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THE RISTASAMUCCAYA
its development it superimposes a mystical colour even on quite ordinary things. It magnifies the event; looks at it as if it were of a transcendental character and deduces unwarranted conclusions therefrom. It is difficult to say why and how this 5 occurs though on a close analysis we are in a position to state that the intense expectancy and the heightened anticipation are the predominant, underlying mental factors. This is proved by the politico-religious fanaticism of the oppressed Jews'.
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The devil you don't know is almost always worse than the 10 devil you know because the former is far more terrific and appalling than the latter. This fear is largely mental than physical.
If we are not able to explain such phenomena on a rational basis, it is quite possible that fear may overtake us, 15 No other attitude is possible. There is a striking similarity between a religious attitude and the reasoning employed to explain such uncommon occurrences. It is sincerely believed that such instances are the works of an angry god. Any miracle can be performed with divine help. Testimony to 2 unshakable faith in the efficacy of such a help as well as in omens and portents is amply provided by the rulers beginning from Alexander the Great down to the Roman Empress of the first century of the Christian Era.
Any catastrophe is capable enough to produce mental 25 imbalance. Mystic events and cataclysms can, doubtless, frighten a man who is otherwise fear-proof. We take pity on him when we see that he is nonplussed by the unexpected situation. There is no royal road but to bend down before such a colossal force of nature and to hope for the good. There 30 is no wonder if man goes mad when great cities are being
1 Compare "Prior to the revolt iu Judea which broke out in 66 A.D. this expectancy gave life and a permanency to a host of terrifying rumours which in turn fanned the fervour into greater vagaries. Men dreamed only of signs and omens. The apocalyptic hue of jewish fancy stained everything with a bloody halo. Comets, swords in the sky, battles in the clouds, light breaking forth of itself from the depth of the sanctuary, victims at the moment of sacrifice bringing forth a monstrous progeny etc. etc." E. RENAN, ACh, chap. X.
2 Compare-It was natural for Teigne o' Neill, the Irish blacksmith, when he discovered that the rider of the horse was a ghost to recoil with a terrified prayer". SEYMOUR, IWD, pp. 72 ff.
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