Transcribe
Translate
Acolyte, vol 1, issue 3, whole 3, Spring 1943
Page 14
More information
digital collection
archival collection guide
transcription tips
tion or cause. Many people think that the number thirteen acquired its unsavory reputation because there were twelve disciples closely connected with Jesus Christ. When one of this thirteen defaulted, it became common to abhor thirteen and to always limit a party to twelve or over fourteen. However, it seems that thirteen was regarded with dread before A.D., and that the classic example was merely a further proof of the deadliness of this number. Also, the number seven has great meaning attached to it; it has great good luck and immense inner significance. The Earth according to ancient Hebrew history was created in seven "days". The Jews marched round the walls of Jericho seven times, and on the seventh by means of super-sonic vibrations produced alongside the normal sound waves, the walls of Jericho crashed down. This divinity of the figure seven stretches right back, though lately it has become much less prominent. But thirteen retains its old evil power. Agreeing that these figure superstitions did not start from the examples given, where did they originate? One could make out quite a long list of these two kinds of superstitions. And gradually the ones that seemingly have no origin could be weeded out, their antecedents proved, and added to the other list. This would leave those superstitions which are so cloaked in antiquity that almost anything can be conjectured concerning them. Most Science-Fictionists will grant the existence of Atlantis and mu. These fabled continents; supposedly peopled by a race of beings well advanced in knowledge; would, by the very violence of their end, have been fertile breeding grounds for superstition. Many of the simplest actions of the Atlanteans may have persisted, shrouded in mysticism, long after the cause was rusting under the sea. To clarify this; imagine a civilisation arising after our own has crumbled into the dust (which seems most likely!), achieving a level of culture but a few decades beneath our own present state. They have not yet discovered electricity. And through the long tortuous rise from animalhood, they may have retained the gesture of a person switching on an electric light---to them meaning help by means of light in darkness. A simple explanation of a fact inexplicable to them in any other way, they would use it when attempting to unravel a knotty problem, to understand a difficult riddle, in many such ways. Thus they have acquired a superstition which they would not, in the light of their knowledge, be able to explain. The Atlanteans were known (as we grant their existence, we will admit their achievements) to have colonized. This would indicate, if Atlantis was an abundant producer of food, that her population was growing out of hand. They may have instituted a system of birth control on a nationwide scale. The state would sanction the number of children a certain family would be allowed to raise. Now it does not seem probable that Canute originated the sandal shaking idea to determine the number of babies to be expected. Rather one can tie up the two facts and say that this superstition was a corruption of the decision of the government, or king, as to the number of children allowed; twisted down through the cobwebby corridors of time from distant Atlantis. This may sound rather a free usage, but to get back to the originals of some of our present-day superstitions would astonish even more. One could go on postulating lavishly. But here another fascinating, and dangerous, line of research opens up. While most stf. readers will grant Mu and Atlantis, how many fantasy and weird readers will grant the existence of the Old Gods? The Old Gods who were eminently human in their thoughts and actions, who joyed in a swift clash down on Mother Earth? Many and intricate were their Signs and Symbols and Cabals. It seems almost inevitable that they must still exist; changed and moulded, almost unrecognisable in -- 14 --
Saving...
prev
next
tion or cause. Many people think that the number thirteen acquired its unsavory reputation because there were twelve disciples closely connected with Jesus Christ. When one of this thirteen defaulted, it became common to abhor thirteen and to always limit a party to twelve or over fourteen. However, it seems that thirteen was regarded with dread before A.D., and that the classic example was merely a further proof of the deadliness of this number. Also, the number seven has great meaning attached to it; it has great good luck and immense inner significance. The Earth according to ancient Hebrew history was created in seven "days". The Jews marched round the walls of Jericho seven times, and on the seventh by means of super-sonic vibrations produced alongside the normal sound waves, the walls of Jericho crashed down. This divinity of the figure seven stretches right back, though lately it has become much less prominent. But thirteen retains its old evil power. Agreeing that these figure superstitions did not start from the examples given, where did they originate? One could make out quite a long list of these two kinds of superstitions. And gradually the ones that seemingly have no origin could be weeded out, their antecedents proved, and added to the other list. This would leave those superstitions which are so cloaked in antiquity that almost anything can be conjectured concerning them. Most Science-Fictionists will grant the existence of Atlantis and mu. These fabled continents; supposedly peopled by a race of beings well advanced in knowledge; would, by the very violence of their end, have been fertile breeding grounds for superstition. Many of the simplest actions of the Atlanteans may have persisted, shrouded in mysticism, long after the cause was rusting under the sea. To clarify this; imagine a civilisation arising after our own has crumbled into the dust (which seems most likely!), achieving a level of culture but a few decades beneath our own present state. They have not yet discovered electricity. And through the long tortuous rise from animalhood, they may have retained the gesture of a person switching on an electric light---to them meaning help by means of light in darkness. A simple explanation of a fact inexplicable to them in any other way, they would use it when attempting to unravel a knotty problem, to understand a difficult riddle, in many such ways. Thus they have acquired a superstition which they would not, in the light of their knowledge, be able to explain. The Atlanteans were known (as we grant their existence, we will admit their achievements) to have colonized. This would indicate, if Atlantis was an abundant producer of food, that her population was growing out of hand. They may have instituted a system of birth control on a nationwide scale. The state would sanction the number of children a certain family would be allowed to raise. Now it does not seem probable that Canute originated the sandal shaking idea to determine the number of babies to be expected. Rather one can tie up the two facts and say that this superstition was a corruption of the decision of the government, or king, as to the number of children allowed; twisted down through the cobwebby corridors of time from distant Atlantis. This may sound rather a free usage, but to get back to the originals of some of our present-day superstitions would astonish even more. One could go on postulating lavishly. But here another fascinating, and dangerous, line of research opens up. While most stf. readers will grant Mu and Atlantis, how many fantasy and weird readers will grant the existence of the Old Gods? The Old Gods who were eminently human in their thoughts and actions, who joyed in a swift clash down on Mother Earth? Many and intricate were their Signs and Symbols and Cabals. It seems almost inevitable that they must still exist; changed and moulded, almost unrecognisable in -- 14 --
Hevelin Fanzines
sidebar
