Chapter L: Gods as Guardians of Morality

The supernatural beings of savage belief frequently described as utterly indifferent to all questions of worldly morality, pp. 663-665.--The gods of many savages mostly intent on doing harm to mankind, pp. 665-667.--Adoration of supernatural beings which are considered at least occasionally beneficent also very prevalent among uncivilised peoples, {xviii} pp. 667-669.--Their benevolence, however, does not prove that they take an active interest in morality at large, p. 669.--Instances in which savage gods are supposed to punish the transgression of rules relating to worldly morality, pp. 669-687.--Savages represented as believing in the existence of a supreme being who is a moral law-giver or judge, pp. 670-687.--The prevalence of such a belief in Australia, pp. 670-675.--In Polynesia and Melanesia, p. 675.--In the Malay Archipelago, p. 675 _sq._--In the Andaman Islands, p. 676.--Among the Karens of Burma, p. 677.--In India, p. 677 _sq._--Among the Ainu of Japan, p. 678.--Among the Samoyedes, _ibid._--Among the Greenlanders, _ibid._--Among the North American Indians, pp. 679-681.--Among the South American Indians, p. 681 _sq._--In Africa, pp. 682-685.--Explanation of this belief, pp. 685-687.--The supreme beings of savages invoked in curses or oaths, p. 686 _sq._--The oath and ordeal do not involve a belief in the gods as vindicators of truth and justice, pp. 687-690.--The ordeal essentially a magical ceremony, _ibid._--Ordeals which have a different origin, p. 690.--The belief in a moral retribution after death among savages, pp. 690-695.--The sources to which it may be traced, pp. 691-695. --The influence of religion upon the moral consciousness of savages, p. 695 _sq._

CHAPTER LI

GODS AS GUARDIANS OF MORALITY (_continued_)

The attitude of religion towards matters of worldly morality in ancient Mexico, p. 697 _sq._--In ancient Peru, p. 698.--In ancient Egypt, pp. 698-701.--In ancient Chaldea, pp. 701-704.--In Zoroastrianism, pp. 704-706.--Among the Vedic people, pp. 706-709.--In post-Vedic times in India, pp. 709-711.--In Buddhism, p. 711 _sq._--In China, p. 712 _sq._--In ancient Greece, pp. 713-716.--In ancient Rome, p. 716 _sq._--Among the Hebrews, p. 717 _sq._--Christian doctrines of salvation and the future life, pp. 718-725.--The attitude of Muhammedanism towards matters of worldly morality and its doctrine of the future life, pp. 725-727.