pagan and christian creeds-第22章
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l as the existence of a solid form which intercepts that light。 Deep； deep in the human mind there is that burning blazing light of the world…consciousness so deep indeed that the vast majority of individuals are hardly aware of its existence。 Their gaze turned outwards is held and riveted by the gigantic figures and processions passing across their sky； they are unaware that the latter are only shadowssilhouettes of the forms inhabiting their own minds。＇1＇ The vast majority of people have never observed their own minds； their own mental forms。 They have only observed the reflections cast by these。 Thus it may be said； in this matter； that there are three degrees of reality。 There are the mere shadowsthe least real and most evanescent； there are the actual mental outlines of humanity （and of the individual）； much more real； but themselves also of course slowly changing； and most real of all； and permanent； there is the light 〃which lighteth every man that cometh into the world〃the glorious light of the world…consciousness。 Of this last it may be said that it never changes。 Every thing is known to iteven the very IMPEDIMENTS to its shining。 But as it is from the impediments to the shining of a light that shadows are cast； so we now may understand that the things of this world and of humanity； though real in their degree； have chiefly a kind of negative value； they are opaquenesses； clouds； materialisms； ignorances； and the inner light falling upon them gradually reveals their negative character and gradually dissolves them away till they are lost in the extreme and eternal Splendor。 I think Jefferies； when he asked that question with which I have begun this chapter； was in some sense subconsciously； if not quite consciously； aware of the answer。 His frequent references to the burning blazing sun throughout The Story of the Heart seem to be an indication of his real deep…down attitude of mind。
＇1＇ See； in the same connection； Plato's allegory of the Cave； Republic；Book vii。
The shadow…figures of the creeds and theogonies pass away truly like ephemeral dreams； but to say that time spent in their study is wasted； is a mistake； for they have value as being indications of things much more real than themselves； namely； of the stages of evolution of the human mind。 The fact that a certain god…figure； however grotesque and queer； or a certain creed； however childish； cruel； and illogical； held sway for a considerable time over the hearts of men in any corner or continent of the world is good evidence that it represented a real formative urge at the time in the hearts of those good people； and a definite stage in their evolution and the evolution of humanity。 Certainly it was destined to pass away； but it was a step； and a necessary step in the great process； and certainly it was opaque and brutish； but it is through the opaque things of the world； and not through the transparent； that we become aware of the light。
It may be worth while to give instances of how some early rituals and creeds； in themselves apparently barbarous or preposterous； were really the indications of important moral and social conceptions evolving in the heart of man。 Let us take； first； the religious customs connected with the ideas of Sacrifice and of Sin； of which such innumerable examples are now to be found in the modern books on Anthropology。 If we assume； as I have done more than once； that the earliest state of Man was one in which he did not consciously separate himself from the world； animate and inanimate； which surrounded him； then （as I have also said） it was perfectly natural for him to take some animal which bulked large on his horizon some food…animal for instanceand to pay respect to it as the benefactor of his tribe； its far…back ancestor and totem…symbol； or； seeing the boundless blessing of the cornfields； to believe in some kind of spirit of the corn （not exactly a god but rather a magical ghost） which； reincarnated every year； sprang up to save mankind from famine。 But then no sooner had he done this than he was bound to perceive that in cutting down the corn or in eating his totem…bear or kangaroo he was slaying his own best self and benefactor。 In that instant the consciousness of DISUNITY； the sense of sin in some undefined yet no less disturbing and alarming form would come in。 If； before； his ritual magic had been concentrated on the simple purpose of multiplying the animal or； vegetable forms of his food； now in addition his magical endeavor would be turned to averting the just wrath of the spirits who animated these formsjust indeed； for the rudest savage would perceive the wrong done and the probability of its retribution。 Clearly the wrong done could only be expiated by an equivalent sacrifice of some kind on the part of the man； or the tribethat is by the offering to the totem… animal or to the corn…spirit of some victim whom these nature powers in their turn could feed upon and assimilate。 In this way the nature…powers would be appeased； the sense of unity would be restored； and the first At…one…ment effected。
It is hardly necessary to recite in any detail the cruel and hideous sacrifices which have been perpetrated in this sense all over the world； sometimes in appeasement of a wrong committed or supposed to have been committed by the tribe or some member of it； sometimes in placation or for the averting of death； or defeat； or plague； sometimes merely in fulfilment of some long…standing custom of forgotten originthe flayings and floggings and burnings and crucifixions of victims without end； carried out in all deliberation and solemnity of established ritual。 I have mentioned some cases connected with the sowing of the corn。 The Bible is full of such things； from the intended sacrifice of Isaac by his father Abraham； to the actual crucifixion of Jesus by the Jews。 The first… born sons were claimed by a god who called himself 〃jealous〃 and were only to be redeemed by a substitute。＇1＇ Of the Canaanites it was said that 〃even their daughters they have BURNT in the fire to their gods〃；＇2＇ and of the King of Moab； that when he saw his army in danger of defeat； 〃he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead and offered him for a burnt…offering on the wall！〃＇3＇ Dr。 Frazer＇4＇ mentions the similar case of the Carthaginians （about B。C。 300） sacrificing two hundred children of good family as a propitiation to Baal and to save their beloved city from the assaults of the Sicilian tyrant Agathocles。 And even so we hear that on that occasion three hundred more young folk VOLUNTEERED to die for the fatherland。
＇1＇ Exodus xxxiv。 20。
＇2＇ Deut。 xii。 31。
＇3＇ 2 Kings iii。 27。
＇4＇ The Golden Bough； vol。 〃The Dying God；〃 p。 167。
The awful sacrifices made by the Aztecs in Mexico to their gods Huitzilopochtli； Texcatlipoca； and others are described in much detail by Sahagun； the Spanish missionary of the sixteenth century。 The victims were mostly prisoners of war or young children； they were numbered by thousands。 In one case Sahagun describes the huge Idol or figure of the god as largely plated with gold and holding his hands palm upward and in a downward sloping position over a cauldron or furnace placed below。 The children； who had previously been borne in triumphal state on litters over the crowd and decorated with every ornamental device of feathers and flowers and wings； were placed one by one on the vast hands and ROLLED DOWN into the flamesas if the god were himself offering them。＇1＇ As the procession approached the temple； the members of it wept and danced and sang； and here again the abundance of tears was taken for a good augury of rain。＇2＇
＇1＇ It is curious to find that exactly the same story （of the sloping hands and the children rolled down into the flames） is related concerning the above…mentioned Baal image at Carthage （see Diodorus Siculus； xx。 14； also Baring Gould's Religious Belief； vol。 i； p。 375）。
＇2＇ 〃A los ninos que mataban； componianlos en muchos atavios para llevarlos al sacrificio； y llevabos en unas literas sobre los hombros； estas literas iban adornadas con plumages y con flores： iban tanendo； cantando y bailando delante de ellos 。 。 。 Cuando Ileviban los ninos a matar； si llevaban
