Knjiga Urantije
DIO III. Povijest Urantije
POGLAVLJE 85 : IZVORI OBOŽAVANJA
PRIMITIVNA religija imala je biološko podrijetlo i razvijala se prirodnim evolucijskim putem, odvojena od moralnih poveznica i neovisna o duhovnim utjecajima. Više životinje poznaju strah, ali ne i iluzije, pa stoga nemaju religiju. Čovjek je svoje rane religijske predodžbe stvarao iz straha i iluzija.
85:0.1 (944.1)
PRIMITIVE religion had a biologic origin, a natural evolutionary development, aside from moral associations and apart from all spiritual influences. The higher animals have fears but no illusions, hence no religion. Man creates his primitive religions out of his fears and by means of his illusions.
Tijekom razvoja ljudske vrste, najraniji oblici obožavanja pojavili su se mnogo prije nego što je čovjekov um mogao zamisliti složenije ideje o ovom i budućem životu, ideje koje bi se doista mogle nazvati religijom. Rana je religija bila pretežno intelektualna i utemeljena na neposrednim okolnostima. Predmeti obožavanja bili su sugestivni i potjecali iz prirode koja je okruživala jednostavne žitelje Urantije ili se snažno nametala njihovoj svakodnevnoj stvarnosti.
85:0.2 (944.2)
In the evolution of the human species, worship in its primitive manifestations appears long before the mind of man is capable of formulating the more complex concepts of life now and in the hereafter which deserve to be called religion. Early religion was wholly intellectual in nature and was entirely predicated on associational circumstances. The objects of worship were altogether suggestive; they consisted of the things of nature which were close at hand, or which loomed large in the commonplace experience of the simple-minded primitive Urantians.
Nakon što je konačno evoluirala iznad obožavanja prirode, zadobila je korijene koji su poticali od duha, ali je unatoč tome uvijek bila oblikovana društvenim okruženjem. Kako se obožavanje prirode razvijalo, čovjekovi su pojmovi predočili podjelu rada u nadljudskom svijetu; postojali su duhovi prirode za jezera, drveće, slapove, kišu i stotine drugih uobičajenih zemaljskih pojava.
85:0.3 (944.3)
When religion once evolved beyond nature worship, it acquired roots of spirit origin but was nevertheless always conditioned by the social environment. As nature worship developed, man’s concepts envisioned a division of labor in the supermortal world; there were nature spirits for lakes, trees, waterfalls, rain, and hundreds of other ordinary terrestrial phenomena.
U nekom je razdoblju smrtni čovjek obožavao sve što postoji na licu zemlje, uključujući i samoga sebe. Obožavao je i sve zamislivo na nebu i ispod površine tla. Primitivni je čovjek strahovao pred svim manifestacijama moći; iskazivao je obožavanje svakom prirodnom fenomenu koji nije mogao shvatiti. Promatranje snažnih sila prirode poput oluja, poplava, potresa, odrona, vulkana, vatre, topline i hladnoće duboko je dojmilo čovjekov rastući um. Neobjašnjive stvari u životu i danas se nazivaju “Božjim djelima” i “tajanstvenim odredbama Pravednosti.
85:0.4 (944.4)
At one time or another mortal man has worshiped everything on the face of the earth, including himself. He has also worshiped about everything imaginable in the sky and beneath the surface of the earth. Primitive man feared all manifestations of power; he worshiped every natural phenomenon he could not comprehend. The observation of powerful natural forces, such as storms, floods, earthquakes, landslides, volcanoes, fire, heat, and cold, greatly impressed the expanding mind of man. The inexplicable things of life are still termed “acts of God” and “mysterious dispensations of Providence.”
Prvi predmet kojem je evoluirajući čovjek iskazivao obožavanje bio je kamen. Danas narod Kateri u južnoj Indiji još uvijek obožava kamen, kao i brojna plemena u sjevernoj Indiji. Jakov je spavao na kamenu jer ga je štovao; čak ga je i pomazao. Rahela je u svom šatoru skrivala nekoliko svetih kamenova.
85:1.1 (944.5)
The first object to be worshiped by evolving man was a stone. Today the Kateri people of southern India still worship a stone, as do numerous tribes in northern India. Jacob slept on a stone because he venerated it; he even anointed it. Rachel concealed a number of sacred stones in her tent.
Kamenje je isprva ostavljalo snažan dojam na ranog čovjeka zbog načina na koji bi se iznenada pojavilo na površini obrađenog polja ili pašnjaka. Ljudi nisu uzimali u obzir eroziju niti posljedice prekopavanja tla. Kamenje je također snažno djelovalo na rane narode zbog svoje česte sličnosti sa životinjama. Pa i suvremeni čovjek osjeti trenutni poticaj pažnje pred brojnim kamenim formacijama u planinama koje neobično podsjećaju na lica životinja, pa čak i ljudi. No najdublji je utjecaj proizlazio iz meteorskog kamenja koje su primitivni ljudi promatrali kako juri atmosferom u plamtećem sjaju. Zvijezda padalica bila je zastrašujuća ranom čovjeku i lako je povjerovao da takvi blistavi tragovi označuju prolazak nekog duha na njegovu putu prema Zemlji. Nije čudno što su ljudi bili nagnani iskazivati obožavanje takvim pojavama, osobito kada bi kasnije pronašli meteore. To je zatim vodilo i do većeg poštovanja svih ostalih kamenova. U Bengalu mnogi još uvijek iskazuju obožavanje meteoru koji je pao na Zemlju 1880. godine.
85:1.2 (944.6)
Stones first impressed early man as being out of the ordinary because of the manner in which they would so suddenly appear on the surface of a cultivated field or pasture. Men failed to take into account either erosion or the results of the overturning of soil. Stones also greatly impressed early peoples because of their frequent resemblance to animals. The attention of civilized man is arrested by numerous stone formations in the mountains which so much resemble the faces of animals and even men. But the most profound influence was exerted by meteoric stones which primitive humans beheld hurtling through the atmosphere in flaming grandeur. The shooting star was awesome to early man, and he easily believed that such blazing streaks marked the passage of a spirit on its way to earth. No wonder men were led to worship such phenomena, especially when they subsequently discovered the meteors. And this led to greater reverence for all other stones. In Bengal many worship a meteor which fell to earth in a.d. 1880.
Sve drevne klanove i plemena krasili su njihovi sveti kameni, a većina modernih naroda pokazuje stanovitu razinu poštovanja prema određenim vrstama kamenja — svojim draguljima. U Indiji se štovala skupina od pet kamenova; u Grčkoj skupina od trideset; među crvenim ljudima to je obično bio krug kamenja. Rimljani su uvijek bacali kamen u zrak zazivajući Jupitera. U Indiji se čak i danas kamen može koristiti kao svjedok. U nekim krajevima kamen se može upotrijebiti kao talisman zakona, a njegovim se prestižem prijestupnika može privesti na sud. No jednostavni smrtnici ne poistovjećuju uvijek Božanstvo s predmetom pobožnog obreda. Takvi su fetiši nerijetko tek simboli stvarnog predmeta obožavanja .
85:1.3 (945.1)
All ancient clans and tribes had their sacred stones, and most modern peoples manifest a degree of veneration for certain types of stones—their jewels. A group of five stones was reverenced in India; in Greece it was a cluster of thirty; among the red men it was usually a circle of stones. The Romans always threw a stone into the air when invoking Jupiter. In India even to this day a stone can be used as a witness. In some regions a stone may be employed as a talisman of the law, and by its prestige an offender can be haled into court. But simple mortals do not always identify Deity with an object of reverent ceremony. Such fetishes are many times mere symbols of the real object of worship.
Stari su narodi imali osebujno poštovanje prema rupama u kamenu. Vjerovalo se da su takve porozne stijene osobito djelotvorne u liječenju bolesti. Uši se nisu bušile radi nošenja kamenčića, nego su se kamenčići stavljali kako bi rupice ostale otvorene. Čak i u novije vrijeme praznovjerni ljudi buše rupice u kovanicama. U Africi se urođenici mnogo bave svojim fetišnim kamenjem. Zapravo, među svim nazadnim plemenima i narodima kamenje se još uvijek praznovjerno štuje. Štovanje kamenja i danas je rašireno po svijetu. Nadgrobni spomenik preživjeli je simbol nekadašnjih likova i idola isklesanih u kamenu, povezanih s vjerovanjima u duhove i tvare preminulih.
85:1.4 (945.2)
The ancients had a peculiar regard for holes in stones. Such porous rocks were supposed to be unusually efficacious in curing diseases. Ears were not perforated to carry stones, but the stones were put in to keep the ear holes open. Even in modern times superstitious persons make holes in coins. In Africa the natives make much ado over their fetish stones. In fact, among all backward tribes and peoples stones are still held in superstitious veneration. Stone worship is even now widespread over the world. The tombstone is a surviving symbol of images and idols which were carved in stone in connection with beliefs in ghosts and the spirits of departed fellow beings.
Štovanje brda uslijedilo je nakon štovanja kamenja, a prva brda koja su primila takvu počast bile su velike kamene formacije. Ubrzo je nastao običaj vjerovati da bogovi prebivaju u planinama, pa su se zbog toga štovale uzvisine. Kako je vrijeme prolazilo, pojedine su se planine povezivale s određenim bogovima i tako postale svete. Neuki i praznovjerni starosjedioci vjerovali su da špilje vode u podzemni svijet u kojem prebivaju zli duhovi i demoni, za razliku od planina koje su povezivali s kasnije razvijenim predodžbama o dobrim duhovima i božanstvima.
85:1.5 (945.3)
Hill worship followed stone worship, and the first hills to be venerated were large stone formations. It presently became the custom to believe that the gods inhabited the mountains, so that high elevations of land were worshiped for this additional reason. As time passed, certain mountains were associated with certain gods and therefore became holy. The ignorant and superstitious aborigines believed that caves led to the underworld, with its evil spirits and demons, in contrast with the mountains, which were identified with the later evolving concepts of good spirits and deities.
85:2.1 (945.4)
Plants were first feared and then worshiped because of the intoxicating liquors which were derived therefrom. Primitive man believed that intoxication rendered one divine. There was supposed to be something unusual and sacred about such an experience. Even in modern times alcohol is known as “spirits.”
Kultovi štovanja drveća spadaju među najstarije religijske oblike. Svi rani brakovi sklapali su se pod krošnjama, a žene koje su željele djecu znale su odlaziti u šumu i nježno grliti snažan hrast. noge biljke i stabla bila su štovana zbog svojih stvarnih ili zamišljenih ljekovitih svojstava. Divljak je vjerovao da su svi kemijski učinci izravno djelo nadnaravnih sila.
85:2.3 (945.6)
The cults of tree worship are among the oldest religious groups. All early marriages were held under the trees, and when women desired children, they would sometimes be found out in the forest affectionately embracing a sturdy oak. Many plants and trees were venerated because of their real or fancied medicinal powers. The savage believed that all chemical effects were due to the direct activity of supernatural forces.
Predodžbe o duhovima drveća uvelike su se razlikovale među plemenima i rasama. Neka su stabla smatrana boravištem dobroćudnih duhova, dok su u drugima navodno prebivali varljivi i okrutni duhovi. Finci su vjerovali da u većina stabala žive dobroćudni duhovi. Švicarci su dugo s nepovjerenjem gledali na drveće, smatrajući ga domom lukavih duhova. Stanovnici Indije i istočne Rusije smatrali su duhove drveća okrutnim. Patagonci još uvijek štuju drveće, kao što su to činili i rani Semiti. I dugo nakon što su Hebreji napustili štovanje drveća, nastavili su svoje bogove častiti u šumarcima. Osim u Kini, nekoć je postojao gotovo univerzalan kult stabla života.
85:2.4 (945.7)
Ideas about tree spirits varied greatly among different tribes and races. Some trees were indwelt by kindly spirits; others harbored the deceptive and cruel. The Finns believed that most trees were occupied by kind spirits. The Swiss long mistrusted the trees, believing they contained tricky spirits. The inhabitants of India and eastern Russia regard the tree spirits as being cruel. The Patagonians still worship trees, as did the early Semites. Long after the Hebrews ceased tree worship, they continued to venerate their various deities in the groves. Except in China, there once existed a universal cult of the tree of life.
85:2.5 (946.1)
The belief that water or precious metals beneath the earth’s surface can be detected by a wooden divining rod is a relic of the ancient tree cults. The Maypole, the Christmas tree, and the superstitious practice of rapping on wood perpetuate certain of the ancient customs of tree worship and the later-day tree cults.
Mnogi od tih najranijih oblika iskazivanja obožavanja prirode stopili su se s kasnije razvijenim tehnikama obožavanja, ali najraniji oblici obožavanja potaknuti pomoćnim duhovima uma djelovali su mnogo prije nego što je novoprobuđena religiozna priroda čovječanstva postala potpuno osjetljiva na poticaje duhovnih utjecaja.
85:2.6 (946.2)
Many of these earliest forms of nature veneration became blended with the later evolving techniques of worship, but the earliest mind-adjutant-activated types of worship were functioning long before the newly awakening religious nature of mankind became fully responsive to the stimulus of spiritual influences.
Primitivni je čovjek gajio osebujan osjećaj bliskosti prema višim životinjama. Njegovi su preci živjeli s njima, pa čak se i parili s njima. Na jugu Azije vrlo se rano vjerovalo da se ljudske duše vraćaju na zemlju u životinjskom obliku. Ovo je vjerovanje ostatak još ranije prakse obožavanja životinja.
85:3.1 (946.3)
Primitive man had a peculiar and fellow feeling for the higher animals. His ancestors had lived with them and even mated with them. In southern Asia it was early believed that the souls of men came back to earth in animal form. This belief was a survival of the still earlier practice of worshiping animals.
Rani su ljudi štovali životinje zbog njihove snage i lukavosti. Smatrali su da oštar njuh i prodorno oko određenih stvorenja ukazuju na vodstvo duhova. Sve su životinje bile predmet obožavanja u nekom narodu u nekom razdoblju. Među takvim objektima iskazanja obožavanja bila su i bića koja su se smatrala napola ljudskim, napola životinjskim, poput kentaura i sirena.
85:3.2 (946.4)
Early men revered the animals for their power and their cunning. They thought the keen scent and the farseeing eyes of certain creatures betokened spirit guidance. The animals have all been worshiped by one race or another at one time or another. Among such objects of worship were creatures that were regarded as half human and half animal, such as centaurs and mermaids.
Hebreji su štovali zmije sve do vremena kralja Ezekije, a Hindusi i danas njeguju prijateljske odnose sa svojim kućnim zmijama. Kinesko štovanje zmaja preživjeli je ostatak kultova zmije. Mudrost zmije bila je simbol grčke medicine i još uvijek služi kao amblem suvremenih liječnika. Umijeće ophođenja sa zmijama potječe iz vremena ženskih šamanica kulta ljubavi prema zmijama, koje su, kao posljedica svakodnevnih ugriza zmija, postale otporne, zapravo prave ovisnice o otrovu, te više nisu mogle živjeti bez njega.
85:3.3 (946.5)
The Hebrews worshiped serpents down to the days of King Hezekiah, and the Hindus still maintain friendly relations with their house snakes. The Chinese worship of the dragon is a survival of the snake cults. The wisdom of the serpent was a symbol of Greek medicine and is still employed as an emblem by modern physicians. The art of snake charming has been handed down from the days of the female shamans of the snake love cult, who, as the result of daily snake bites, became immune, in fact, became genuine venom addicts and could not get along without this poison.
Štovanje kukaca i drugih životinja potaknula je kasnija pogrešna interpretacija zlatnog pravila — činiti drugima (svakom obliku života) ono što želiš da drugi čine tebi. Stari su narodi vjerovali da sve vjetrove stvaraju ptičja krila, pa su stoga sva krilata bića bila predmet straha i obožavanja. Rani Nordijci mislili su da pomrčine uzrokuje vuk koji proždire dio sunca ili mjeseca. Hindusi često prikazuju Višnua s konjskom glavom. Mnogim je narodima životinjski simbol predstavljao zaboravljenog boga ili nestali kult. U ranoj evolucijskoj religiji janje je postalo tipična žrtvena životinja, a golub simbol mira i ljubavi.
85:3.4 (946.6)
The worship of insects and other animals was promoted by a later misinterpretation of the golden rule—doing to others (every form of life) as you would be done by. The ancients once believed that all winds were produced by the wings of birds and therefore both feared and worshiped all winged creatures. The early Nordics thought that eclipses were caused by a wolf that devoured a portion of the sun or moon. The Hindus often show Vishnu with a horse’s head. Many times an animal symbol stands for a forgotten god or a vanished cult. Early in evolutionary religion the lamb became the typical sacrificial animal and the dove the symbol of peace and love.
Čovječanstvo je obožavalo zemlju, zrak, vodu i vatru. Primitivna plemena štovala su izvore i obožavala rijeke. Čak i danas u Mongoliji postoji utjecajan kult rijeke. Krštenje je u Babilonu postalo religijski obred, a Grci su prakticirali godišnje ritualno kupanje. Starim je ljudima bilo lako zamisliti da duhovi prebivaju u žuborećim izvorima, šikljajućim fontanama, tekućim rijekama i bijesnim bujicama. Tekuće vode snažno su djelovale na te jednostavne umove, potičući vjeru da ih pokreću duhovi i nadnaravne sile. Ponekad se utopljeniku nije pružala pomoć iz straha da se ne uvrijedi bog rijeke.
85:4.1 (946.8)
Mankind has worshiped earth, air, water, and fire. The primitive races venerated springs and worshiped rivers. Even now in Mongolia there flourishes an influential river cult. Baptism became a religious ceremonial in Babylon, and the Greeks practiced the annual ritual bath. It was easy for the ancients to imagine that the spirits dwelt in the bubbling springs, gushing fountains, flowing rivers, and raging torrents. Moving waters vividly impressed these simple minds with beliefs of spirit animation and supernatural power. Sometimes a drowning man would be refused succor for fear of offending some river god.
Mnoge su stvari i brojni događaji djelovali kao religijski poticaji različitim narodima u različitim vremenima. Duga je i danas predmet obožavanja među mnogim brdskim plemenima Indije. U Indiji i Africi dugu smatraju golemom nebeskom zmijom; Hebreji i kršćani u njoj vide “luk obećanja.” Isto tako, utjecaji koji se u jednom dijelu svijeta smatraju blagotvornima, u drugim se krajevima mogu smatrati pogubnima. Istočni vjetar u Južnoj Americi je bog jer donosi kišu; u Indiji je vrag jer donosi prašinu i uzrokuje sušu. Stari Beduini vjerovali su da duh prirode stvara pješčane vrtloge, a čak i u Mojsijevo doba vjerovanje u duhove prirode bilo je dovoljno snažno da osigura njihov opstanak u hebrejskoj teologiji u vidu anđela vatre, vode i zraka.
85:4.2 (947.1)
Many things and numerous events have functioned as religious stimuli to different peoples in different ages. A rainbow is yet worshiped by many of the hill tribes of India. In both India and Africa the rainbow is thought to be a gigantic celestial snake; Hebrews and Christians regard it as “the bow of promise.” Likewise, influences regarded as beneficent in one part of the world may be looked upon as malignant in other regions. The east wind is a god in South America, for it brings rain; in India it is a devil because it brings dust and causes drought. The ancient Bedouins believed that a nature spirit produced the sand whirls, and even in the times of Moses belief in nature spirits was strong enough to insure their perpetuation in Hebrew theology as angels of fire, water, and air.
Oblaci, kiša i tuča bili su predmet straha i obožavanja kod brojnih primitivnih plemena i mnogih ranih kultova prirode. Vjetrolomi s grmljavinom i munjama duboko su zaprepašćivali ranog čovjeka. Toliko je bio impresioniran tim silama da se grom smatrao glasom gnjevnog boga. Obožavanje vatre i strah od munje bili su međusobno povezani i široko rasprostranjeni među mnogim ranim skupinama.
85:4.3 (947.2)
Clouds, rain, and hail have all been feared and worshiped by numerous primitive tribes and by many of the early nature cults. Windstorms with thunder and lightning overawed early man. He was so impressed with these elemental disturbances that thunder was regarded as the voice of an angry god. The worship of fire and the fear of lightning were linked together and were widespread among many early groups.
Štovanje vatre bilo je isprepleteno s magijom u umovima primitivnih, strahom obuzetih smrtnika. Poklonik magije živo će se sjećati jednog jedinog pozitivnog slučajnog ishoda svojih magijskih formula, dok će nonšalantno zaboraviti desetke neuspjelih pokušaja i potpunih promašaja. Poštovanje vatre doseglo je svoj vrhunac u Perziji, gdje se dugo održalo. Neka su je plemena štovala kao samo božanstvo, dok su je druga poštivala kao plamteći simbol pročišćujućeg i ognjenog duha svojih cijenjenih božanstava. Vestalske djevice imale su dužnost bdjeti nad svetim ognjištima, a još se i u dvadesetom stoljeću svijeće koriste kao dio rituala mnogih vjerskih službi.
85:4.4 (947.3)
Fire was mixed up with magic in the minds of primitive fear-ridden mortals. A devotee of magic will vividly remember one positive chance result in the practice of his magic formulas, while he nonchalantly forgets a score of negative results, out-and-out failures. Fire reverence reached its height in Persia, where it long persisted. Some tribes worshiped fire as a deity itself; others revered it as the flaming symbol of the purifying and purging spirit of their venerated deities. Vestal virgins were charged with the duty of watching sacred fires, and in the twentieth century candles still burn as a part of the ritual of many religious services.
Obožavanje stijena, brežuljaka, drveća i životinja prirodno se razvilo, iz strahopoštovanja prema silama prirode, sve do obožavanja sunca, mjeseca i zvijezda. U Indiji i drugdje zvijezde su se smatrale proslavljenim dušama velikih ljudi koji su napustili život u tijelu. Kaldejski štovatelji zvijezda smatrali su sebe djecom nebeskoga oca i zemaljske majke.
85:5.1 (947.4)
The worship of rocks, hills, trees, and animals naturally developed up through fearful veneration of the elements to the deification of the sun, moon, and stars. In India and elsewhere the stars were regarded as the glorified souls of great men who had departed from the life in the flesh. The Chaldean star cultists considered themselves to be the children of the sky father and the earth mother.
Mjesec je bio obožavan prije sunca. Poštovanje mjeseca doseglo je vrhunac tijekom lovačke ere, dok je obožavanje sunca postalo središnji religijski obred kasnijih poljoprivrednih epoha. Obožavanje sunca najprije se snažno ukorijenilo u Indiji, gdje se i najdulje održalo. U Perziji je sunčevo štovanje dalo povoda kasnijem mitraizmu. Mnogim je narodima sunce bilo predak njihovih kraljeva. Kaldejci su sunce smještali u središte „sedam krugova svemira.“ Kasnije civilizacije odavale su počast suncu tako što su njegovim imenom nazvale prvi dan u tjednu.
85:5.2 (947.5)
Moon worship preceded sun worship. Veneration of the moon was at its height during the hunting era, while sun worship became the chief religious ceremony of the subsequent agricultural ages. Solar worship first took extensive root in India, and there it persisted the longest. In Persia sun veneration gave rise to the later Mithraic cult. Among many peoples the sun was regarded as the ancestor of their kings. The Chaldeans put the sun in the center of “the seven circles of the universe.” Later civilizations honored the sun by giving its name to the first day of the week.
Smatralo se da je sunčev bog mistični otac sinova sudbine rođenih od djevica, koji su s vremena na vrijeme bili zamišljeni kao spasitelji darovani odabranim narodima. Ta su nadnaravna djeca uvijek bila puštana niz neku svetu rijeku kako bi bila spašena na izvanredan način, nakon čega bi odrasla u čudesne ličnosti i osloboditelje svojih naroda.
85:5.3 (947.6)
The sun god was supposed to be the mystic father of the virgin-born sons of destiny who ever and anon were thought to be bestowed as saviors upon favored races. These supernatural infants were always put adrift upon some sacred river to be rescued in an extraordinary manner, after which they would grow up to become miraculous personalities and the deliverers of their peoples.
Rani je čovjek sve neobične osobe smatrao nadljudskima te ih se toliko bojao da ih je držao u strahopoštovanju; do određene mjere ih je doslovno obožavao. Čak se i rođenje blizanaca smatralo ili znakom velike sreće ili velike nesreće. Luđacima, epileptičarima i maloumnima često je iskazivano obožavanje od strane njihovih razboritijih pripadnika plemena, koji su vjerovali da su u takvim nenormalnim bićima živjeli bogovi. Svećenici, kraljevi i proroci bili su obožavani; sveti ljudi drevnih vremena smatrani su nadahnutima božanstvima.
85:6.2 (948.2)
Early man regarded all unusual persons as superhuman, and he so feared such beings as to hold them in reverential awe; to some degree he literally worshiped them. Even having twins was regarded as being either very lucky or very unlucky. Lunatics, epileptics, and the feeble-minded were often worshiped by their normal-minded fellows, who believed that such abnormal beings were indwelt by the gods. Priests, kings, and prophets were worshiped; the holy men of old were looked upon as inspired by the deities.
Poglavice plemena bi nakon smrti bile pobožanstvenjene. Kasnije su ugledne duše, po smrti, proglašavane svetima. Evolucija sama po sebi nikada nije stvorila bogove uzvišenije od proslavljenih, uzdignutih i razvijenih duhova preminulih ljudi. U ranoj evoluciji religija sama stvara svoje bogove. U tijeku otkrivenja, Bogovi oblikuju religiju. Evolucijska religija stvara bogove na sliku i priliku smrtnog čovjeka; religija otkrivenja nastoji razviti i preobraziti smrtnog čovjeka na sliku i priliku Boga.
85:6.3 (948.3)
Tribal chiefs died and were deified. Later, distinguished souls passed on and were sainted. Unaided evolution never originated gods higher than the glorified, exalted, and evolved spirits of deceased humans. In early evolution religion creates its own gods. In the course of revelation the Gods formulate religion. Evolutionary religion creates its gods in the image and likeness of mortal man; revelatory religion seeks to evolve and transform mortal man into the image and likeness of God.
Bogovi–duhovi, za koje se smatralo da potječu od ljudi, trebaju se razlikovati od bogova prirode, jer se iz obožavanja prirode razvio panteon – duhovi prirode uzdignuti na razinu božanstava. Kultovi prirode nastavili su se razvijati zajedno s kasnije nastalim kultovima duhova, a jedni su neprestano utjecali na druge. Mnoge religije prihvatile su dvojni pojam božanstva: bogove prirode i duhove-bogove; u nekim su teologijama ti pojmovi zbunjujuće isprepleteni, kao što to pokazuje Thor, duh–junak koji je ujedno bio gospodar munje.
85:6.4 (948.4)
The ghost gods, who are of supposed human origin, should be distinguished from the nature gods, for nature worship did evolve a pantheon—nature spirits elevated to the position of gods. The nature cults continued to develop along with the later appearing ghost cults, and each exerted an influence upon the other. Many religious systems embraced a dual concept of deity, nature gods and ghost gods; in some theologies these concepts are confusingly intertwined, as is illustrated by Thor, a ghost hero who was also master of the lightning.
Prirodno bi moglo izgledati da je obožavanje prirode spontano izniklo u umovima primitivnih muškaraca i žena, što je istina; ali istodobno je u tim istim umovima djelovao šesti pomoćni duh, darovan ljudima kao usmjeravajući utjecaj upravo u toj fazi ljudske evolucije. Taj je duh neprestano poticao poriv za obožavanjem u ljudskoj vrsti, bez obzira na to koliko primitivne bile njegove početne pojave. Duh obožavanja dao je jasan izvor ljudskom nagonu za iskazivanjem obožavanja, premda je životinjski strah poticao način na koji se to obožavanje iskazivalo i premda se njegova rana praksa usmjeravala na objekte prirode.
85:7.1 (948.6)
Nature worship may seem to have arisen naturally and spontaneously in the minds of primitive men and women, and so it did; but there was operating all this time in these same primitive minds the sixth adjutant spirit, which had been bestowed upon these peoples as a directing influence of this phase of human evolution. And this spirit was constantly stimulating the worship urge of the human species, no matter how primitive its first manifestations might be. The spirit of worship gave definite origin to the human impulse to worship, notwithstanding that animal fear motivated the expression of worshipfulness, and that its early practice became centered upon objects of nature.
Kada se poriv za obožavanjem opominje i usmjerava mudrošću — promišljenim i iskustvenim mišljenjem — tada se počinje razvijati u fenomen istinske religije. Kada sedmi pomoćni duh, duh mudrosti, postigne djelotvornu službu u ljudskom umu, tada se čovjek u svom obožavanju počinje odmicati od prirode i prirodnih objekata te se okreće Bogu prirode i vječnom Stvoritelju svega prirodnoga.
85:7.3 (948.8)
When the worship urge is admonished and directed by wisdom—meditative and experiential thinking—it then begins to develop into the phenomenon of real religion. When the seventh adjutant spirit, the spirit of wisdom, achieves effective ministration, then in worship man begins to turn away from nature and natural objects to the God of nature and to the eternal Creator of all things natural.