The Origin of Man and of His SuperstitionsRead, Carveth
Philosophy
The Origin of Man and of His Superstitions
Read, Carveth
Animism; Human beings -- Origin; Magic; Superstition; Totemism
[103] In the _American Journal of Psychology_, p. 83 (1919), E. S.
Conkling has an instructive article on _Superstitious Belief and
Practice among College Students_. Of a large group examined 53 per
cent. entertained some superstition (40 per cent. M., 66 per cent.
F.). At some time, now or formerly, 82 per cent. had been so affected
(73 per cent. M., 90 per cent. F.). Half assigned their former
superstitions to the age from twelve to sixteen. Twenty-two per cent.
attributed the disposition to the suggestion of elders, 47 per cent. to
social suggestion, 15 per cent. to social inheritance, and 15 per cent.
to emotions and feelings beyond the control of reason.
[104] _Among the Indians of Guiana_, p. 354.
[105] Quoted by Ames, _Psychology of Religious Experience_, p. 60.
[106] Charms (and possibly rites and spells) are sometimes revealed in
dreams (Howitt, _The Native Tribes of South-East Australia_, p. 378;
and Hose and McDougall, _Pagan Tribes of Borneo_, I. p. 110). But this
can only happen either where the belief in charms already exists (as in
the cases cited), or by the coincidence of the dream with good or bad
fortune. The connexion of events must first of all present itself as
something observed: whether waking or dreaming is indifferent.
For further illustrations of the influence of coincidences in
establishing a belief in Magic, see ch. viii. § 5.
[107] R. R. Marett, _Preanimistic Religion, Folk-Lore_, 1900.
[108] A. W. Howitt, _The Native Tribes of South-East Australia_, p. 371.
[109] _Northern Tribes of Central Australia_, p. 472.
[110] A. C. Haddon, _Reports of the Cambridge Expedition to Torres
Straits_, V. p. 361.
[111] Coddrington, _The Melanesians_, pp. 118-19.
[112] For a comparison of these allied notions see E. S. Hartland’s
_Ritual and Belief_, pp. 36-51.
[113] Spencer and Gillen, _Native Tribes of Central Australia_, p. 548.
[114] W. McDougall, _Reports of the Cambridge Expedition to Torres
Straits_, II. p. 199.
[115] Vol. II. p. 2.
[116] Vol. II. p. 124.
[117] Weeks, _Among Congo Cannibals_, p. 311.
[118] Thomas Williams, _Fiji and the Fijians_, p. 79.
[119] _Tends to be_ assimilated—for if the presentation have some
special character of Animism, it will be assimilated to the animistic
system; or if Animism be the more active and fashionable theory in a
man’s social group.
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