02. Ancient Mythological Views of the Spirit, Anima, and the Soul. Australia, Europe, Mesopotamia, and Egypt

Panspiritualism

• Spirits are present in all matter

• All physical and spiritual matter in the universe is mutually interconnected

• Spirits of the sky, earth, animal, humanas, etc. influence everything

• Prayer to a local or supreme spirit to enter mental states

• Found in indigenous tribes across Australia, Asia, Africa, Americas, Pagan religions in Europe. Buddhism, Hinduism, Shintoism, Spinozian philosophy

Archaic Animism

• anima (inner force) temporarily resides in specific objects or organism

• Anima controls specific object, but has no power over others

• Anima gives objects and organisms intention and vital energy

• Anima can exist in all things

Aristotelian animism

• Anima is the breath of life and limited to living beings

  • Plants, animals, humans

• Anima dies with the body

Magic

Blend of panspiritualism and archaic animism

• Spirit resides in an inanimate object, but is powerful and mobile

• Can exercise control over the spirits of other objects and organisms

• ex. voodoo

Anthropomorphism attribution

• Projecting human qualities (ex. feelings, thoughts, desires) onto human and non-human things

ex

• Forces of nature (e.g. “an angry volcano”)

• Animals (e.g. “a revengeful wolf”)

• Divine figures. (e.g. “a jealous goddess”)

Dreamtime

• Collection of mythology and rituals of Australian aborigines about

  • Creation of the world

  • Spiritual interconnectedness between sacred land and people

  • Interaction with spirits of deceased ancestors

• Part, present, future are intertwined

• Nature + life inhabited by spirits → sacred

• Respect and humility towards nature are essential

• Intuition is an important mental faculty

Intuition and the ways it’s used (5)

A mental faculty useful for the survival of human ancestors, but neglected in modern psychology

• Provides immediate, non-rational knowledge

• A form of a priori conclusion

• Instinctual choices (animals, children, Aborigines)

• Creative illuminations (artists, philosophers)

• Scientific insights (sudden solutions)

• Technical inventions (original projects)

• Revelations (meditative numinous experience)

Sumerian

• Ancient civilization in southern Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq)

• Has the oldest attested written language

Polytheism

• What is it?

• What civilization practiced it?

Belief and worshipping of more than one god

• Sumerians worshipped many gods and goddess, each associated with specific aspects of life, nature, etc.

Ziggurats

• What is it from what civilization

Temples of Sumerians

• Served many roles — religious, administrative, and healing centers

Early knowledge of Sumerians

• Medical practices

  • Treating wounds

  • Treating pain and anxiety

• Writing systems

  • Cuneiform script (earliest known writing system) written on wet clay tablets

The Epic of Gilgamesh

• World’s oldest story

• Serves as early document on psychological metamorphosis and the meaning of life

• Gilgamesh: Sumerian King of Uruk

• Gilgamesh searches for the meaning of like, quest for eternal youth and immortality

• He transitions from egocentrism (self-centeredness) to allocentric (community-centeredness)

• Finds meaning and happiness through giving

Ancient Hebrews

• Nomadic and migratory

• Established a foundational ethical code

Decalogue (4)

• Hebrew Bible given by God to Moses

• Ten Commandments: Provides a foundational, enduring basis for moral and social ethics.

• Respect your God (submission and gratitude)

• Respect your parents (honor and protect them)

• Respect your neighbors (care, truth, and decency)

• Respect life (do not murder)

Monotheism

• What is it

• from what culture

• Belief in a single God

• Jewish culture

• God is a caring and loving father, but the relationship is conditional on obedience and submission

Divine Law

The Decalogue (Ten Commandments) serves as a moral foundation in Jewish culture

Meritocratic Religious Leaders

• Jewish culture

• Community guidance is based on wisdom and merit, not solely on divine right or physical force

Tribal solidarity

• Jewish culture

• Emphasis on respect and care for elder family and tradition

Parental authority

• Jewish culture

• Fathers are expected to care for their children while enforcing strict discipline

Judeo-Christian Mentality

• Jewish ethical framework later evolved into this, which brought specific psychological consequences

• Emphasis on personal responsibility, fear of sin, and a strong sense of guilt.

• Values include humility, obedience, and submission to authority.

• Belief in eternal existence after physical death

Polytheistic religion

• Belief and worship of multiple gods associated with specific aspects of nature, life, universe

• Ancient Egypt from 3100 BC

How did Ancient Egypt from 3100 BC view deities

Anthropomorphic view — gods depicted with human traits

How did Egyptian civilization map mental functions

• Heart: morality, emotions, will

• Brain: movement, performance, speech, sleep

• Uterus: emotional and psychological disturbances

• Women were highly respected

What advancements happened in Egyptian civilization?

• Agriculture, irrigation, canal systems

• Architecture, geometry, mathematics, and astronomy (with contacts in Crete)

• Hygiene, medicinal herbs, and suggestive incantations