128 THE EVOLUTION OF RELIGION. 



II. Consideration of second view. Evidences of 

 animalism. Mankind always advancing. Degraded 

 races have dropped out of the process. Christianity a 

 product a climax. 



The Course of the Evolution of Religion. Like all 

 history its beginnings are lost. 



Basis for conjecture. 



1. Mankind has always been moving in the direc- 

 tion of its present progress. 



2. The laws of human action have always been the 

 same. 



3. The object of existence is perfect conformity with 

 the environment. 



Man's first state his lowest. His back toward the 

 animal. 



Relation of man's knowledge to his religion. 



I. Naturism, indistinct, chaotic. 



Primitive man unconscious of his superiority over 

 animals, of his own personality, of his spirituality. 

 Fear made the first gods, and they were simply living 

 beings. 



1. Polydsemonistic religions. 



2. Therianthropic polytheism. 



8. Anthropomorphic polytheism. 



Through all an increasing belief in the soul, an in- 

 crease in the value of a man, and an increase in the 

 ethical element of religion. Lessons from childhood. 



II. Ethical religions. 



1. National development of henotheism. Confu- 

 cianism,, Brahminism, Judaism. 



