Andon’s philosophy had been most confused; he had barely escaped becoming a fire worshiper because of the great comfort derived from his accidental discovery of fire. [1] Andon had the idea of making fire with flint. [2] Using fire enabled Andon to defy climate and thus forever to be independent of their animal relatives of the southern lands. [3]
Though Andon, the discoverer of fire, avoided treating it as an object of worship, many of his descendants regarded the flame as a fetish or as a spirit. They failed to reap the sanitary benefits of fire because they would not burn refuse. [4] When asked where fire came from, the simple story of Andon and the flint was soon replaced by the legend of how some Prometheus stole it from heaven. [5]
Fire building, by a single bound, forever separated man from animal; it is the basic human invention, or discovery. Fire was a great civilizer. [6] Fire opened the doors to metalwork and led to the subsequent discovery of steam power and the present-day uses of electricity. [7] Civilization is going backwards today; came out from savagery by way of fire, animals, and slavery and now seeks energy in nature. [8] In continental and most developed country in a neighbor planet all buildings are fireproof. [9] Spiritual flames consume mortal bodies in translation during light and life ages. [10]
The ideas of supernatural origin led directly to fire worship, and fire worship led to the custom of “passing through fire,” a practice carried on up to the times of Moses. [11] Primitives held fire in superstitious regard; they regarded it as fetish. [12] Primitive man feared fire and always sought to keep it in good humor, hence the sprinkling of incense. [13] Fire and water were always considered the best means of resisting ghosts and evil spirits. [14] Early methods of detecting crime consisted in conducting ordeals of poison, fire, and pain. [15]
The Sanhedrin passed an unprecedented decree closing synagogues throughout Palestine to Jesus and his followers. The Hebron synagogue refused and was soon destroyed by fire. [16] John Mark brought seven good-sized fish, which the Master put on the fire, and when they were cooked, the lad served them to the ten. [17] Peter warmed himself in Annas’ courtyard by a fire. [18]
Andrew had presented Teherma to Simon for instruction. Simon looked upon the Persian as a “fire worshiper,” although Teherma took great pains to explain that fire was only the visible symbol of the Pure and Holy One. [19] Fire was mixed up with magic in the minds of primitive fear-ridden mortals. Fire reverence reached its height in Persia, where it long persisted. [20]
Zoroaster did not teach the worship of fire but sought to utilize the flame as a symbol of the pure and wise Spirit of universal and supreme dominance. All too true, his later followers did both reverence and worship this symbolic fire. [21]
See also: UB 69:6.