Man's religion evolved from attempts to buy off bad luck by bribery to devising schemes to compel spirit cooperation and assistance. [1] The fear of bad luck hinders progress, as we often overlook the value of good luck. [2] Evolutionary man dared to bargain with the gods, creating covenants as a new device for insuring against bad luck and purchasing prosperity. [3]
Luck, both good and bad, was a central element in all aspects of primitive life, from simple tasks to elaborate ceremonies, shaping how early humans interacted with the world around them. [4]
Luck evolved to be associated with spirits, with good luck tied to good spirits and bad luck to bad spirits, reflecting primitive man's evolving religious beliefs and modern man's reliance on insurance over superstition. [5] Luck, as viewed by primitive savages, was always feared as a harbinger of calamity, overshadowing every pleasure with constant dread. [6]
Intelligent human beings still believe in the lingering superstitions of good luck, the evil eye, and astrology, despite science removing the gambling element from life. [7] Primitive man viewed luck as the whimsical reaction of the spirit world, where everything was intentional and nothing accidental. [8] The smile of fortune may actually be the greatest affliction, as what is often dubbed good luck might truly be bad luck. [9]
Luck is a term coined to cover the inexplicable, but attributing difficult phenomena to supernatural causes is simply a way of avoiding intellectual challenges. [10]
See also: UB 86:1.