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Maeterlinck； in the case of the Bees； calls the Spirit of the Hive。＇1＇ It would be difficult； nay impossible； to suppose that human beings on their first appearance formed an entire exception in the process of evolution； or that they were completely lacking in the very graces and faculties which we so admire in the animalsonly of course we see that （LIKE the animals） they would not be SELF…conscious in these matters； and what perception they had of their relations to each other or to the world around them would be largely inarticulate and SUB…consciousthough none the less real for that。
＇1＇ See The Life of the Bee by Maurice Maeterlinck； and for numerous similar cases among other animals； P。 Kropotkin's Mutual Aid： a factor in Evolution。
Let us then grant this preliminary assumptionand it clearly is not a large or hazardous oneand what follows？ It followssince to…day discord is the rule； and Man has certainly lost the grace； both physical and mental； of the animalsthat at some period a break must have occurred in the evolution…process； a discontinuity similar perhaps to that which occurs in the life of a child at the moment when it is born into the world。 Humanity took a new departure； but a departure which for the moment was signalized as a LOSSthe loss of its former harmony and self…adjustment。 And the cause or accompaniment of this change was the growth of Self…consciousness。 Into the general consciousness of the tribe （in relation to its environment） which in fact had constituted the mentality of the animals and of man up to this stage； there now was intruded another kind of consciousness； a consciousness centering round each little individual self and concerned almost entirely with the interests of the latter。 Here was evidently a threat to the continuance of the former happy conditions。 It was like the appearance of innumerable little ulcers in a human bodya menace which if continued would inevitably lead to the break…up of the body。 It meant loss of tribal harmony and nature…adjustment。 It meant instead of unity a myriad conflicting centres； it meant alienation from the spirit of the tribe； the separation of man from man； discord； recrimination； and the fatal unfolding of the sense of sin。 The process symbolized itself in the legend of the Fall。 Man ate of the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil。 Sometimes people wonder why knowledge of any kind and especially the knowledge of good and evilshould have brought a curse。 But the reason is obvious。 Into； the placid and harmonious life of the animal and human tribes fulfilling their days in obedience to the slow evolutions and age…long mandates of nature； Self…consciousness broke with its inconvenient and impossible query： 〃How do these arrangements suit ME？ Are they good for me； are they evil for me？ I want to know。 I WILL KNOW！〃 Evidently knowledge （such knowledge as we understand by the word） only began； and could only begin； by queries relating to the little local self。 There was no other way for it to begin。 Knowledge and self… consciousness were born； as twins； together。 Knowledge therefore meant Sin＇1＇； for self…consciousness meant sin （and it means sin to…day）。 Sin is Separation。 That is probably （though disputed） the etymology of the word that which sunders。＇2＇ The essence of sin is one's separation from the whole （the tribe or the god） of which one is a part。 And knowledgewhich separates subject from object； and in its inception is necessarily occupied with the 'good and evil' of the little local self； is the great engine of this separation。 ＇Mark！ I say nothing AGAINST this association of Self…consciousness with 'Sin' （so…called） and 'Knowledge' （so…called）。 The growth of all three together is an absolutely necessary part of human evolution； and to rail against it would be absurd。 But we may as well open our eyes and see the fact straight instead of blinking it。＇ The culmination of the process and the fulfilment of the 'curse' we may watch to…day in the towering expansion of the self…conscious individualized Intellectscience as the handmaid of human Greed devastating the habitable world and destroying its unworthy civilization。 And the process must go onnecessarily must go onuntil Self…consciousness； ceasing its vain quest （vain in both senses） for the separate domination of life； surrenders itself back again into the arms of the Mother…consciousness from which it originally sprang surrenders itself back； not to be merged in nonentity； but to be affiliated in loving dependence on and harmony with the cosmic life。
＇1＇ Compare also other myths； like Cupid and Psyche； Lohengrin etc。； in which a fatal curiosity leads to tragedy。
＇2＇ German Sunde； sin； and sonder； separated； Dutch zonde； sin； Latin sons； guilty。 Not unlikely that the German root Suhn； expiation； is connected； Suhn…bock； a scape…goat。
All this I have dealt with in far more detail in Civilization： its Cause and Cure； and in The Art of Creation； but I have only repeated the outline of it as above； because some such outline is necessary for the proper ordering and understanding of the points which follow。
We are not concerned now with the ultimate effects of the 'Fall' of Man or with the present…day fulfilment of the Eden…curse。 What we want to understand is how the 'Fall' into self…consciousness led to that great panorama of Ritual and Religion which we have very briefly described and summarized in the preceding chapters of this book。 We want for the present to fix our attention on the COMMENCEMENT of that process by which man lapsed away from his living community with Nature and his fellows into the desert of discord and toil； while the angels of the flaming sword closed the gates of Paradise behind him。
It is evident I think that in that 'golden' stage when man was simply the crown and perfection of the animals and it is hardly possible to refuse the belief in such a stagehe possessed in reality all the essentials of Religion。＇1＇ It is not necessary to sentimentalize over him； he was probably raw and crude in his lusts of hunger and of sex； he was certainly ignorant and superstitious； he loved fighting with and persecuting 'enemies' （which things of course all religions to…dayexcept perhaps the Buddhist love to do）； he was dominated often by unreasoning Fear； and was consequently cruel。 Yet he was full of that Faith which the animals have to such an admirable degree unhesitating faith in the inner promptings of his OWN nature； he had the joy which comes of abounding vitality； springing up like a fountain whose outlet is free and unhindered； he rejoiced in an untroubled and unbroken sense of unity with his Tribe； and in elaborate social and friendly institutions within its borders； he had a marvelous sense…acuteness towards Nature and a gift in that direction verging towards 〃second…sight〃； strengthened by a convictionwhich had never become CONSCIOUS because it had never been QUESTIONED of his own personal relation to the things outside him； the Earth； the Sky； the Vegetation； the Animals。 Of such a Man we get glimpses in the far pastthough indeed only glimpses； for the simple reason that all our knowledge of him comes through civilized channels； and wherever civilization has touc