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fish even； gods were supposed to be present。 A man would eat
freely of what was regarded as the incarnation of the god of
another man； but the incarnation of his own particular god he
would consider it death to injure or eat。〃
We have here that which appears to be the origin； or one of the
origins； of food prohibitions； on the one hand； and of totemism
on the other。 When it is remembered that the old Israelites
sprang from ancestors who are said to have resided near； or in；
one of the great seats of ancient Babylonian civilisation； the
city of Ur； that they had been； it is said for centuries； in
close contact with the Egyptians； and that； in the theology of
both the Babylonians and the Egyptians； there is abundant
evidence； notwithstanding their advanced social organisation； of
the belief in spirits； with sorcery； ancestor…worship； the
deification of animals； and the converse animalisation of gods
it obviously needs very strong evidence to justify the belief
that the rude tribes of Israel did not share the notions from
which their far more civilised neighbours had not
emancipated themselves。
But it is surely needless to carry the comparison further。
Out of the abundant evidence at command； I think that sufficient
has been produced to furnish ample grounds for the belief； that
the old Israelites of the time of Samuel entertained theological
conceptions which were on a level with those current among the
more civilised of the Polynesian islanders； though their ethical
code may possibly； in some respects； have been
more advanced。
A theological system of essentially similar character；
exhibiting the same fundamental conceptions respecting the
continued existence and incessant interference in human affairs
of disembodied spirits； prevails； or formerly prevailed； among
the whole of the inhabitants of the Polynesian and Melanesian
islands； and among the people of Australia； notwithstanding the
wide differences in physical character and in grade of
civilisation which obtain among them。 And the same proposition
is true of the people who inhabit the riverain shores of the
Pacific Ocean whether Dyaks； Malays； Indo…Chinese； Chinese；
Japanese； the wild tribes of America； or the highly civilised
old Mexicans and Peruvians。 It is no less true of the Mongolic
nomads of Northern Asia； of the Asiatic Aryans and of the
Ancient Greeks and Romans； and it holds good among the
Dravidians of the Dekhan and the negro tribes of Africa。
No tribe of savages which has yet been discovered； has been
conclusively proved to have so poor a theological equipment as
to be devoid of a belief in ghosts； and in the utility of some
form of witchcraft； in influencing those ghosts。 And there is no
nation； modern or ancient； which； even at this moment； has
wholly given up the belief； and in which it has not； at one time
or other； played a great part in practical life。
This sciotheism； as it might be called； is found； in
several degrees of complexity； in rough correspondence with the
stages of social organisation； and； like these； separated by no
sudden breaks。
In its simplest condition； such as may be met with among the
Australian savages； theology is a mere belief in the existence；
powers； and disposition （usually malignant） of ghostlike
entities who may be propitiated or scared away； but no cult can
properly be said to exist。 And； in this stage； theology is
wholly independent of ethics。 The moral code； such as is implied
by public opinion； derives no sanction from the theological
dogmas； and the influence of the spirits is supposed to be
exerted out of mere caprice or malice。
As a next stage； the fundamental fear of ghosts and the
consequent desire to propitiate them acquire an organised ritual
in simple forms of ancestor…worship； such as the Rev。 Mr。 Turner
describes among the people of Tanna （l。c。 p。 88）； and
this line of development may be followed out until it attains
its acme in the State…theology of China and the Kami…
theology of Japan。 Each of these is essentially ancestor…
worship； the ancestors being reckoned back through family
groups； of higher and higher order； sometimes with strict
reference to the principle of agnation； as in old Rome； and； as
in the latter； it is intimately bound up with the whole
organisation of the State。 There are no idols； inscribed tablets
in China； and strips of paper lodged in a peculiar portable
shrine in Japan； represent the souls of the deceased； or the
special seats which they occupy when sacrifices are offered by
their descendants。 In Japan it is interesting to observe that a
national KamiTen…zio…dai…zinis worshipped as a sort of
Jahveh by the nation in general； and （as Lippert has observed）
it is singular that his special seat is a portable litter…like
shrine； termed the Mikosi； in some sort analogous to the
Israelitic ark。 In China； the emperor is the representative of
the primitive ancestors； and stands； as it were； between them
and the supreme cosmic deitiesHeaven and Earthwho are
superadded to them； and who answer to the Tangaloa and the Maui
of the Polynesians。
Sciotheism； under the form of the deification of ancestral
ghosts； in its most pronounced form； is therefore the chief
element in the theology of a great moiety； possibly of more than
half； of the human race。 I think this must be taken to be a
matter of factthough various opinions may be held as to how
this ancestor…worship came about。 But on the other hand； it is
no less a matter of fact that there are very few people without
additional gods； who cannot； with certainty； be accounted for as
deified ancestors。
With all respect for the distinguished authorities on the other
side； I cannot find good reasons for accepting the theory that
the cosmic deitieswho are superadded to deified ancestors even
in China； who are found all over Polynesia； in Tangaloa and
Maui； and in old Peru； in the Sunare the product either of the
〃search after the infinite；〃 or of mistakes arising out of the
confusion of a great chief's name with the thing signified by
the name。 But； however this may be； I think it is again merely
matter of fact that； among a large portion of mankind； ancestor…
worship is more or less thrown into the background either by
such cosmic deities； or by tribal gods of uncertain origin； who
have been raised to eminence by the superiority in warfare； or
otherwise； of their worshippers。
Among certain nations； the polytheistic theology； thus
constituted； has become modified by the selection of some one
cosmic or tribal god； as the only god to whom worship is due on
the part of that nation （though it is by no means denied that
other nations have a right to worship other gods）； and thus
results a worship of one Godmonolatry； as Wellhausen
calls itwhich is very different from genuine monotheism。
In ancestral sciotheism； and in this monol