thought i ought to get round to saying hi and introducing myself

[Too Few Lions]

Hi,
I've been occasionally visiting the forum for a few months now when I get a spare moment at work, and just wish I'd replied to more threads before the fifty posts rule came in (I only managed 8  ). I'm now a bit worried it's going to be a lot of just saying 'hi' posts to reach 50!

I'm an atheist in my thirties, been an atheist since the age of five or six, when I told my teacher in Sunday school that I didn't believe Jesus had ever lived. I remember her telling me there was more evidence that Jesus had lived than Julius Caesar. Of course I now know she was either lying, stupid or incredibly poorly educated (possibly all three!) Thankfully my parents never forced me to go back to Church again after I told them I didn't believe in God.

I grew up in reading Homer and the Greek myths, and have a soft spot for paganism, their gods are so much more fun than the Jewish, Christian or Muslim gods. Plus polytheists are historically much more tolerant than monotheists, people who believe in a hundred gods are willing to accept the existence of any number of others, whereas those who believe in one god have always seen any other deities as false gods and persecuted their followers. I think it could be argued that monotheism was the single worst idea in human history!

I studied archaeology and ancient history at Uni, and did a master's in comparative religion, so have a good grounding in ancient history, religion and philosophy. I've spent parts of my spare time in the past ten years or so (when not working, socialising, travelling and generally bumming around enjoying myself) researching and writing a book looking at the Bible as mythology.

I think most of both the Old and New Testaments are mythology without historical basis, and the myths are surprisingly easy to explain as allegory when one compares them to other religious and philosophical texts from antiquity. It's a tough subject to try and get work published on though (particularly as a first time author), as most companies who publish work on this subject tend to be religious therefore not open to this approach, so I'm probably going to end up self publishing later on this year.

Having read the Bible pretty much cover to cover and the Qur'an (undoubtedly the most unpleasant book I've ever read), I didn't find anything to suggest the evidence of a god in these books. In fact I found very little that could be called positive in either book. If there is a creative force behind the Universe, it's not the god of Judaism, Christianity or Islam. These religions seem to me to be 100% the creation of men, and have brought little to the history of humanity other than warfare, intolerance and suffering.

Anyway, that's me in a nutshell, it's nice to finally get round to introducing myself. I hope the 50 posting rule will get me posting a bit more, and hopefully I'll reach the magical half century and be able to post comments on the more meaty threads again!

[The Magic Pudding]

Hello, you sound like another one of those annoyingly clever people.  

I think if you were a member before the 50 post rule came in it doesn't apply to you.
Date Registered:    Thu 13 January 2011, 21:56 PM  I'm not sure if this is before the change.
Have you tried positing in Philosophy to see if you can?
I just looked at your posts, they include religion etc, so you should still be able to post anywhere.

[The Black Jester]

Welcome!  A very intriguing introduction! I look forward to seeing more of you on the forums.

[Too Few Lions]

cool, I'll try and post something in the religion or philosophy sections and see what happens. I tried yesterday and couldn't see an option for replying to a thread. Still it's nice to make the effort to introduce myself (I'm quite lazy and shy!) and it'll give me more reason to visit the forum more often and reply on more posts.

[Whitney]

I think if you were a member before the 50 post rule came in it doesn't apply to you.
Date Registered:    Thu 13 January 2011, 21:56 PM  I'm not sure if this is before the change.
Have you tried positing in Philosophy to see if you can?
I just looked at your posts, they include religion etc, so you should still be able to post anywhere.

the grandfather rule got lost when we switched forum software.

[Too Few Lions]

oh well, only another 38 posts to go!

[PapistItalian16]

Welcome!

I look forward to many good debates with you once you hit 50.


And I've always had a pretty big interest in mythology and the like. I think the Norse Gods are the coolest though. (even if I dont beleive in them. )

[Tank]

Hi TFL

Welcome to HAF, a little belatedly 

Regards
Chris

[Crow]

Hi and welcome,

I didn't find anything to suggest the evidence of a god in these books.

Same with me, also looking at the historical evidence (or lack thereof, jesus I'm talking about you) it only further highlighted the fact that these books were more about politics utilising people susceptibility to spirituality.

[PapistItalian16]

I didn't find anything to suggest the evidence of a god in these books.

How about the fact that these book are still around for you to read?

[Davin]

I didn't find anything to suggest the evidence of a god in these books.

How about the fact that these book are still around for you to read?

So are Egyptian hieroglyphs, and they're older.

[PapistItalian16]

I didn't find anything to suggest the evidence of a god in these books.

How about the fact that these book are still around for you to read?

So are Egyptian hieroglyphs, and they're older.

Yea...good point...Lol

I didnt really know where I was going with that anyways. Just had to try though...  hahahahaha

[Will37]

Having read the Bible pretty much cover to cover and the Qur’an (undoubtedly the most unpleasant book I've ever read), I didn’t find anything to suggest the evidence of a god in these books. In fact I found very little that could be called positive in either book. If there is a creative force behind the Universe, it’s not the god of Judaism, Christianity or Islam. These religions seem to me to be 100% the creation of men, and have brought little to the history of humanity other than warfare, intolerance and suffering.

Well.  You're off to a good start.  I often publish critical evaluations of books I've 'pretty much' read cover to cover.  See my upcoming book Evaluations of Crime and Punishment: I've Pretty Much Read the Whole Thing

[Whitney]

Having read the Bible pretty much cover to cover and the Qur'an (undoubtedly the most unpleasant book I've ever read), I didn't find anything to suggest the evidence of a god in these books. In fact I found very little that could be called positive in either book. If there is a creative force behind the Universe, it's not the god of Judaism, Christianity or Islam. These religions seem to me to be 100% the creation of men, and have brought little to the history of humanity other than warfare, intolerance and suffering.

Well.  You're off to a good start.  I often publish critical evaluations of books I've 'pretty much' read cover to cover. 

Considering that Bible means collection of books and that all the included books were not written with the intent of being bound together your tongue in cheek comment was not appropriate in that case.

It would be appropriate for the quran since that was dictated by one guy claiming to be speaking for god.

[xSilverPhinx]

Having read the Bible pretty much cover to cover and the Qur'an (undoubtedly the most unpleasant book I've ever read), I didn't find anything to suggest the evidence of a god in these books. In fact I found very little that could be called positive in either book. If there is a creative force behind the Universe, it's not the god of Judaism, Christianity or Islam. These religions seem to me to be 100% the creation of men, and have brought little to the history of humanity other than warfare, intolerance and suffering.

Well.  You're off to a good start.  I often publish critical evaluations of books I've 'pretty much' read cover to cover. 

Considering that Bible means collection of books and that all the included books were not written with the intent of being bound together your tongue in cheek comment was not appropriate in that case.

It would be appropriate for the quran since that was dictated by one guy claiming to be speaking for god.

Yeah...what about the books that didn't make it into being part of the Bible?