The principles of nature, her divine revelations by Andrew Jackson Davis

Author:Andrew Jackson Davis [Davis, Andrew Jackson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: http://archive.org/details/principlesofnatu00davi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

§ 90. I now proceed to describe the mental culture

of the inhabitants of the interior of Asia, and of those existing upon the borders of the African continent. It is well to remark that it is impossible for me to employ names or words which can possibly designate more definitely to the reader those tribes of which I speak. For this is a period in the world’s history when cities, localities, nations, tribes, and other specific things, had not as yet received names, at least such names as would now be known. It will be remembered that the primitive family dwelt in Asia, and that from their minds sprang the unreal conception of the origin of evil. And I will now relate the progress of that mis-impression among the eastern tribes and nations.

After the distribution to other locations of the more advanced portions of the original family, those who remained were not sufficiently developed in their faculties to improve on the original conception — until a subsequent generation (which continued to imbibe the early idea) produced a mind who was capable of improving upon their hereditary impressions. But his mythology proceeded in an opposite direction to that of the European nations. Knowing not of each other’s doctrines, and being so separated from one another, it was impossible for the nations to commune with each other, or to modify by this means, to any possible extent, the features of their advancing theology. So the subsequent eastern tribes originated a doctrine dissimilar to that of other nations, from the opinions ascending to them through the successive generations, from the primitive family.

Tradition was at that time the medium of historical information. By tradition I mean the vocal mode of expression by which the first inhabitants communicated their opinions and experience to each succeeding generation. This enlightened mind of which I speak, among the eastern tribes, conceived of a doctrine which he taught the people was impressed upon his mind by some good-influencing spirit that dwelt in one of those “breaths” which their forefathers had been taught to believe were the origin of evil.

Concerning the social condition of these tribes, some things might with profit be said; and these things, it will be seen, were manifestly the reason why a different theology sprang up in their midst. Three tribes dwelt in Asia, respectively on the locations now occupied by the Japanese, Malayans, and Indo-Persians. The first of these tribes journeyed in the direction of the African continent, and soon discovered a beautiful valley, which has since been named Shinar.* And they sent messengers to their kindred tribes, which resulted in the journeying also of these tribes to this valley, where they, united, formed a youthful nation, and dwelt together for many generations, in the most perfect peace and harmony.

* See Genesis xi. 2.

It would be well to notice the causes of this happy consociality. Surrounding portions of Africa and Asia were very fertile in useful productions of the vegetable kingdom. Also many trees yielded a kind of milk, of which they made extensive use.

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