessesoftheChristianHeaven。Itbelonged，infact，initsinception，totheageofMagic。ThecreedofSinandSacrifice，orofGuiltandExpiation——whateverweliketocallit——wasevolvedperfectlynaturallyoutofthehumanmindwhenbroughtfacetofacewithLifeandNature)atsomeearlystageofitsself-consciousness。Itwasessentiallytheresultofman"sdeep，originalandinstinctivesenseofsolidaritywithNature，nowdeniedandbeliedandtosomedegreebrokenupbythegrowthandconsciousinsistenceoftheself-regardingimpulses。Itwastheconsciousnessofdisharmonyanddisunity，causingmentofeelallthemorepoignantlythedesireandtheneedofreconciliation。Itwasarealizationofunionmadeclearbyitsveryloss。Itassumedofcourse，inasubconsciouswayasIhavealreadyindicated，thattheexternalworldwastheHABITATofamindormindssimilartoman"sown；butTHATbeinggranted，itisevidentthattheparticulartheoriescurrentinthisorthatplaceaboutthenatureoftheworld——thetheories，asweshouldsay，ofscienceortheology——didnotalterthegeneraloutlinesofthecreed；theyonlycoloreditsdetailsandgaveitsritualdifferentdramaticsettings。Thementalattitudes，forinstance，ofAbrahamsacrificingtheram，oroftheSiberianangakoutslaughteringatotem-bear，orofamodernandpiousChristiancontemplatingtheSaviourontheCrossarereallyalmostexactlythesame。Imentionthisbecauseintracingtheoriginsortheevolutionofreligionsitisimportanttodistinguishclearlywhatisessentialanduniversalfromthatwhichismerelylocalandtemporary。

Somepeople，nodoubt，wouldbeshockedatthecomparisonsjustmade；butsurelyitismuchmoreinspiritingandencouragingtothinkthatwhateverprogressHASbeenmadeinthereligiousoutlookoftheworldhascomeaboutthroughthegradualmentalgrowthandconsentofthepeoples，ratherthanthroughsomeuniqueandmiraculouseventofaratherarbitraryandunexplainedcharacter——whichindeedmightneverberepeated，andconcerningwhichitwouldperhapsbeimpioustosuggestthatitSHOULD

berepeated。

TheconsciousnessthenofSin(orofalienationfromthelifeofthewhole)，andofrestorationorredemptionthroughSacrifice，seemstohavediscloseditselfinthehumanraceinveryfar-backtimes，andtohavesymbolizeditselfinsomemostancientrituals；andifweareshockedsometimesatthebarbaritieswhichaccompaniedthoserituals，yetwemustallowthatthesebarbaritiesshowhowintenselytheearlypeoplefeltthesolemnityandimportanceofthewholematter；andwemustallowtoothatthebarbaritiesdidsearandburnthemselvesintorudeandignorantmindswiththesenseoftheNEEDofSacrifice，andwitharesultperhapswhichcouldnothavebeencompassedinanyotherway。

Forafterallweseenowthatsacrificeisoftheveryessenceofsociallife。“ItisexpedientthatONEmanshoulddieforthepeople“；andnotonlythatonemanshouldactuallydie，but(whatisfarmoreimportant)thateachmanshouldbereadyandWILLINGtodieinthatcause，whentheoccasionandtheneedarises。TakeninitslargermeaningsandimplicationsSacrifice，asconceivedintheancientworld，wasaperfectlyreasonablething。ItSHOULDpervademodernlifemorethanitdoes。

Allwehaveorenjoyflowsfrom，orisimplicatedwith，painandsufferinginothers，and——ifthereisanyjusticeinNatureorHumanity——itdemandsanequivalentreadinesstosufferonourpart。IfChristianityhasanyrealessence，thatessenceisperhapsexpressedinsomesuchritualorpracticeofSacrifice，andweseethatthedimbeginningsofthisideadatefromthefar-backcustomsofsavagescomingdownfromatimeanteriortoallrecordedhistory。

VIII。PAGANINITIATIONSANDTHESECONDBIRTH

WehavesuggestedinthelastchapterhowtheconceptionsofSinandSacrificecomingdowntousfromanextremelyremotepast，andembodiedamongthevariouspeoplesoftheworldsometimesincrudeandbloodthirstyrites，sometimesinsymbolsandritualsofagentlerandmoregraciouscharacter，descendedatlastintoChristianityandbecameapartofitscreedandofthecreedofthemodernworld。OnthewholeperhapswemaytraceaslowameliorationinthisprocessandmayflatterourselvesthattheChristiancenturiesexhibitamorephilosophicalunderstandingofwhatSinis，andamorehumaneconceptionofwhatSacrificeSHOULDbe，thanthecenturiespreceding。ButIfearthtanyverydecidedstatementorsweepinggeneralizationtothateffectwouldbe——tosaytheleast——rash。PerhapsthereISaveryslowamelioration；

butthebriefestglanceatthehistoryoftheChristianchurches——thehorriblerancoursandrevengesoftheclergyandthesectsagainsteachotherinthefourthandfifthcenturiesA。D。，theheresy-huntingcrusadesatBeziersandotherplacesandthemassacresoftheAlbigensesinthetwelfthandthirteenthcenturies，thewitch-findingsandburningsofthesixteenthandseventeenth，thehideousscience-urgedandbishop-blessedwarfareofthetwentieth——horrorsfullyasgreatasanywecanchargetotheaccountoftheAztecsortheBabylonians——mustgiveuspause。

NormustweforgetthatifthereisbychanceasubstantialameliorationinourmodernoutlookwithregardtothesemattersthesamehadbegunalreadybeforetheadventofChristianityandcanbynomeansbeascribedtoanymiraculousinfluenceofthatreligion。Abrahamwaspromptedtoslayaramasasubstituteforhisson，longbeforetheChristianswerethoughtof；therathersavageArtemisoftheoldGreekriteswas(accordingtoPausanias)[1]

honoredbytheyearlysacrificeofaperfectboyandgirl，butlateritwasdeemedsufficienttodrawaknifeacrosstheirthroatsasasymbol，withtheresultofspillingonlyafewdropsoftheirblood，ortoflogtheboys(withthesameresult)uponheraltar。AmongtheKhondsinolddaysmanyvictims(meriahs)weresacrificedtothegods，“butintimethemanwasreplacedbyahorse，thehorsebyabull，thebullbyaram，therambyakid，thekidbyfowls，andthefowlsbymanyflowers。”[2]Atonetime，accordingtotheYajur-Veda，therewasafestivalatwhichonehundredandtwenty-fivevictims，menandwomen，boysandgirls，weresacrificed；“butreformsupervened，andnowthevictimswereboundasbeforetothestake，butafterwardsamidlitaniestotheimmolated(god)

Narayana，thesacrificingpriestbrandishedaknifeand——severedthebondsofthecaptives。”[3]AttheAthenianfestivaloftheThargelia，towhichIreferredinthelastchapter，itappearsthatthevictims，inlatertimes，insteadofbeingslain，weretossedfromaheightintothesea，andafterbeingrescuedwerethensimplybanished；whileatLeucatasasimilarfestivalthefallofthevictimwasgraciouslybrokenbytyingfeathersandevenlivingbirdstohisbody。[4]

[1]vii。19，andiii。8，16。

[2]PrimitiveFolk，byElieReclus(Contemp。ScienceSeries)，p。

330。

[3]Ibid。

[4]Muller"sDoriansBookII，ch。ii，par。10。

Withthelapseoftimeandthegeneralprogressofmankind，wemay，Ithink，perceivesomesuchslowameliorationsinthematterofthebrutalityandsuperstitionoftheoldreligions。HowfaranylaterameliorationswereduetothedirectinfluenceofChristianitymightbeadifficultquestion；butwhatIthinkwecanclearlysee——andwhatespeciallyinterestsushere——isthatinrespecttoitsmainreligiousideas，andthematterunderlyingthem(exclusiveoftheMANNERoftheirtreatment，whichnecessarilyhasvariedamongdifferentpeoples)Christianityisofonepiecewiththeearlierpagancreedsandisforthemostpartare-statementandrenewedexpressionofworld-widedoctrineswhosefirstgenesisislostinthehazeofthepast，beyondallrecordedhistory。

IhaveillustratedthisviewwithregardtothedoctrineofSinandSacrifice。Letustaketwoorthreeotherillustrations。LetustakethedoctrineofRe-birthorRegeneration。ThefirstfewversesofSt。John"sGospelareoccupiedwiththesubjectofsalvationthroughrebirthorregeneration。“Exceptamanbebornagain，hecannotseethekingdomofGod。”……“ExceptamanbebornofwaterandtheSpirit，hecannotenterintothekingdomofGod。”

OurBaptismalServicebeginsbysayingthat“forasmuchasallmenareconceivedandborninsin；andthatourSaviourChristsaith，NonecanenterintothekingdomofGodexceptheberegenerateandbornanewofwaterandtheHolyGhost“；thereforeitisdesirablethatthischildshouldbebaptized，“receivedintoChrist"sHolyChurch，andbemadealivelymemberofthesame。”That，istosay，thereisonebirth，aftertheflesh，butasecondbirthisnecessary，abirthaftertheSpiritandintotheChurchofChrist。OurConfirmationServiceissimplyaservicerepeatingandconfirmingtheseviews，atanage(fourteentosixteenorso)whentheboyorgirliscapableofunderstandingwhatisbeingdone。

ButourBaptismalandConfirmationceremoniescombinedareclearlytheexactcorrespondenceandparalleloftheoldpaganceremoniesofInitiation，whichareorhavebeenobservedinalmosteveryprimitivetribeovertheworld。“Theriteofthesecondbirth，“saysJaneHarrison，[1]“iswidespread，universal，overhalfthesavageworld。Withthesavagetobetwice-bornistherule。Byhisfirstbirthhecomesintotheworld；byhissecondheisbornintohistribe。Athisfirstbirthhebelongstohismotherandthewomen-folk；athissecondhebecomesafull-fledgedmanandpassesintothesocietyofthewarriorsofhistribe。”……“Theseritesareveryvarious，buttheyallpointtoonemoral，thattheformerthingsarepassedawayandthatthenew-bornmanhasentereduponanewlife。Simplestofall，andmostinstructive，istheritepractisedbytheKikuyutribeofBritishEastAfrica，whorequirethateveryboy，justbeforecircumcision，mustbebornagain。Themotherstandsupwiththeboycrouchingatherfeet；shepretendstogothroughallthelabourpains，andtheboyonbeingreborncrieslikeababeandiswashed。”[2]

[1]AncientArtandRitual，p。104。

[2]SeealsoThemis，p。21。

Letuspauseforamoment。AnInitiateisofcourseonewho“entersin。”HeentersintotheTribe；heentersintotherevelationofcertainMysteries；hebecomesanassociateofacertainTotem，acertainGod；amemberofanewSociety，orChurch——achurchofMithra，orDionysusorChrist。Todoanyofthesethingshemustbebornagain；bemustdietotheoldlife；hemustpassthroughceremonialswhichsymbolizethechange。Oneoftheseceremonialsiswashing。Asthenew-bornbabeiswashed，somustthenew-borninitiatebewashed；andasbyprimitiveman(andnotwithoutreason)BLOODwasconsideredthemostvitalandregenerativeoffluids，theveryelixiroflife，soinearliesttimesitwascommontowashtheinitiatewithblood。Iftheinitiatehadtobebornanew，itwouldseemreasonabletosupposethathemustfirstdie。So，notunfrequently，hewaswounded，orscourged，andbaptizedwithhisownblood，or，incases，oneofthecandidateswasreallykilledandhisbloodusedasasubstituteforthebloodoftheothers。NodoubtHUMANsacrificeattendedtheearliestinitiations。Butlateritwassufficienttobehalf-drownedinthebloodofaBullasintheMithracult，[1]or"washedinthebloodoftheLamb"

asintheChristianphraseology。Finally，withagrowingsenseofdecencyandaestheticperceptionamongthevariouspeoples，washingwithpurewatercameintheinitiation-ceremoniestotaketheplaceofblood；andourbaptismalservicehasreducedtheceremonytoameresprinklingwithwater。[2]

[1]Seech。iii。

[2]ForthevirtuesupposedtoresideinbloodseeWestermarck"sMoralIdeas，Ch。46。

TocontinuethequotationfromMissHarrison:“Moreoftenthenewbirthisstimulated，orimagined，asadeathandaresurrection，eitheroftheboysthemselvesorofsomeoneelseintheirpresence。ThusatinitiationamongsometribesofSouth-eastAustralia，whentheboysareassembledanoldmandressedinstringybark-fibreliesdowninagrave。Heiscovereduplightlywithsticksandearth，andthegraveissmoothedover。Theburiedmanholdsinhishandasmallbushwhichseemstobegrowingfromtheground，andotherbushesarestuckinthegroundroundabout。Thenovicesarethenbroughttotheedgeofthegraveandasongissung。Gradually，asthesonggoeson，thebushheldbytheburiedmanbeginstoquiver。Itmovesmoreandmore，andbitbybitthemanhimselfstartsupfromthegrave。”