“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。