pagan and christian creeds-第40章
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enturies grew in power and scope
with its monks and their mutilations and asceticisms； and its celibate clergy； and its absolute refusal to recognize the sexual meaning of its own acclaimed symbols （like the Cross； the three fingers of Benediction； the Fleur de Lys and so forth）it more and more consistently defined itself as anti…sexual in its outlook； and stood out in that way in marked contrast to the earlier Nature…religions。
＇1＇ Angels' Wings； by E。 Carpenter； p。 104。
It may be said of course that this anti…sexual tendency can be traced in other of the pre…Christian Churches； especially the later ones； like the Buddhist； the Egyptian； and so forth； and this is perfectly true； but it would seem that in many ways the Christian Church marked the culmination of the tendency； and the fact that other cults participated in the taboo makes us all the more ready and anxious to inquire into its real cause。
To go into a disquisition on the Sex…rites of the various pre… Christian religions would be 'a large order'larger than I could attempt to fill； but the general facts in this connection are fairly patent。 We know； of course； from the Bible that the Syrians in Palestine were given to sexual worships。 There were erect images （phallic） and 〃groves〃 （sexual symbols） on every high hill and under every green tree；＇1＇ and these same images and the rites connected with them crept into the Jewish Temple and were popular enough to maintain their footing there for a long period from King Rehoboam onwards； notwithstanding the efforts of Josiah＇2＇ and other reformers to extirpate them。 Moreover there were girls and men （hierodouloi） regularly attached during this period to the Jewish Temple as to the heathen Temples； for the rendering of sexual services； which were recognized in many cases as part of the ritual。 Women were persuaded that it was an honor and a privilege to be fertilized by a 'holy man' （a priest or other man connected with the rites）； and children resulting from such unions were often called 〃Children of God〃an appellation which no doubt sometimes led to a legend of miraculous birth！ Girls who took their place as hierodouloi in the Temple or Temple…precincts were expected to surrender themselves to men…worshipers in the Temple； much in the same way； probably； as Herodotus describes in the temple of the Babylonian Venus Mylitta； where every native woman； once in her life； was supposed to sit in the Temple and have intercourse with some stranger。＇3＇ Indeed the Syrian and Jewish rites dated largely from Babylonia。 〃The Hebrews entering Syria；〃 says Richard Burton＇4＇ 〃found it religionized。 by Assyria and Babylonia； when the Accadian Ishtar had passed West； and had become Ashtoreth； Ashtaroth； or Ashirah； the Anaitis of Armenia； the Phoenician Astarte； and the Greek Aphrodite； the great Moon… goddess who is queen of Heaven and Love。〃 The word translated 〃grove〃 as above； in our Bible； is in fact Asherah； which connects it pretty clearly with the Babylonian Queen of Heaven。
＇1＇ 1 Kings xiv。 22…24。
＇2＇ 2 Kings xxiii。
＇3＇ See Herodotus i。 199； also a reference to this custom in the apocryphal Baruch； vi。 42； 43。
＇4＇ The Thousand Nights and a Night （1886 edn。）； vol。 x； p。 229。
In India again； in connection with the Hindu Temples and their rites； we have exactly the same institution of girls attached to the Temple servicethe Nautch…girlswhose functions in past times were certainly sexual； and whose dances in honor of the god are； even down to the present day； decidedly amatory in character。 Then we have the very numerous lingams （conventional representations of the male organ） to be seen； scores and scores of them； in the arcades and cloisters of the Hindu Temples to which women of all classes； especially those who wish to become mothers； resort； anointing them copiously with oil； and signalizing their respect and devotion to them in a very practical way。 As to the lingam as representing the male organ； in some form or otheras upright stone or pillar or obelisk or slender round towerit occurs all over the； world； notably in Ireland； and forms such a memorial of the adoration paid by early folk to the great emblem and instrument of human fertility； as cannot be mistaken。 The pillars set up by Solomon in front of his temple were obviously from their namesJachin and Boaz＇1＇meant to be emblems of this kind； and the fact that they were crowned with pomegranatesthe universally accepted symbol of the femaleconfirms and clinches this interpretation。 The obelisks before the Egyptians' temples were signs of the same character。 The well…known T…shaped cross was in use in pagan lands long before Christianity； as a representation of the male member； and also at the same time of the 'tree' on which the god （Attis or Adonis or Krishna or whoever it might be） was crucified； and the same symbol combined with the oval （or yoni） formed THE Crux Ansata ｛Ankh｝ of the old Egyptian rituala figure which is to…day sold in Cairo as a potent charm； and confessedly indicates the conjunction of the two sexes in one design。＇2＇ MacLennan in The Fortnightly Review （Oct。 1869） quotes with approval the words of Sanchoniathon； as saying that 〃men first worship plants； next the heavenly bodies； supposed to be animals； then 'pillars' （emblems of the Procreator）； and last； the anthropomorphic gods。〃
＇1＇ 〃He shall establish〃 and 〃In it is strength〃 are in the Bible the marginal interpretations of these two words。
＇2＇ The connection between the production of fire by means of the fire…drill and the generation of life by sex…intercourse is a very obvious one； and lends itself to magical ideas。 J。 E。 Hewitt in his Ruling Races of Prehistoric Times （1894） says （vol。 i； p。 8） that 〃Magha； the mother…goddess worshipped in Asia Minor； was originally the socket…block from which fire was generated by the fire…drill。〃 Hence we have； he says； the Magi of Persia； and the Maghadas of Indian History； also the word 'Magic。〃
It is not necessary to enlarge on this subject。 The facts of the connection of sexual rites with religious services nearly everywhere in the early world are； as I say； sufficiently patent to every inquirer。 But it IS necessary to try to understand the rationale of this connection。 To dispatch all such cases under the mere term 〃religious prostitution〃 is no explanation。 The term suggests； of course； that the plea of religion was used simply as an excuse and a cover for sexual familiarities； but though this kind of explanation commends itself； no doubt； to the modern manwhose religion is as commercial as his sex…relationships areand though in CASES no doubt it was a true explanationyet it is obvious that among people who took religion seriously； as a matter of life and death and who did not need hypocritical excuses or covers for sex…relationships； it cannot be accepted as in general the RIGHT explanation。 No； the real explanation isand I will return to this presentlythat sexual relationships are so deep and intimate a part of human nature that from the first it has been simply impossible to keep them OUT of religionit being of course the object of religion to bring the whole human being into some intelligible relation with the physical； moral； and if you like supernatural order of the great world around him。 Sex was felt from the first to be part； and a foundational part； of the great order of the world and of human nature； and therefore to separate it from Religion was unthinkable and a kind of contradiction in terms。＇1＇
＇1＇ For further development of this subject see ch。 xv。
If that is trueit will be askedhow was it that that divorce DID take placethat the taboo did arise？ How was it that the Jews； under the influence of Josiah and the Hebrew prophets； turned their faces away from sex and strenuously opposed the Syrian cults？ How was it that this reaction extended into Christianity and became even more definite in the Christian Churchthat monks went by thousands into the deserts of the Thebaid； and that the early Fathers and Christian apologists could not find terms foul enough to hurl at Woman as the symbol （to them） of nothing but sex…corruption and delusion？ How was it that this contempt of the body and degradation of sex… th
