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How else to explain the fact that the Nipe, for all his technical knowledge, is still in the ancient ritual-taboo stage of development?" "A savage?" Yoritomo smiled. "As to his savagery, I think no one on Earth would disagree. But they are not the same thing. What I do mean is that the Nipe is undoubtedly the most superstitious and bigoted being on the face of this planet."
But beliefs in ghosts or demons or angels or life after death aren't disprovable. So, as a race increases its knowledge of the physical world, its religion tends to become more and more spiritual." "Agreed. Yes. But how do you link this with ritual-taboo?" "Well, once a belief gains a foothold, it's hard to wipe it out, even among humans. Among Nipes, it would be well-nigh impossible.
Yoritomo was sitting in one of the big, soft chairs, puffing at his pipe, but he leaped to his feet when Stanton came in. "Ah! About the ritual-taboo culture of the Nipe! Yes. Sit down. Yes. So. Do you find it impossible that a high technology could be present in such a system?" "No. I've been thinking about it." "Ah, so." He sat down again. "Then you will please tell me." "Well, let's see.
But it is a characteristic of a ritual-taboo system that it resists change. How, then, do you account for their high technological achievements?" "The pragmatic engineering approach, I imagine. If a thing works, it is usable. If not, it isn't." "Very good. Now it is my turn to lecture." He put his pipe in an ash tray and held up a long, bony finger.
And if that had happened, their ritual-taboo system would have disappeared, too." "That argument is imperfect," Yoritomo said, "but it will do for the moment. Go on with the religion." "O.K.; religious beliefs are not subject to pragmatic tests. That is, the spiritual beliefs aren't. Any belief that could be disproven would eventually die out.
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