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     %PURITY CODE RITUALS AVOID DANGER POISON DEATH+970228
     %REJECT ACCEPT INGEST TAKE INTO FELLOWSHIP SIN+970228
     %FUNDAMENTAL LAWS LEGALISTIC PROHIBITIONS EVIL 970228

     Early  humans  had to learn  to  distinguish  between
plants  which  were good foods/medicines and  plants  that
were poisonous;  between animals whose flesh  soon  became
poisonous to eat,  and those which did  not;  between sick
people whom it was dangerous to be near,  and those it was
not dangerous to be near.    They developed "purity codes"
which  pointed  the  way towards long life and  away  from
early  death;  and developed rituals to insure respect for
the observance of purity codes.

     As time passed distinctions were not made between the
objective considerations which had lead to the development
of purity codes; and the reflexive communal considerations
which  perpetuated the observance of purity rituals  which
were  expressive of the purity codes.   Purity  codes  and
rituals  evolved  in  ways  which were  not  motivated  by
objective considerations of external threats to human life
and well-being.

     The  enforcement of purity codes and the perpetuation
of purification rituals had a net benefit,  so long as the
purity codes and rituals were reasonably well connected to
external  threats to human life and well-being---in  spite
of the alienative effects of carrying out the enforcement.
When  purity  codes and rituals are not well connected  to
external  threats  to  human  life  and   well-being---the
enforcement  of  purity  codes  and  the  perpetuation  of
purification rituals have alienative effects which are not
compensated  by beneficial fruits.   Beware of such  codes
and rituals!

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
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