第5章

类别:其他 作者:Carpenter, Edward字数:29304更新时间:18/12/20 10:59:07
“MotherofGod,“andsoforth。Beforeher,Neith,theVirginoftheWorld,whosefigurebendsfromtheskyovertheearthlyplainsandthechildrenofmen,wasacclaimedasmotherofthegreatgodOsiris。ThesaviourMithra,too,wasbornofaVirgin,aswehavehadoccasiontonoticebefore;andontheMithraismonumentsthemothersucklingherchildisanotuncommonfigure。[3] [1]ForthisinterpretationofthewordAndromedaseeThePerfectWaybyEdwardMaitland,prefacetoFirstEdition,1881。 [2]ContraJovian,BookI;andquotedbyRhysDavidsinhisBuddhisim。 [3]SeeDoane\'sBibleMyths,p。332,andDupuis\'OriginsofReligiousBeliefs。 TheoldTeutonicgoddessHertha(theEarth)wasaVirgin,butwasimpregnatedbytheheavenlySpirit(theSky);andherimagewithachildinherarmswastobeseeninthesacredgrovesofGermany。[1]TheScandinavianFrigga,inmuchthesameway,beingcaughtintheembracesofOdin,theAll-father,conceivedandboreason,theblessedBalder,healerandsaviourofmankind。Quetzalcoatl,the(crucified)saviouroftheAztecs,wasthesonofChimalman,theVirginQueenofHeaven。[2]EventheChinesehadamother-goddessandvirginwithchildinherarms[3]; andtheancientEtruscansthesame。[4] [1]R。P。Knight\'sAncientArtandMythology,p。21。 [2]SeeKingsborough\'sMexicanAntiquities,vol。vi,p。176,whereitissaid“anambassadorwassentfromheavenonanembassytoaVirginofTulan,calledChimalman……announcingthatitwasthewilloftheGodthatsheshouldconceiveason; andhavingdeliveredherthemessageheroseandleftthehouse; andassoonashehadleftitsheconceivedason,withoutconnectionwithman,whowascalledQuetzalcoat],whotheysayisthegodofair。”Further,itisexplainedthatQuetzalcoatlsacrificedhimself,drawingforthhisownbloodwiththorns;andthatthewordQuetzalcoatlotopitzinmeans“ourwell-belovedson。” [3]Doane,p。327。 [4]SeeInman\'sPaganandChristianSymbolism,p。27。 Finally,wehavethecuriouslylargenumberofBLACK virginmotherswhoareorhavebeenworshiped。NotonlycaseslikeDevakitheIndiangoddess,orIsistheEgyptian,whowouldnaturallyappearblack-skinnedordark;butthelargenumberofimagesandpaintingsofthesamekind,yetextant——especiallyintheItalianchurches——andpassingforrepresentationsofMaryandtheinfantJesus。Sucharethewell-knownimageinthechapelatLoretto,andimagesandpaintingsbesidesinthechurchesatGenoa,Pisa,Padua,Munichandotherplaces。ItisdifficultnottoregardtheseasveryoldPaganorpre-ChristianrelicswhichlingeredonintoChristiantimesandwerebaptizedanew——asindeedweknowmanyrelicsandimagesactuallywere——intotheserviceoftheChurch。“GreatisDianaoftheEphesians“;andthereisIbelievemorethanoneblackfigureextantofthisDiana,who,thoughofcourseavirgin,isrepresentedwithinnumerablebreasts[1]——notunlikesomeofthearchaicstatuesofArtemisandIsis。AtParis,faronintoChristiantimestherewas,itissaid,onthesiteofthepresentCathedralofNotreDame,aTemplededicatedto\'ourLady\' Isis;andimagesbelongingtotheearliershrinewouldinallprobabilitybepreservedwithalterednameinthelater。 [1]Seeillustration,p。30,inInman\'sPaganandChristianSymbolism。 AllthisillustratesnotonlythewidediffusionofthedoctrineoftheVirgin-mother,butitsextremeantiquity。 Thesubjectisobscure,andworthyofmoreconsiderationthanhasyetbeenaccordedit;andIdonotfeelabletoaddanythingtothetentativeexplanationsgivenapageortwoback,exceptperhapstosupposethatthevisionofthePerfectManhovereddimlyoverthemindofthehumanraceonitsfirstemergencefromthepurelyanimalstage;andthataquitenaturalspeculationwithregardtosuchabeingwasthathewouldbebornfromaPerfectWoman——whoaccordingtoearlyideaswouldnecessarilybetheVirginEarthitself,motherofallthings。 AnyhowitwasawonderfulIntuition,slumberingasitwouldseeminthebreastofearlyman,thattheGreatEarthaftergivingbirthtoalllivingcreatureswouldatlastbringforthaChildwhoshouldbecometheSaviourofthehumanrace。 Thereisofcoursethefurthertheory,entertainedbysome,thatvirgin-parturition——akindofParthenogenesis—— hasasamatteroffactoccasionallyoccurredamongmortalwomen,andevenstilldoesoccur。IshouldbethelasttodenythePOSSIBILITYofthis(orofanythingelseinNature),but,seeingtheimmensedifficultiesinthewayofPROOFofanysuchassertedcase,andtheabsencesofarofanythoroughlyattestedandverifiedinstance,itwould,I think,beadvisabletoleavethistheoryoutofaccountatpresent。 ButwhetheranyoftheEXPLANATIONSspokenofarerightorwrong,andwhateverexplanationweadopt,thereremainstheFACToftheuniversalityovertheworldofthislegend—— affordinganotherinstanceofthepracticalsolidarityandcontinuityofthePaganCreedswithChristianity。 XI。RITUALDANCING Itisunnecessarytolabortheconclusionofthelasttwoorthreechapters,namelythatChristianitygrewoutoftheformerPaganCreedsandisinitsgeneraloutlookandoriginscontinuousandofonepiecewiththem。IhavenotattemptedtobringtogetherALLtheevidenceinfavorofthiscontention,assuchworkwouldbetoovast,butmoreillustrationsofitstruthwilldoubtlessoccurtoreaders,orwillemergeasweproceed。 Ithinkwemaytakeitasproved(1)thatfromtheearliestages,andbeforeHistory,agreatbodyofreligiousbeliefandritual——firstappearingamongveryprimitiveandunformedfolk,whomweshouldcall\'savages\'——hascomeslowlydown,broadeninganddifferentiatingitselfonthewayintoagreatvarietyofforms,butembodyingalwayscertainmainideaswhichbecameintimetheaccepteddoctrinesofthelaterChurches——theIndian,theEgyptian,theMithraic,theChristian,andsoforth。Whattheseideasintheirgeneraloutlinehavebeenwecanperhapsbestjudgefromour“Apostles\'Creed,“asitisrecitedeverySundayinourchurches。 “IbelieveinGodtheFatherAlmighty,Makerofheavenandearth:AndinJesusChristhisonlySonourLord,whowasconceivedbytheHolyGhost,bornoftheVirginMary,sufferedunderPontiusPilate,wascrucified,deadandburied。HedescendedintoHell;thethirddayheroseagainfromthedead,Heascendedintoheaven,andsittethontherighthandofGodtheFatherAlmighty;fromthenceheshallcometojudgethequickandthedead。I believeintheHolyGhost;theholyCatholicChurch; thecommunionofSaints;theForgivenessofsins;theResurrectionofthebody,andthelifeeverlasting。Amen。” HerewehavetheAll-FatherandCreator,descendingfromtheSkyintheformofaspirittoimpregnatetheearthlyVirgin-mother,whothusgivesbirthtoaSaviour-hero。 ThelatterisslainbythepowersofEvil,isburiedanddescendsintothelowerworld,butarisesagainasGodintoheavenandbecomestheleaderandjudgeofmankind。 WehavetheconfirmationoftheChurch(or,inearliertimes,oftheTribe)bymeansofaEucharistorCommunionwhichbindstogetherallthemembers,livingordead,andrestoreserrantindividualsthroughtheSacrificeoftheheroandtheForgivenessoftheirsins; andwehavethebeliefinabodilyResurrectionandcontinuedlifeofthememberswithinthefoldoftheChurch(orTribe),itselfregardedaseternal。 Onehasonly,insteadoftheword\'Jesus,\'toreadDionysusorKrishnaorHerculesorOsirisorAttis,andinsteadof\'Mary\'toinsertSemeleorDevakiorAlcmeneorNeithorNana,andforPontiusPilatetousethenameofanyterrestrialtyrantwhocomesintothecorrespondingstory,andlo!thecreedfitsinallparticularsintotheritesandworshipofapagangod。Ineednotenlargeuponathesiswhichisself-evidentfromallthathasgonebefore。Idonotsay,ofcourse,thatALLthereligiousbeliefsofPaganismareincludedandsummarizedinourApostles\'Creed,for——asIshallhaveoccasiontonoteinthenextchapter——IthinksomeveryimportantreligiouselementsarethereOMITTED;butIdothinkthatallthebeliefswhichAREsummarizedinthesaidcreedhadalreadybeenfullyrepresentedandelaboratelyexpressedinthenon-ChristianreligionsandritualsofPaganism。 Further(2)Ithinkwemaysafelysaythatthereisnocertainproofthatthebodyofbeliefsjustmentionedsprangfromanyoneparticularcentrefarbackandradiatedthencebydisseminationandmentalcontagionovertherestoftheworld;buttheevidencerathershowsthatthesebeliefswere,forthemostpart,theSPONTANEOUSoutgrowths(invariouslocalities)ofthehumanmindatcertainstagesofitsevolution;thattheyappeared,inthedifferentracesandpeoples,atdifferentperiodsaccordingtothedegreeofevolution,andwerelargelyindependentofintercourseandcontagion,thoughofcourse,incases,considerablyinfluencedbyit;andthatonegreatandall-importantoccasionandprovocativeofthesebeliefswasactuallytheRISEOFSELF-CONSCIOUSNESS——thatis,thecomingofthemindtoamoreorlessdistinctawarenessofitselfandofitsownoperation,andtheconsequentdevelopmentandgrowthofIndividualism,andoftheSelf-centredattitudeinhumanthoughtandaction。 Inthethirdplace(3)Ithinkwemaysee——andthisisthespecialsubjectofthepresentchapter——thatataveryearlyperiod,whenhumanitywashardlycapableofsystematicexpressioninwhatwecallPhilosophyorScience,itcouldnotwellrisetoanorderedandliteraryexpressionofitsbeliefs,suchaswefindinthelaterreligionsandthe\'Churches\'(Babylonian,Jewish,EastIndian,Christian,orwhat-not),andyetthatitFELTthesebeliefsveryintenselyandwasurged,almostcompelled,totheirutteranceinsomeformorother。Andsoitcameaboutthatpeopleexpressedthemselvesinavastmassofritualandmyth—— customs,ceremonies,legends,stories——whichonaccountoftheirpopularandconcreteformwerehandeddownforgenerations,andsomeofwhichlingeronstillinthemidstofourmoderncivilization。Theseritualsandlegendswere,manyofthem,absurdenough,ramblingandchildishincharacter,andpreposterousinconception,yettheygavetheexpressionneeded;andsomeofthemofcourse,aswehaveseen,werefullofmeaningandsuggestion。 AcriticalandcommercialCivilization,suchasours,inwhich(notwithstandingmuchTALKaboutArt)theartisticsenseisgreatlylacking,oratanyratebutlittlediffused,doesnotasaruleunderstandthatpoeticRITES,intheevolutionofpeoples,camenaturallybeforeanythinglikeorderedpoemsorphilosophyorsystematizedVIEWS aboutlifeandreligion——suchasWElovetowallowin! ThingswereFELTbeforetheywerespoken。Theloadingofdiseasesintodisease-boats,ofsinsontoscape-goats,thepropitiationoftheforcesofnaturebyvictims,humanoranimal,sacrifices,ceremoniesofre-birth,eucharisticfeasts,sexualcommunions,orgiasticcelebrationsofthecommonlife,andahostofotherthings——allSAIDplainlyenoughwhatwasmeant,butnotinWORDS。Partlynodoubtitwasthatatsomeearlytimewordsweremoredifficultofcommandandlessflexibleinusethanactions(andatalltimesaretheynotlessexpressive?)。Partlyitwasthatmankindwasinthechild-stage。TheChilddelightsinritual,insymbol,inexpressionthroughmaterialobjectsandactions: See,athisfeetsomelittleplanorchart,Somefragmentfromhisdreamofhumanlife,Shapedbyhimselfwithnewlylearnedart; Aweddingorafestival,Amourningorafuneral; Andthishathnowhisheart。 Andprimitivemaninthechild-stagefeltapositivejoyinritualcelebrations,andindulgedinexpressionswhichwebutlittleunderstand;forthesehadthenhisheart。 OneofthemostpregnantoftheseexpressionswasDANCING。 Childrendanceinstinctively。Theydancewithrage; theydancewithjoy,withsheervitality;theydancewithpain,orsometimeswithsavagegleeatthesufferingofothers;theydelightinmimiccombats,orinanimalplaysanddisguises。TherearesuchthingsasCourting-dances,whenthematuremaleandfemalegothrougharitualtogether——notonlyincivilizedball-roomsandtheback-parlorsofinns,butinthefarmyardswheretheroosterpayshisaddressestothehen,ortheyearlingbulltothecow——withquiterecognizedformalities;thereareelaborateceremonialsperformedbytheAustralianbower-birdsandmanyotheranimals。Allthesethings—— atanyrateinchildrenandanimals——comebeforespeech; andanyhowwemaysaythatLOVE-RITES,eveninmatureandcivilizedman,hardlyADMITofspeech。Wordsonlyvulgarizeloveandbluntitsedge。 SoDancetothesavageandtheearlymanwasnotmerelyanamusementoragymnasticexercise(asthebooksoftentrytomakeout),butitwasalsoaseriousandintimatepartoflife,anexpressionofreligionandtherelationofmantonon-humanPowers。Imagineayoungdancer——andtheadmittedageforritualdancingwascommonlyfromabouteighteentothirty——comingforwardonthedancing-groundorplatformfortheINVOCATIONOFRAIN。Wehaveunfortunatelynokinematicrecords,butitisnotimpossibleorverydifficulttoimaginethevariousgesturesandmovementswhichmightbeconsideredappropriatetosuchariteindifferentlocalitiesoramongdifferentpeoples。AmodernstudentofDalcrozeEurhythmicswouldfindtheproblemeasy。Afteratimeacertainritualdance(forrain)wouldbecomestereotypedandgenerallyadopted。OrimagineayoungGreekleadinganinvocationtoApollotoSTAYSOMEPLAGUEwhichwasravagingthecountry。Hemightaswellbeaccompaniedbyasmallbodyofco-dancers;buthewouldbetheleaderandchiefrepresentative。OritmightbeaWAR-DANCE—— asamoreorlessmagicalpreparationfortheraidorforay。 Wearefamiliarenoughwithaccountsofwar-dancesamongAmericanIndians。C。O。MullerinhisHistoryandAntiquitiesoftheDoricRace[1]givesthefollowingaccountofthePyrrhicdanceamongtheGreeks,whichwasdancedinfullarmor:——“Platosaysthatitimitatedalltheattitudesofdefence,byavoidingathrustoracast,retreating,springingup,andcrouching-asalsotheoppositemovementsofattackwitharrowsandlances,andalsoofeverykindofthrust。SostrongwastheattachmenttothisdanceatSpartathat,longafterithadintheotherGreekstatesdegeneratedintoaBacchanalianrevel,itwasstilldancedbytheSpartansasawarlikeexercise,andboysoffifteenwereinstructedinit。”OftheHunting- danceIhavealreadygiveninstances。[2]ItalwayshadthecharacterofMagicaboutit,bywhichthegameorquarrymightpresumablybeinfluenced;anditcaneasilybeunderstoodthatiftheHuntwasnotsuccessfultheblamemightwellbeattributedtosomeneglectoftheusualritualmimesormovements——nolaughingmatterfortheleaderofthedance。 [1]BookIV,ch。6,Section7。 [2]SeealsoWinwoodReade\'sSavageAfrica,ch。xviii,inwhichhespeaksofthe“gorilladance,“beforehuntinggorillas,asa“religiousfestival。” OrthereweredancesbelongingtotheceremoniesofInitiation——dancesbothbytheinitiatorsandtheinitiated。JaneE。HarrisoninThemis(p。24)says,“Instructionamongsavagepeoplesisalwaysimpartedinmoreorlessmimeticdances。Atinitiationyoulearncertaindanceswhichconferonyoudefinitesocialstatus。Whenamanistoooldtodance,hehandsoverhisdancetoanotherandayounger,andhethenamongsometribesceasestoexistsocially……ThedancestaughttoboysatinitiationarefrequentlyifnotalwaysARMEDdances。Thesearenotnecessarilywarlike。Theaccoutrementofspearandshieldwasinpartdecorative,inpartaprovisionformakingthenecessaryhubbub。”(HereMissHarrisonreproducesaphotographofanInitiationdanceamongtheAkikuyuofBritishEastAfrica。)TheInitiation- dancesblendinsensiblyandnaturallywiththeMysteryandReligiondances,forindeedinitiationwasforthemostpartaninstructioninthemysteriesandsocialritesoftheTribe。Theyweretheexpressionofthingswhichwouldbehardevenforus,andwhichforrudefolkwouldbeimpossible,toputintodefinitewords。Hencearosetheexpression——whosemeaninghasbeenmuchdiscussedbythelearned——“todanceout()amystery。”[1] Lucian,inamuch-quotedpassage,[2]observes:“Youcannotfindasingleancientmysteryinwhichthereisnotdancing……andthismuchallmenknow,thatmostpeoplesayoftherevealersofthemysteriesthatthey\'dancethemout。\'“AndrewLang,commentingonthispassage,[3] continues:“ClementofAlexandriausesthesametermwhenspeakingofhisown\'appallingrevelations。\'SocloselyconnectedaremysterieswithdancingamongsavagesthatwhenMr。OrpenaskedQing,theBushmanhunter,aboutsomedoctrinesinwhichQingwasnotinitiated,hesaid: \'Onlytheinitiatedmenofthatdanceknowthesethings。\' To\'dance\'thisorthatmeanstobeacquaintedwiththisorthatmyth,whichisrepresentedinadanceorballetd\'action。 SowidelydistributedisthepracticethatAcostainaninterestingpassagementionsitasfamiliartothepeopleofPerubeforeandaftertheSpanishconquest。”[Andwemaysaythatwhenthe\'mysteries\'areofasexualnatureitcaneasilybeunderstoodthatto\'dancethemout\' istheonlywayofexplainingthem!] [1]Meaningapparentlyeithersimplytorepresent,or,sometimestoDIVULGE,amystery。 [2],Ch。xv。277。 [3]Myth,RitualandReligion,i,272。 Thuswebegintoappreciatetheseriousnatureandtheimportanceofthedanceamongprimitivefolk。Todubayouth“agooddancer“istopayhimagreatcompliment。 Amongthewell-knowninscriptionsontherocksintheislandofTheraintheAegeanseatherearemanywhichrecordindeeplygravenlettersthefriendshipanddevotiontoeachotherofSpartanwarrior-comrades;itseemsstrangeatfirsttofindhowoftensuchanepithetofpraiseoccursasBathyclesDANCESWELL,EumelosisaPERFECT DANCER()。Onehardlyingeneralexpectsonewarriortopraiseanotherforhisdancing!Butwhenonerealizeswhatisreallymeant——namelythefitnessofthelovedcomradetoleadinreligiousandmagicalrituals——thenindeedthecomplimenttakesonanewcomplexion。 Religiousdances,indedicationtoagod,haveofcoursebeenhonoredineverycountry。Muller,intheworkjustcited,[1]describesalivelydancecalledthehyporchemawhich,accompaniedbysongs,wasusedintheworshipofApollo。“Inthis,besidesthechorusofsingerswhousuallydancedaroundTHEBLAZINGALTAR,severalpersonswereappointedtoaccompanytheactionofthepoemwithanappropriatepantomimicdisplay。”ItwasprobablysomesimilardancewhichisrecordedinExodus,ch。xxxii,whenAaronmadetheIsraelitesagoldenCalf(imageoftheEgyptianApis)。Therewasanaltarandafireandburntofferingsforsacrifice,andthepeopledancingaround。WhetherintheApolloritualthedancerswerenakedIcannotsay,butintheaffairofthegoldenCalftheyevidentlywere,foritwillberememberedthatitwasjustthiswhichupsetMoses\'equanimitysobadly—— “whenheSAWTHATTHEPEOPLEWERENAKED“——andledtothebreakingofthetwotablesofstoneandtheslaughterofsomethousandsoffolk。ItwillberememberedalsothatDavidonasacrificialoccasiondancednakedbeforetheLord。[2] [1]BookII,ch。viii,Section14。 [2]2Sam。vi。 Itmayseemstrangethatdancesinhonorofagodshouldbeheldnaked;butthereisabundantevidencethatthiswasfrequentlythecase,anditleadstoaninterestingspeculation。Manyoftheseritualsundoubtedlyowedtheirsanctityandsolemnitytotheirextremeantiquity。Theycamedowninfactfromveryfarbacktimeswhentheaveragemanorwoman——asinsomeoftheCentralAfricantribesto-day——woresimplynothingatall;andlikeallreligiousceremoniestheytendedtopreservetheirformslongaftersurroundingcustomsandconditionshadaltered。Consequentlynakednesslingeredoninsacrificialandotherritesintoperiodswheninordinarylifeithadcometobeabandonedorthoughtindecentandshameful。 Thiscomesoutveryclearlyinbothinstancesabove—— quotedfromtheBible。ForinExodusxxxii。25itissaidthat“Aaronhadmadethem(thedancers)nakedUNTOTHEIR SHAMEamongtheirenemies(READopponents),“andin2 Sam。vi。20wearetoldthatMichalcameoutandsarcasticallyrebukedthe“gloriouskingofIsrael“for“shamelesslyuncoveringhimself,likeavainfellow“(forwhichrebuke,Iamsorrytosay,DavidtookameanrevengeonMichal)。Inbothcasesevidentlycustomhadsofarchangedthattoaconsiderablesectionofthepopulationthesenakedexhibitionshadbecomeindecent,thoughaspartsofanacknowledgedritualtheywerestillretainedandsupportedbyothers。ThesameconclusionmaybederivedfromthecommandsrecordedinExodusxx。26andxxviii。42,thatthepriestsbenot“uncovered“beforethealtar——commandswhichwouldhardlyhavebeenneededhadnotthepracticebeeninvogue。 Thenthereweredances(partlymagicalorreligious)performedatrusticandagriculturalfestivals,liketheEpilenios,celebratedinGreeceatthegatheringofthegrapes。[1] OfsuchadancewegetaglimpseintheBible(Judgesxxi。 20)whentheeldersadvisedthechildrenofBenjamintogooutandlieinwaitinthevineyards,atthetimeoftheyearlyfeast;and“whenthedaughtersofShilohcomeouttodanceinthedances,thencomeyeoutofthevineyardsandcatchyoueverymanawifefromthedaughtersofShiloh“——atouchingexampleapparentlyofearlyso-called\'marriagebycapture\'!Orthereweredances,alsopartlyororiginallyreligious,ofaquiteorgiasticandBacchanaliancharacter,liketheBryallichaperformedinSpartabymenandwomeninhideousmasks,ortheDeimaleabySileniandSatyrswaltzinginacircle;ortheBibasiscarriedoutbybothmenandwomen——aquitegymnasticexerciseinwhichtheperformerstookaspecialprideinstrikingtheirownbuttockswiththeirheels!orotherswilderstill,whichitwouldperhapsnotbeconvenienttodescribe。 [1]:hymnssungoverthewinepress(Dictionary)。 WemustseehowimportantapartDancingplayedinthatgreatpanoramaofRitualandReligion(spokenofinthelastchapter)which,havingoriginallybeenleduptobythe\'FallofMan,\'haseversincethedawnofhistorygraduallyoverspreadtheworldwithitsstrangeprocessionofdemonsanddeities,anditssymbolicrepresentationsofhumandestiny。WhenitisrememberedthatritualdancingwasthematrixoutofwhichtheDramasprang,andfurtherthatthedramainitsinception(asstillto-dayinIndia)wasanaffairofreligionandwasactedin,orinconnectionwith,theTemples,itbecomeseasiertounderstandhowallthismassofceremonialsacrifices,expiations,initiations,SunandNaturefestivals,eucharisticandorgiasticcommunionsandcelebrations,mystery-plays,dramaticrepresentations,mythsandlegends,etc。,whichIhavetoucheduponintheprecedingchapters——togetherwithalltheemotions,thedesires,thefears,theyearningsandthewondermentwhichtheyrepresented——havepracticallysprungfromthesameroot:arootdeepandnecessaryinthepsychologyofMan。PresentlyIhopetoshowthattheywillallpracticallyconvergeagainintheendtoonemeaning,andpreparethewayforonegreatSynthesistocome——anevolutionalsonecessaryandinevitableinhumanpsychology。 InthattrulyinspiredOdefromwhichIquotedafewpagesback,occurthosewell-knownwordswhoserepetitionnowwill,onaccountoftheirbeauty,Iamsurebeexcused:—— Ourbirthisbutasleepandaforgetting: TheSoulthatriseswithus,ourlife\'sStar,Hathhadelsewhereitssetting,Andcomethfromafar; Notinentireforgetfulness,Andnotinutternakedness,ButtrailingcloudsofglorydowecomeFromGod,whoisourhome: Heavenliesaboutusinourinfancy! Shadesoftheprison-housebegintocloseUponthegrowingBoy,ButHebeholdsthelightandwhenceitflowsHeseesitinhisjoy; TheyouthwhodailyfartherfromtheeastMusttravel,stillisNature\'sPriest,AndbythevisionsplendidIsonhiswayattended; AtlengththemanperceivesitdieawayAndfadeintothelightofcommonday。 Wordsworth——thoughhehadnottheinestimableadvantageofanineteenth-centuryeducationandtheinheritanceoftheDarwinianphilosophy——doesneverthelessputthematteroftheGeniusoftheChildinawaywhich(withthealterationofafewconventionalterms)wescientificmodernsarequiteinclinedtoaccept。WealladmitnowthattheChilddoesnotcomeintotheworldwithamentaltabularasaofentireforgetfulnessbutonthecontraryasthepossessorofvaststoresofsub-consciousmemory,derivedfromitsancestralinheritances;wealladmitthatacertaingraceandintuitiveinsightandevenpropheticquality,inthechild-nature,areduetotheharmonizationoftheseracialinheritancesintheinfant,evenbeforeitisborn;andthatafterbirththeimpactoftheouterworldservesrathertobreakupanddisintegratethisharmonythantoconfirmandstrengthenit。Somepsychologistsindeednowadaysgosofarastomaintainthatthechildisnotonly\'Fatheroftheman,\'butsuperiortotheman,[1]andthatBoyhoodandYouthandMaturityareattainedtonotbyanyadditionbutbyaprocessoflossandsubtraction。 Itwillbeseenthatthelasttenlinesoftheabovequotationratherfavorthisview。 [1]ManinthecourseofhislifefallsawaymoreandmorefromthespecificallyHUMANtypeofhisearlyyears,buttheApeinthecourseofhisshortlifegoesverymuchfartheralongtheroadofdegradationandprematuresenility。”(ManandWoman,byHavelockEllis,p。24)。 ButmyobjectinmakingthequotationwasnottoinsistonthetruthofitsapplicationtotheindividualChild,butrathertopointouttheremarkablewayinwhichitillustrateswhatIhavesaidabouttheChildhoodoftheRace。Infact,ifthequotationbereadoveragainwiththisinterpretation(whichIdonotsayWordsworthintended)thatthe\'birth\' spokenofisthebirthorevolutionofthedistinctivelyself- consciousManfromtheAnimalsandtheanimal-natured,unself-conscioushumanbeingsofaprecedingage,thentheparableunfoldsitselfperfectlynaturallyandconvincingly。 THATbirthcertainlywassleepandaforgetting;thegraceandintuitionandinstinctiveperfectionoftheanimalswaslost。Buttheforgetfulnesswasnotentire;thememorylingeredlongofanageofharmony,ofanEden- gardenleftbehind。Andtrailingcloudsofthisremembrancethefirsttribalmen,ontheedgeofbutnotyetWITHINthecivilization-period,appearinthedawnofHistory。 AsIhavesaidbefore,theperiodofthedawnofSelf- consciousnesswasalsotheperiodofthedawnofthepracticalandinquiringIntellect;itwastheperiodofthebabyhoodofboth;andsoweperceiveamongtheseearlypeople(aswealsodoamongchildren)thatwhileinthemaintheheartandtheintuitionswereright,theintellectwasforalongperiodfutileandramblingtoadegree。Assoonasthemindlefttheancientbasesofinstinctandsub-consciousracialexperienceitfellintoahopelessbog,outofwhichitonlyslowlyclimbedbymeansofthepainfully-gatheredstepping-stonesoflogicandwhatwecallScience。“Heavenliesaboutusinourinfancy。”Wordsworthperceivedthatwonderfulworldofinnerexperienceandgloryoutofwhichthechildemerges;andsomeevenofusmayperceivethatsimilarworldinwhichtheuntamperedanimalsSTILL dwell,andOUTofwhichself-regardingManinthehistoryoftheracewaslongagodriven。Butacursewentwiththeexile。AstheBraingrew,theHeartwithered。Theinheritedinstinctsandraciallyaccumulatedwisdom,onwhichthefirstmenthrivedandbymeansofwhichtheyachievedakindoftemporaryParadise,werebrokenup; delusionsanddiseaseanddissensionsetin。Cainturneduponhisbrotherandslewhim;andtheshadesoftheprison- housebegantoclose。ThegrowingBoy,however,(bywhomwemayunderstandtheearlytribesofMankind) hadyetaradianceofLightandjoyinhislife;andtheYouth——thoughtravellingdailyfartherfromtheEast——stillremainedNature\'spriest,andbythevisionsplendidwasonhiswayattended:butAtlengththeManperceiveditdieaway。 Andfadeintothelightofcommonday。 Whatastrangelyaptpictureinafewwords(ifweliketotakeitso)ofthelongpilgrimageoftheHumanRace,itsearlyandpatheticclingingtothetraditionoftheEden- garden,itscarelessandvigorousboyhood,itsmeditativeyouth,withconsciousnessofsinandendlessexpiatoryritualinNature\'sbosom,itsfleetingvisionsofsalvation,andfinallyitscompletedisillusionmentanddespairintheworld- slaughterandunbeliefofthetwentiethcentury! LeavingWordsworth,however,andcomingbacktoourmainlineofthought,wemaypointoutthatwhileearlypeopleswereintellectuallymerebabies——withtheirendlessyarnsaboutheroesonhorsebackleapingoverwideriversorcloudsofmonksflyingforhundredsofmilesthroughtheair,andtheirutterfailuretounderstandthegeneralconcatenationsofcauseandeffect——yetpracticallyandintheirinstinctoflifeanddestinytheywere,asIhavealreadysaid,bynomeansfools;certainlynotsuchfoolsasmanyofthearm-chairstudentsofthesethingsdelighttorepresentthem。Forjustas,afewyearsago,wemoderncivilizeesstudyingoutlyingnations,theChineseforinstance,rejoiced(inourvanity)topickouteveryquaintpeculiarityandabsurdityandmonstrosityofasupposedtopsyturvydom,andfailedentirelytoseetherealpictureofagreatandeminentlysensiblepeople;sointhecaseofprimitivemenwehavebeen,andevenstillare,fartoopronetocataloguetheircrueltiesandobscenitiesandidioticsuperstitions,andtomissthesaneandbalancedsettingoftheiractuallives。 Mr。R。R。Marett,whohasagoodpracticalacquaintancewithhissubject,hadintheHibbertJournalforOctober1918 anarticleon“ThePrimitiveMedicineMan“inwhichheshowsthatthelatterisasaruleanythingbutafoolandaknave——althoughlike\'medicals\'inallageshehocuspocuseshispatientsoccasionally!Heinstancesthemedicine- man\'sexcellentmanagement,inmostcases,ofchildbirth,orofwoundsandfractures,orhisprimevalskillintrepanningortrephining——allofwhichoperations,headmits,maybeaccompaniedwithgrotesqueandsuperstitiousceremonies,yetshowrealperceptionandability。Weallknow——thoughIthinkthearticledoesnotmentionthematter—— whataconsiderablelistthereisofdrugsandherbswhichthemodernartofhealingowestotheancientmedicine-man,anditmaybeagainmentionedthatoneofthemostup-to- datetreatments——theuseofaprolongedandexclusivedietofMILKasameansofgivingtheorganismanewstartinseverecases——hasreallycomedowntousthroughtheagesfromthisearlysource。[1]Therealmedicine-man,Mr。Marettsays,islargelya\'faith-healer\'and\'soul-doctor\';hebelievesinhisvocation,andundergoesmuchforthesakeofit:“Themainpointistograspthatbyhisspecialinitiationandtherigidtabooswhichhepractises——nottospeakofoccasionalremarkablegifts,sayoftranceandecstasy,whichhemayinheritbynatureandhaveimprovedbyart——heHASaccesstoawonder-workingpower…… Andthegreatneedofprimitivefolkisforthishealerofsouls。”OurauthorfurtherinsistsontheenormousplayandinfluenceofFearinthesavagemind——apointwehavetouchedonalready——andgivesinstancesofThanatomania,orcaseswhere,afteraquiteslightandsuperficialwound,thepatientbecomessodepressedthathe,quiteneedlessly,persistsindying!Suchcases,obviously,canonlybecounteredbyFaith,orsomething(whateveritmaybe)whichrestorescourage,hopeandenergytothemind。NorneedIpointoutthatthesituationisexactlythesameamongavastnumberof\'patients\'to-day。Astothevalue,inhisdegree,ofthemedicine-manmanymodernobserversandstudentsquiteagreewiththeabove。[2]AlsoasthepresentchapterisonRitualDancingitmaynotbeoutofplacetocallattentiontothesupposedhealingofsickpeopleinCeylonandotherplacesbyDevil-dancing——theenormousoutputofenergyandnoiseintheritualpossiblyhavingtheeffectofreanimatingthepatient(ifitdoesnotkillhim),orofexpellingthediseasefromhisorganism。 [1]Milk(“fast-milk“orvrata)was,saysMr。Hewitt,theonlydietintheSoma-sacrifice。SeeRulingRacesofPrehistoricTimes(preface)。TheSomaitselfwasafermenteddrinkpreparedwithceremonyfromthemilkyandsemen-likesapofcertainplants,andmuchusedinsacrificialofferings。(SeeMonier-Williams。 SanskritDictionary。) [2]SeeWinwoodReade(SavageAfrica),SalamonReinach(Cults,MythsandReligions),andothers。 Withregardtothepracticalintelligenceofprimitivepeoples,derivedfromtheirclosecontactwithlifeandnature,BishopColenso\'sexperiencesamongtheZulusmayappropriatelyberemembered。WhenexpoundingtheBibletothesesupposedlybackward\'niggers\'hewasmetatallpointsbypracticalinterrogationsandargumentswhichhewasperfectlyunabletoanswer——especiallyovertherecordedpassageoftheRedSeabytheIsraelitesinasinglenight。 FromthestatisticsgivenintheSacredBookthesenaughtysavagesprovedtohimabsolutelyconclusivelythatthenumbersoffugitivesweresuchthatevensupposingthemtohavemarched——men,womenandchildren——FIVEABREAST andincloseorder,theywouldhaveformedacolumn100 mileslong,andthisnotincludingthebaggage,sheepandcattle!Ofcoursethefeatwasabsolutelyimpossible。 TheycouldnothavepassedtheRedSeainanightoraweekofnights。 Butthesequelisstillmoreamusingandinstructive。 Colenso,inhisinnocentsincerity,tookthesideoftheZulus,andfeelingsuretheChurchathomewouldbequitegladtohaveitsviewswithregardtotheaccuracyofBiblestatisticscorrected,wroteabookembodyingtheamendmentsneeded。 Modestashiscriticismswere,theyraisedaSTORMofprotestandangrydenunciation,whichevenledtohisdepositionforthetimebeingfromhisbishopric!Whileatthesametimeanavalancheofbookstoopposehisheresypouredforthfromthepress。LatelyIhadthecuriositytolookthroughtheBritishMuseumcatalogueandfoundthatinrefutationofColenso\'sPentateuchExaminedsome140 (ahundredandforty)volumeswereatthattimepublished! To-day,Ineedhardlysay,allthesearm-chaircriticsandtheirworkshavesunkintoutterobscurity,buttheargumentsoftheZulusandtheirBishopstillstandunmovedandimmovable。 Thisisacaseofsearchingintelligenceshownby\'savages,\' anintelligencefoundedonintimateknowledgeoftheneedsofactuallife。Ithinkwemaysaythata,similarlyinstinctiveintelligence(sub-consciousifyoulike)hasguidedthetribesofmenonthewholeintheirlongpassagethroughtheRedSeaofthecenturies,fromthosefirstdaysofwhichI speakevendowntothepresentage,andhasinsomestrange,eveniffitful,waykeptthemalongthepathofthatfinalemancipationtowardswhichHumanityisinevitablymoving。 XII。THESEX-TABOO InthecourseofthelastfewchaptersIhavespokenmorethanonceofthesolidarityandcontinuityofChristianity,initsessentialdoctrines,withthePaganrites。Thereis,however,onenotableexceptiontothisstatement。IreferofcoursetoChristianity\'streatmentofSex。ItiscertainlyveryremarkablethatwhilethePagancultsgenerallymadeagreatdealofallsortsofsex-rites,laidmuchstressuponthem,andintroducedtheminwhatweconsideranunblushingandshamelesswayintotheinstinctsconnectedwithit。Isay\'theChristianChurch,\' onthewholetookquitetheoppositeline——ignoredsex,contemnedit,anddidmuchdespitetotheperfectlynaturalinstinctsconnectedwithit。Isay\'theChristianChurch,\' becausethereisnothingtoshowthatJesushimself(ifweadmithisfigureashistorical)adoptedanysuchextremeordoctrinaireattitude;andthequiteearlyChristianteachers(withthechiefexceptionofPaul)donotexhibitthisbiastoanygreatdegree。Infact,asiswellknown,strongcurrentsofpaganusageandbeliefranthroughtheChristianassembliesofthefirstthreeorfourcenturies。“TheChristianartofthisperiodremaineddelightfullypagan。InthecatacombsweseetheSaviourasabeardlessyouth,likeayoungGreekgod;sometimesrepresented,likeHermestheguardianoftheflocks,bearingaramorlambroundhisneck;sometimesasOrpheustuninghisluteamongthewildanimals。”[1]ThefollowersofJesuswereattimesevenaccused——whetherrightlyorwronglyIknownot—— ofcelebratingsexualmysteriesattheirlove-feasts。ButastheChurchthroughthecenturiesgrewinpowerandscope——withitsmonksandtheirmutilationsandasceticisms,anditscelibateclergy,anditsabsoluterefusaltorecognizethesexualmeaningofitsownacclaimedsymbols(liketheCross,thethreefingersofBenediction,theFleurdeLysandsoforth)——itmoreandmoreconsistentlydefineditselfasanti-sexualinitsoutlook,andstoodoutinthatwayinmarkedcontrasttotheearlierNature-religions。 [1]Angels\'Wings,byE。Carpenter,p。104。 Itmaybesaidofcoursethatthisanti-sexualtendencycanbetracedinotherofthepre-ChristianChurches,especiallythelaterones,liketheBuddhist,theEgyptian,andsoforth;andthisisperfectlytrue;butitwouldseemthatinmanywaystheChristianChurchmarkedtheculminationofthetendency;andthefactthatothercultsparticipatedinthetaboomakesusallthemorereadyandanxioustoinquireintoitsrealcause。 TogointoadisquisitionontheSex-ritesofthevariouspre- Christianreligionswouldbe\'alargeorder\'——largerthanIcouldattempttofill;butthegeneralfactsinthisconnectionarefairlypatent。Weknow,ofcourse,fromtheBiblethattheSyriansinPalestineweregiventosexualworships。Therewereerectimages(phallic)and“groves“ (sexualsymbols)oneveryhighhillandundereverygreentree;[1]andthesesameimagesandtheritesconnectedwiththemcreptintotheJewishTempleandwerepopularenoughtomaintaintheirfootingthereforalongperiodfromKingRehoboamonwards,notwithstandingtheeffortsofJosiah[2]andotherreformerstoextirpatethem。Moreoverthereweregirlsandmen(hierodouloi)regularlyattachedduringthisperiodtotheJewishTempleastotheheathenTemples,fortherenderingofsexualservices,whichwererecognizedinmanycasesaspartoftheritual。Womenwerepersuadedthatitwasanhonorandaprivilegetobefertilizedbya\'holyman\'(apriestorothermanconnectedwiththerites),andchildrenresultingfromsuchunionswereoftencalled“ChildrenofGod“——anappellationwhichnodoubtsometimesledtoalegendofmiraculousbirth!GirlswhotooktheirplaceashierodouloiintheTempleorTemple-precinctswereexpectedtosurrenderthemselvestomen-worshipersintheTemple,muchinthesameway,probably,asHerodotusdescribesinthetempleoftheBabylonianVenusMylitta,whereeverynativewoman,onceinherlife,wassupposedtositintheTempleandhaveintercoursewithsomestranger。[3]IndeedtheSyrianandJewishritesdatedlargelyfromBabylonia。 “TheHebrewsenteringSyria,“saysRichardBurton[4] “founditreligionized。byAssyriaandBabylonia,whentheAccadianIshtarhadpassedWest,andhadbecomeAshtoreth,Ashtaroth,orAshirah,theAnaitisofArmenia,thePhoenicianAstarte,andtheGreekAphrodite,thegreatMoon- goddesswhoisqueenofHeavenandLove。”Thewordtranslated“grove“asabove,inourBible,isinfactAsherah,whichconnectsitprettyclearlywiththeBabylonianQueenofHeaven。 [1]1Kingsxiv。22-24。 [2]2Kingsxxiii。 [3]SeeHerodotusi。199;alsoareferencetothiscustomintheapocryphalBaruch,vi。42,43。 [4]TheThousandNightsandaNight(1886edn。),vol。x,p。229。 InIndiaagain,inconnectionwiththeHinduTemplesandtheirrites,wehaveexactlythesameinstitutionofgirlsattachedtotheTempleservice——theNautch-girls——whosefunctionsinpasttimeswerecertainlysexual,andwhosedancesinhonorofthegodare,evendowntothepresentday,decidedlyamatoryincharacter。Thenwehavetheverynumerouslingams(conventionalrepresentationsofthemaleorgan)tobeseen,scoresandscoresofthem,inthearcadesandcloistersoftheHinduTemples—— towhichwomenofallclasses,especiallythosewhowishtobecomemothers,resort,anointingthemcopiouslywithoil,andsignalizingtheirrespectanddevotiontotheminaverypracticalway。Astothelingamasrepresentingthemaleorgan,insomeformorother——asuprightstoneorpillarorobeliskorslenderroundtower——itoccursalloverthe,world,notablyinIreland,andformssuchamemorialoftheadorationpaidbyearlyfolktothegreatemblemandinstrumentofhumanfertility,ascannotbemistaken。 ThepillarssetupbySolomoninfrontofhistemplewereobviouslyfromtheirnames——JachinandBoaz[1]——meanttobeemblemsofthiskind;andthefactthattheywerecrownedwithpomegranates——theuniversallyacceptedsymbolofthefemale——confirmsandclinchesthisinterpretation。 TheobelisksbeforetheEgyptians\'templesweresignsofthesamecharacter。Thewell-knownT-shapedcrosswasinuseinpaganlandslongbeforeChristianity,asarepresentationofthemalemember,andalsoatthesametimeofthe\'tree\'onwhichthegod(AttisorAdonisorKrishnaorwhoeveritmightbe)wascrucified;andthesamesymbolcombinedwiththeoval(oryoni)formedTHE CruxAnsata{Ankh}oftheoldEgyptianritual——afigurewhichisto-daysoldinCairoasapotentcharm,andconfessedlyindicatestheconjunctionofthetwosexesinonedesign。[2]MacLennaninTheFortnightlyReview(Oct。1869) quoteswithapprovalthewordsofSanchoniathon,assayingthat“menfirstworshipplants,nexttheheavenlybodies,supposedtobeanimals,then\'pillars\'(emblemsoftheProcreator),andlast,theanthropomorphicgods。” [1]“Heshallestablish“and“Initisstrength“areintheBiblethemarginalinterpretationsofthesetwowords。 [2]Theconnectionbetweentheproductionoffirebymeansofthefire-drillandthegenerationoflifebysex-intercourseisaveryobviousone,andlendsitselftomagicalideas。J。E。HewittinhisRulingRacesofPrehistoricTimes(1894)says(vol。i,p。 8)that“Magha,themother-goddessworshippedinAsiaMinor,wasoriginallythesocket-blockfromwhichfirewasgeneratedbythefire-drill。”Hencewehave,hesays,theMagiofPersia,andtheMaghadasofIndianHistory,alsotheword\'Magic。” Itisnotnecessarytoenlargeonthissubject。Thefactsoftheconnectionofsexualriteswithreligiousservicesnearlyeverywhereintheearlyworldare,asIsay,sufficientlypatenttoeveryinquirer。ButitISnecessarytotrytounderstandtherationaleofthisconnection。Todispatchallsuchcasesunderthemereterm“religiousprostitution“ isnoexplanation。Thetermsuggests,ofcourse,thatthepleaofreligionwasusedsimplyasanexcuseandacoverforsexualfamiliarities;butthoughthiskindofexplanationcommendsitself,nodoubt,tothemodernman——whosereligionisascommercialashissex-relationshipsare——andthoughinCASESnodoubtitwasatrueexplanation——yetitisobviousthatamongpeoplewhotookreligionseriously,asamatteroflifeanddeathandwhodidnotneedhypocriticalexcusesorcoversforsex-relationships,itcannotbeacceptedasingeneraltheRIGHTexplanation。No,therealexplanationis——andI willreturntothispresently——thatsexualrelationshipsaresodeepandintimateapartofhumannaturethatfromthefirstithasbeensimplyimpossibletokeepthemOUT ofreligion——itbeingofcoursetheobjectofreligiontobringthewholehumanbeingintosomeintelligiblerelationwiththephysical,moral,andifyoulikesupernaturalorderofthegreatworldaroundhim。Sexwasfeltfromthefirsttobepart,andafoundationalpart,ofthegreatorderoftheworldandofhumannature;andthereforetoseparateitfromReligionwasunthinkableandakindofcontradictioninterms。[1] [1]Forfurtherdevelopmentofthissubjectseech。xv。 Ifthatistrue——itwillbeasked——howwasitthatthatdivorceDIDtakeplace——thatthetaboodidarise?HowwasitthattheJews,undertheinfluenceofJosiahandtheHebrewprophets,turnedtheirfacesawayfromsexandstrenuouslyopposedtheSyriancults?HowwasitthatthisreactionextendedintoChristianityandbecameevenmoredefiniteintheChristianChurch——thatmonkswentbythousandsintothedesertsoftheThebaid,andthattheearlyFathersandChristianapologistscouldnotfindtermsfoulenoughtohurlatWomanasthesymbol(tothem) ofnothingbutsex-corruptionanddelusion?Howwasitthatthiscontemptofthebodyanddegradationofsex- thingswentonfarintotheMiddleAgesofEurope,andultimatelycreatedanorganizedsystemofhypocrisy,andconcealmentandsuppressionofsex-instincts,which,actingascovertoavilecommercialProstitutionandasabreedinggroundforhorribleDisease,haslastedoneventotheedgeofthepresentday? Thisisafairquestion,andonewhichdemandsananswer。 Theremusthavebeenareason,andadeep-rootedone,forthisremarkablereactionandvolte-facewhichhascharacterizedChristianity,and,perhapstoalesserdegree,otherbothearlierandlatercultslikethoseoftheBuddhists,theEgyptians,theAztecs,[1]andsoforth。 [1]FortheAztecs,seeAcosta,vol。ii,p。324(London,1604)。 Itmaybesaid——andthisisafairanswerontheSURFACE oftheproblem——thatthemainreasonWASsomethinginthenatureofareaction。TheexcessesandcorruptionsofsexinSyriahadevidentlybecomeprettybad,andthatveryfactmayhaveledtoapendulum-swingoftheJewishChurchintheoppositedirection;andagaininthesamewaythegenerallaxityofmoralsinthedecayoftheRomanempiremayhaveconfirmedtheChurchofearlyChristendominitsdeterminationtokeepalongthegreathighroadofasceticism。 TheChristianfollowedontheJewishandEgyptianChurches,andinthiswayagreattraditionofsexualcontinenceandanti-paganmoralitycamerightdownthecenturiesevenintomoderntimes。 Thisseemssofarareasonabletheory;butIthinkweshallgofartherandgetnearertheheartoftheproblemifwereverttothegeneralcluewhichIhavefollowedalreadymorethanonce——theclueofthenecessaryevolutionofhumanConsciousnss。Inthefirstoranimalstageofhumanevolution,Sexwas(asamongtheanimals)aperfectlynecessary,instinctiveandunself-consciousactivity。Itwasharmoniouswithitself,natural,andunproductiveofevil。Butwhenthesecondstagesetin,inwhichmanbecamepreponderantlySELF-conscious,heinevitablysetaboutdeflectingsex-activitiestohisownprivatepleasureandadvantage;heemployedhisbuddingintellectinschemingthederailmentofpassionanddesirefromtribalneedsand,Nature\'susestothepoordetailsofhisowngratification。Ifthefirststageofharmonioussex-instinctandactivitymaybeheldascharacteristicoftheGoldenAge,thesecondstagemustbetakentorepresenttheFallofmanandhisexpulsionfromParadiseintheGardenofEdenstory。ThepleasureandgloryofSexhavingbeenturnedtoself-purposes,SexitselfbecamethegreatSin。A senseofguiltoverspreadman\'sthoughtsonthesubject。“Heknewthathewasnaked,“andhefledfromthevoiceandfaceoftheLord。Fromthatmomentoneofthemainobjectsofhislife(initsinnerandneweractivities) cametobetheDENIALofSex。SexwasconceivedofasthegreatAntagonist,theoldSerpentlyingeverinwaittobetrayhim;andtherearrivedamomentinthehistoryofeveryrace,andofeveryrepresentativereligion,whenthesexualritesandceremoniesoftheoldertimelosttheirnaiveandquasi-innocentcharacterandbecameafflictedwithasenseofguiltandindecency。Thisextraordinarilyinterestinganddramaticmomentinhumanevolutionwasofcoursethatinwhichself-consciousnessgrewpowerfulenoughtopenetratetothecentreofhumanvitality,thesanctumofman\'sinnerlife,hissexualinstinct,andtodealitaterrificblow——ablowfromwhichithasneveryetrecovered,andfromwhichindeeditwillnotrecover,untiltheverynatureofman\'sinnerlifeischanged。 ItmaybesaidthatitwasveryfoolishofMantodenyandtotrytoexpelaperfectlynaturalandsensiblething,anecessaryandindispensablepartofhisownnature。 Andthat,asfarasIcansee,isperfectlytrue。Butsometimesitisunavoidable,itwouldseem,todofoolishthings—— ifonlytoconvinceoneselfofone\'sownfoolishness。Ontheotherhand,thispolicyonthepartofManwascertainlyverywise——wiserthanheknew——forinattemptingtodriveoutSex(whichofcoursehecouldnotdo)heenteredintoaconflictwhichwasboundtoendintheexpulsionofSOMETHING;andthatsomethingwasthedomination,withinhimself,ofself-consciousness,theverythingwhichmakesandeverhasmadesexdetestable。MandidnotsucceedindrivingthesnakeoutoftheGarden,buthedrovehimselfout,takingtherealoldserpentofself-greedandself- gratificationwithhim。WhensomedayhereturnstoParadisethislatterwillhavediedinhisbosomandbeencastaway,buthewillfindthegoodSnakethereasofold,fullofhealingandfriendliness,amongthebranchesoftheTreeofLife。 BesidesitisevidentfromotherconsiderationsthatthismomentofthedenialofsexHADtocome。Whenonethinksoftheenormouspowerofthispassion,anditsage-long,holduponthehumanrace,onerealizesthatonceliberatedfromtheinstinctivebondsofnature,andbackedbyaself-consciousandself-seekinghumanintelligenceitwasonthewaytobecomeafearfulcurse。 AmonstrousEftwasofoldtheLordandMasterofEarth; Forhimdidhishighsunflame,andhisriverbillowingran。 AndthismayhavebeenallverywellandappropriateinthecarboniferousEpoch,butWEintheendofTimehavenodesiretofallunderanysuchpreposterousdomination,ortoreturntotheprimalswampsfromwhichorganicnaturehassoslowlyandpainfullyemerged。 Isayitwastheentryofself-consciousnessintothesphereofSex,andtheconsequentuseofthelatterforprivateends,whichpoisonedthisgreatrace-poweratitsroot。 Foraboveall,Sex,asrepresentingthroughChildbirththelifeoftheRace(oroftheTribe,or,ifyoulike,ofHumanityatlarge)shouldbesacredandguardedfrommerelyselfishaims,andthereforetouseitonlyforsuchaimsisindeedadesecration。Andevenif——assomemaintainandIthinkrightly[1]——sexisnotMERELYforchild-birthandphysicalprocreation,butformutualvitalizingandinvigoration,itstillsubservesunionandnotegotism;andtouseitegotisticallyistocommitthesinofSeparationindeed。 Itistocastawayandcorrupttheverybondoflifeandfellowship。Theancientpeoplesatanyratethrewanilluminationofreligious(thatis,ofcommunalandpublic)valueoversex-acts,andtoagreatextentmadethemintomatterseitherofTemple-ritualandtheworshipofthegods,orofcommunalandpandemiccelebration,asintheSaturnaliaandothersimilarfestivals。Wehavecertainlynorighttoregardthesecelebrations——ofeitherkind——asinsincere。Theywere,atanyrateintheirinception,genuinelyreligiousorgenuinelysocialandfestal;andfromeitherpointofviewtheywerefarbetterthanthesecrecyofprivateindulgencewhichcharacterizesourmodernworldinthesematters。ThethoroughandshamelesscommercialismofSexhasalas!beenreservedforwhatiscalled“Christiancivilization,“andwithit(perhapsasanecessaryconsequence)ProstitutionandSyphilishavegrownintoappallingevils,accompaniedbyagiganticdegradationofsocialstandards,andupgrowthofpettyPhilistinismandniaiserie。Love,infact,havinginthismodernworld-movementbeendenied,anditsnaturalmanifestationsaffectedwithasenseofguiltandofsin,hasreallylanguishedandceasedtoplayitsnaturalpartinlife;andavastnumberofpeople——bothmenandwomen,findingthemselvesbarredorderailedfromthemainobjectofexistence,haveturnedtheirenergiesto\'business\'or\'money-making\' or\'socialadvancement\'orsomethingequallyfutile,astheonlypoorsubstituteandpisalleropentothem。 [1]SeeHavelockEllis,TheObjectsofMarriage,apamphletpublishedbythe“BritishSocietyfortheStudyofSex-psychology。” Why(againweask)didChristianitymakethisapparentlygreatmistake?Andagainwemustreply:Perhapsthemistakewasnotsogreatasitappearstobe。Perhapsthiswasanothercaseofthenecessityoflearningbyloss。 Lovehadtobedenied,intheformofsex,inorderthatitmightthusthebetterlearnitsowntruevaluesandneeds。Sexhadtoberejected,ordefiledwiththesenseofguiltandself- seeking,inorderthathavingcastoutitsdefilementitmightreturnoneday,transformedintheembraceoflove。 Thewholeprocesshashadadeepandstrangeworld- significance。Ithasledtoanimmenselylongperiodofsuppression——suppressionoftwogreatinstincts——thephysicalinstinctofsexandtheemotionalinstinctoflove。Twothingswhichshouldnaturallybeconjoinedhavebeenseparated;andbothhavesuffered。AndweknowfromtheFreudianteachingswhatsuppressionsintheroot-instinctsnecessarilymean。Weknowthattheyinevitablyterminateindiseasesanddistortionsofproperaction,eitherinthebodyorinthemind,orinboth;andthattheseevilscanonlybecuredbytheliberationofthesaidinstinctsagaintotheirproperexpressionandharmoniousfunctioninginthewholeorganism。Nowonderthenthat,withthisagelongsuppression(necessaryinasensethoughitmayhavebeen)whichmarkstheChristiandispensation,thereshouldhavebeenassociatedendlessSicknessandCrimeandsordidPoverty,theCrucifixionofanimalsinthenameofScienceandofhumanworkersinthenameofWealth,andwarsandhorrorsinnumerable!HerculeswrithingintheNessus-shirtorPrometheusnailedtotherocksareonlyasfiguresofatoyminiaturecomparedwiththisvisionofthegreatanddivineSpiritofMancaughtintheclutchesofthosedreadDiseaseswhichthroughthecenturieshavebeeneatingintohisveryheartandvitals。 ItwouldnotbefairtopileontheChristianChurchtheblameforallthis。Ithad,nodoubt,itsparttoplayinthewholegreatscheme,namely,toaccentuatetheself-motive;anditplayedthepartverythoroughlyandsuccessfully。Foritmustberemembered(whatIhaveagainandagaininsistedon)thatinthepagancultsitwasalwaysthesalvationoftheCLAN,theTRIBE,thepeoplethatwasthemainconsideration;theadvantageoftheindividualtookonlyaverysecondarypart。ButinChristendom——afterthecommunalenthusiasmsofapostolicdaysandofthemedievalandmonasticbrotherhoodsandsisterhoodshaddieddown——religionoccupieditselfmoreandmorewitheachmanorwoman\'sINDIVIDUALsalvation,regardlessofwhatmighthappentothecommunity;till,withtheriseofProtestantismandPuritanism,thistendencyreachedsuchanextremethat,assomeonehassaid,eachmanwasabsorbedinpolishinguphisownlittlesoulinacornertohimself,inentiredisregardtothedamnationwhichmightcometohisneighbor。Religion,andMoralitytoo,underthecommercialregimebecame,aswasnatural,perfectlyselfish。Itwasalways:“Am_I_saved?Am_I_doingtherightthing?Am_I_winningthefavorofGodandman?Willmyclaimstosalvationbeallowed? Did_I_makeagoodbargaininallowingJesustobecrucifiedforme?“Thepoisonofadiseasedself-consciousnessenteredintothewholehumansystem。 AsIsay,onemustnotblametheChristianstoomuchforallthis——partlybecause,AFTERthecommunalperiodswhichIhavejustmentioned,ChristianitywasevidentlydeeplyinfluencedbytheriseofCOMMERCIALISM,towhichduringthelasttwocenturiesithassocarefullyandpiouslyadapteditself;andpartlybecause——ifourviewisanywherenearright——thismicrobialinjectionofself-consciousnesswasjustthenecessaryworkwhich(inconjunctionwithcommercialism)itHADtoperform。ButthoughonedoesnotblameChristianityonecannotblindoneselftoitsdefects——thedefectsnecessarilyarisingfromthepartithadtoplay。WhenonecomparesahealthyPaganritual——sayofApolloorDionysus——includingitsrudeandcrudesacrificesifyoulike,butalsoincludingitswhole-heartedspontaneityanddedicationtothecommonlifeandwelfare——withthemorbidself-introspectionoftheChristianandtheeternallyrecurringquestion“WhatshallIdotobesaved?“——thecomparisonisnotfavorabletothelatter。Thereis(atanyrateinmoderndays)amawkishmilk-and-waterinessabouttheChristianattitude,andalsoapainfulself- consciousness,whichisnotpleasant;andthoughNietzsche\'sblondebeastisasufficientlydisagreeableanimal,onealmostthinksthatitwerebettertobeTHATthantogoaboutwithone\'sheadmeeklyhangingononeside,andtalkingalwaysofaltruismandself-sacrifice,whileinrealityone\'sheartwasentirelyoccupiedwiththequestionofone\'sownsalvation。 ThereisbesidesalamentablewantofgritandsubstanceabouttheChristiandoctrinesandceremonials。Somehowunderthesex-tabootheybecamespiritualizedandetherealizedoutofallhumanuse。Studytheinitiation-ritesofanysavagetribe——withtheirstrictdisciplineoftheyoungbravesinfortitude,andtheovercomingofpainandfear; withtheirverydetailedlessonsintheartsofwarandlifeandthedutiesofthegrownmantohistribe;andwiththeirquitepracticalinstructioninmattersofSex;andthenreadourlittleBaptismalandConfirmationservices,whichoughttocorrespondthereto。Howthinandattenuatedandweakthelatterappear!OrcomparetheHolyCommunion,ascelebratedinthesentimentalatmosphereofaProtestantChurch,withanancientEucharisticfeastofrealjollityandcommunityoflifeundertheacknowledgedpresenceofthegod;ortheRomanCatholicserviceoftheMass,includingitsgenuflexionsandmockoblationsanddroningritualsing-song,withtheactualsacrificeinearlydaysofananimal-god-victimonablazingaltar;andIthinkmymeaningwillbeclear。Wedonotwant,ofcourse,toreturntoallthecruditiesandbarbaritiesofthepast;butalsowedonotwanttobecomeattenuatedandspiritualizedoutofallmundanesenseandrecognition,andtoliveinanotherworldParadisevoidofapplicationtoearthlyaffairs。 Thesex-tabooinChristianitywasapparently,asIhavesaid,aneffortofthehumansoultowrestitselffreefromtheentanglementofphysicallust——whichlust,thoughnormalandappropriateandinawaygraciousamongtheanimals,hadthroughthedominationofself-consciousnessbecomediseasedandmorbidormonstrousinMan。Theworkthusdonehasprobablybeenofthegreatestvaluetothehumanrace;but,justasinothercasesithassometimeshappenedthattheefforttodoacertainworkhasresultedintheendinanunbalancedexaggerationsohere。Wearebeginningtoseenowtheharmfulsideoftherepressionofsex,andaretentativelyfindingourwaybackagaintoamorepaganattitude。Andasthisreturn-movementistakingplaceatatimewhen,frommanyobvioussigns,theself-conscious,grasping,commercialconceptionoflifeispreparingtogoonthewane,andthesenseofsolidaritytore-establishitself,thereisreallygoodhopethatourreturn-journeymayproveinsomedegreesuccessful。 Manprogressesgenerally,notbothlegsatoncelikeasparrow,butbyputtingonelegforwardfirst,andthentheother。TherewasthisadvantageintheChristiantabooofsexthatbydiscouragingthephysicalandsensualsideofloveitdidforthetimebeingallowthespiritualsidetocomeforward。But,asIhavejustnowindicated,thereisalimittothatprocess。Wecannotalwayskeeponelegfirstinwalking,andwedonotwant,inlife,alwaystoputthespiritualfirst,noralwaysthematerialandsensual。 Thetwosidesinthelongrunhavetokeeppacewitheachother。 Anditmaybethatagreatnumberoftheverycuriousandseeminglysenselesstaboosthatwefindamongtheprimitivepeoplescanbepartlyexplainedinthisway:thatis,thatbyrulingoutcertaindirectionsofactivitytheyenabledpeopletoconcentratemoreeffectually,forthetimebeing,onotherdirections。Toprimitivefolkthegreatworld,whosewaysarepuzzlingenoughinallconsciencetous,musthavebeensimplybewilderinginitsdangersandcomplications。ItwasanamazementofFearandIgnorance。 Thunderboltsmightcomeatanymomentoutofthebluesky,orademonoutofanoldtreetrunk,oradevastatingplagueoutofabadsmell——orapparentlyevenoutofnothingatall!Underthosecircumstancesitwasperhapswise,wherevertherewasthesmallestSUSPICIONofdangerorill-luck,tocreateahardandfastTABOO——justaswetellourchildrenONNOACCOUNTtowalkunderaladder(therebycreatingasuperstitionintheirminds),partlybecauseitwouldtaketoolongtoexplainallabouttherealdangersofpaint-potsandotherthings,andpartlybecauseforthechildrenthemselvesitseemssimplertohaveafixedandinviolablelawthantoargueovereverycasethatoccurs。 ThepriestsandeldersamongearlyfolknodoubttookthelineofFORBIDDALofactivities,assaferandsimpler,evenifcarriedsometimestoofar,thantheopposite,ofeasypermissionandencouragement。Taboosmultiplied——manyofthemquitesenseless——butperhapsinthisperilousmazeoftheworld,ofwhichIhavespoken,itreallyWASsimplertocutoutalargepartofthelabyrinth,asforbiddenground,thusrenderingiteasierforthepeopletofindtheirwayinthoseportionsofthelabyrinthwhichremained。IfyoureadinDeuteronomy(ch。xiv)thelistofbirdsandbeastsandfishespermittedforfoodamongtheIsraelites,ortabooed,youwillfindthelistonthewholereasonable,butyouwillbestruckbysomecuriousexceptions(accordingtoourideas),whichareprobablytobeexplainedbythenecessityofmakingtherulessimpleenoughtobecomprehendedbyeverybody——eveniftheyincludedtheforbiddalofsomequiteeatableanimals。 Atsomeearlyperiod,inBabyloniaorAssyria,averystringenttabooontheSabbatharose,which,takenupinturnbytheJewishandChristianChurches,hasruledtheWesternWorldforthreethousandyearsormore,andstillsurvivesinaquitesenselessformamongsomeofourruralpopulations,whowillseetheircornrotinthefieldsratherthansaveitonaSunday。[1]Itisquitelikelythatthistabooinitsfirstbeginningwasduenottoanyneedofaweeklyrest-day(aneedwhichcouldneverbefeltamongnomadsavages,butwouldonlyoccurinsomekindofindustrialandstationarycivilization),buttosomesuperstitiousfear,connectedwithsuchthingsasthechangesoftheMoon,andtheprobableILL-LUCKofanyenterpriseundertakenontheseventhday,oranydayofMoon-change。Itisprobable,however,thatastimewentonandSocietybecamemorecomplex,theadvantagesofaweeklyREST-DAY(ormarket- day)becamemoreobviousandthatthepriestsandlegislatorsdeliberatelyturnedthetabootoasocialuse。[2]ThelearnedmodernEthnologists,however,willgenerallyhavenoneofthislatteridea。Asaruletheydelightinrepresentingearlypeoplesastotallydestituteofcommonsense(whichissupposedtobeamonopolyofusmoderns!); andiftheSabbath-arrangementhashadanyvalueorusetheyinsistonascribingthistopureaccident,andnottotheapplicationofanysaneargumentorreason。 [1]ForotherabsurdSundaytaboosseeWestermarckonTheMoralIdeas,vol。ii,p。289。 [2]ForatracingofthistaboofromuselesssuperstitiontopracticalutilityseeHastings\'sEncycl。ReligionandEthics,art。“TheSabbath。” Itistrueindeedthatataboo——inordertobeapropertaboo——mustnotrestinthegeneralmindonargumentorreason。Itmayhavehadgoodsenseinthepastorevenanunderlyinggoodsenseinthepresent,butitsfoundationmustrestonsomethingbeyond。Itmustbeanabsolutefiat——somethingofthenatureofaMystery[1]orofReligionorMagic-andnottobedisputed。Thisgivesititsblood- curdlingquality。TherusticdoesnotknowwhatwouldhappentohimifhegarneredhiscornonSunday,nordoesthediner-outinpolitesocietyknowwhatwouldhappenifhespooneduphisfoodwithhisknife——buttheybotharestrickenwithasortofparalysisattheverysuggestionofinfringingthesetaboos。 [1]SeeWestermarck,Ibid。,ii。586。 Marriage-customshavealwaysbeenafertilefieldforthegenerationoftaboos。Itseemsdoubtfulwhetheranythinglikeabsolutepromiscuityeverprevailedamongthehumanrace,butthereismuchtoshowthatwidechoiceandintercoursewerecommonamongprimitivefolkandthatthetendencyoflatermarriagecustomhasbeenonthewholetoLIMITthisrangeofchoice。Atsomeearlyperiodtheforbiddalofmarriagebetweenthosewhoborethesametotem-nametookplace。ThusinAustralia“nomanoftheEmustockmightmarryanEmuwoman;noBlacksnakemightmarryaBlacksnakewoman,andsoforth。”[1]AmongtheKamilaroiandtheAruntaofS。Australiathetribewasdividedintoclassesorclans,sometimesfour,sometimeseight,andamanofoneparticularclanwasonlymarriageablewithawomanofanotherparticularclan——say(1) with(3)or(2)with(4),andsoon。[2]Customswithasimilartendency,butdifferentindetail,seemtohaveprevailedamongnativetribesinCentralAfricaandN。America。 Andtheregulationsinallthismatterhavebeenso(apparently) entirelyarbitraryinthevariouscasesthatitwouldalmostappearasifthebarofkinshipthroughtheTotemhadbeentheEXCUSE,originatingperhapsinsomesuperstition,butthattherealandmoreabidingobjectwassimplylimitation。 Andthisperhapswasawiselinetotake。Atabooonpromiscuityhadtobecreated,andforthispurposeanycurrentprejudicecouldbemadeuseof。[3] [1]Myth,RitualandReligion,i,p。66。 [2]SeeSpencerandGillen,NativeTribesofAustralia。 [3]TheauthorofTheMysticRoseseemstotakethisview。Seep。214ofthatbook。 Withusmodernsthewholematterhastakenadifferentcomplexion。Whenweconsidertheenormousamountofsufferinganddisease,bothofmindandbody,arisingfromthesex-suppressionofwhichIhavejustspoken,especiallyamongwomen,weseethatmereunreasoningtaboos——whichpossiblyhadtheirplaceanduseinthepast——canbetoleratednolonger。WeareboundtoturnthesearchlightofreasonandscienceonanumberofsuperstitionswhichstilllingerinthedarkandmustyplacesoftheChurchesandtheLawcourts。Moderninquiryhasshownconclusivelynotonlythefoundationalimportanceofsexintheevolutionofeachhumanbeing,butalsotheverygreatVARIETYofspontaneousmanifestationsindifferentindividualsandthevitalnecessitythattheseshouldberecognized,ifsocietyisevertoexpandintoarationalhumanform。Itisnotmyobjectheretosketchthefutureofmarriageandsex-relationsgenerally——asubjectwhichisnowbeingdealtwithveryeffectivelyfrommanysides;butonlytoinsistonourusingourgoodsenseinthewholematter,andrefusinganylongertobeboundbysenselesspre-judgments。 SomethingofthesamekindmaybesaidwithregardtoNakedness,whichinmodernCivilizationhasbecometheobjectofaveryseriousandindeedharmfultaboo;bothofspeechandact。Assomeonehassaid,itbecameintheendofthenineteenthcenturyalmostacrimetomentionbynameanyportionofthehumanbodywithinaradiusofabouttwentyinchesfromitscentre(!)andasamatteroffactafewdress-reformersofthatperiodwereactuallybroughtintocourtandtreatedascriminalsforgoingaboutwithlegsbareuptotheknees,andshouldersandchestuncovered!Publicfolliessuchasthesehavebeenresponsibleformuchofthebodilyandmentaldiseaseandsuppressionjustmentioned,andthesoonertheyaresenttolimbothebetter。Nosensiblepersonwouldadvocatepromiscuousnakednessanymorethanpromiscuoussex- relationship;norisitlikelythatagedanddeformedpeoplewouldatanytimewishtoexposethemselves。Butsurelythereisenoughgoodsenseandappreciationofgraceandfitnessintheaveragehumanmindforittobeabletoliberatethebodyfromsenselessconcealment,andgiveititsdueexpression。TheGreeksofold,havingonthewholecleanbodies,treatedthemwithrespectanddistinction。