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in this matter must have been perfectly continuous from stages presenting the very feeblest or an absolutely deficient animistic sense to the very highest manifestations of anthropomorphism； but as there is a good deal of evidence to show that ANIMALS （notably dogs and horses） see ghosts； the inquiry ought certainly to be enlarged so far as to include the pre…human species。 Anyhow it must be remembered that the question is one of CONSCIOUSNESS that is； of how far and to what degree consciousness of self has been developed in the animal or the primitive man or the civilized man； and therefore how far and to what degree the animal or human creature has credited the outside world with a similar consciousness。 It is not a question of whether there IS an inner life and SUB…consciousness common to all these creatures of the earth and sky； because that； I take it； is a fact beyond question； they all emerge or have emerged from the same matrix； and are rooted in identity； but it is a question of how far they are AWARE of this； and how far by separation （which is the genius of evolution） each individual creature has become conscious of the interior nature both of itself and of the other creatures AND of the great whole which includes them all。
Finally； and to avoid misunderstanding； let me say that Anthropomorphism； in man's conception of the gods； is itself of course only a stage and destined to pass away。 In so far； that is； as the term indicates a belief in divine beings corresponding to our PRESENT conception of ourselves that is as separate personalities having each a separate and limited character and function； and animated by the separatist motives of ambition； possession； power； vainglory； superiority； patronage； self…greed； self…satisfaction； etc。in so far as anthropomorphism is the expression of that kind of belief it is of course destined； with the illusion from which it springs； to pass away。 When man arrives at the final consciousness in which the idea of such a self； superior or inferior or in any way antagonistic to others； ceases to operate； then he will return to his first and primal condition； and will cease to need ANY special religion or gods； knowing himself and all his fellows to be divine and the origin and perfect fruition of all。
VII。 RITES OF EXPIATION AND REDEMPTION
There is a passage in Richard Jefferies' imperishably beautiful book The Story of my Hearta passage well known to all lovers of that prose…poetin which he figures himself standing 〃in front of the Royal Exchange where the wide pavement reaches out like a promontory；〃 and pondering on the vast crowd and the mystery of life。 〃Is there any theory； philosophy； or creed；〃 he says； 〃is there any system of culture； any formulated method； able to meet and satisfy each separate item of this agitated pool of human life？ By which they may be guided； by which they may hope； by which look forward？ Not a mere illusion of the craving heartsomething real； as real as the solid walls of fact against which； like seaweed； they are dashed； something to give each separate personality sunshine and a flower in its own existence now； something to shape this million…handed labor to an end and outcome that will leave more sunshine and more flowers to those who must succeed？ Something real now； and not in the spirit…land； in this hour now； as I stand and the sun burns。 。 。 。 Full well aware that all has failed； yet； side by side with the sadness of that knowledge； there lives on in me an unquenchable belief； thought burning like the sun； that there is yet something to be found。。。。 It must be dragged forth by the might of thought from the immense forces of the universe。〃
In answer to this passage we may say 〃No；a thousand times No！ there is no theory； philosophy； creed； system or formulated method which will meet or ever satisfy the demand of each separate item of the human whirlpool。〃 And happy are we to know there is no such thing！ How terrible if one of these bloodless 'systems' which strew the history of religion and philosophy and the political and social paths of human endeavor HAD been found absolutely correct and universally applicableso that every human being would be compelled to pass through its machine…like maw； every personality to be crushed under its Juggernath wheels！ No； thank Heaven！ there is no theory or creed or system； and yet there is something as Jefferies prophetically felt and with a great longing desiredthat CAN satisfy； and that； the root of all religion； has been hinted at in the last chapter。 It is the CONSCIOUSNESS of the world…life burning； blazing； deep down within us： it is the Soul's intuition of its roots in Omnipresence and Eternity。
The gods and the creeds of the past； as shown in the last chapterwhatever they may have been； animistic or anthropomorphic or transcendental； whether grossly brutish or serenely ideal and abstractare essentially projections of the human mind； and no doubt those who are anxious to discredit the religious impulse generally will catch at this； saying 〃Yes； they are mere forms and phantoms of the mind； ephemeral dreams； projected on the background of Nature； and having no real substance or solid value。 The history of Religion （they will say） is a history of delusion and illusion； why waste time over it？ These divine grizzly Bears or Aesculapian Snakes； these cat…faced Pashts； this Isis； queen of heaven； and Astarte and Baal and Indra and Agni and Kali and Demeter and the Virgin Mary and Apollo and Jesus Christ and Satan and the Holy Ghost； are only shadows cast outwards onto a screen； the constitution of the human mind makes them all tend to be anthropomorphic； but that is all； they each and all inevitably pass away。 Why waste time over them？〃
And this is in a sense a perfectly fair way of looking at the matter。 These gods and creeds ARE only projections of the human mind。 But all the same it misses； does this view； the essential fact。 It misses the fact that there is no shadow without a fire； that the very existence of a shadow argues a light somewhere （though we may not directly see it） as well 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 ev