Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 02-07-2012, 03:42 PM

A facebook friend posted a link to this author's book. It is provocatively titled, but from a cursory glance seems to be better than the average self-published book on Christianity.

Sex Rites: The Origins of Christianity (or via: amazon.co.uk) by Diana Agorio

It is available as an ebook and can be previewed on Smashwords.

Quote:

Sex Rites describes the evolution of religious rituals involving sex, drugs, and human sacrifice as the foundation of Christian myth and ritual. Ancient myths, including Bible stories, are illuminated by tracing their path through the sky, as rediscovered in the star lore of ancient astrologers. These myths were used by ancient priests, including Christian clergy, to justify their rituals.

From the author page:

Quote:

She began her studies of West Asia as a Conservative Christian kid in Alaska. After living in Israel; then, traveling and studying ancient history for the last 25+ years, she ended up a Liberal Atheist. But, unlike many other Atheist critics of religion, Diana knows and loves the ancient cultures which invented the Abrahamic faiths. No theist can accuse her of reading the Bible like a fundamentalist. She has an in depth knowledge of the political and economic environment which shaped the minds of the Biblical authors. The first rule of historical research is to “know thy author.” The Four Horsemen make valid criticisms of religion in general; but, they lack the expertise to produce an expose of the ancient origins of the Bible.

Diana graduated magna cum laude with a BS in History. Her primary fascination is with the cultures of the Bronze Age and Iron Age Levant. But, she is a generalist with historical interests ranging from Sumer, to Anatolia, to Egypt, to Greece, and Rome. Her methodology is based on meme theory, following changes in cultures as fashions, avoiding racial descriptions. This method provides a powerful new understanding of ancient peoples, describing their evolution in dynamic terms, rather than as static ethnicities. Diana makes extensive use of primary source material and cites experts in the fields of Archaeology, theological studies, and Art History in scholarly journals and peer reviewed books.

Her goal with Sex Rites is to provide Atheists with a sophisticated understanding of how the Abrahamic religions developed. She hopes to dispel the Atheist notion that the Bible is Bronze Age mythology. Actually, it is Hellenistic Period mythology, which was significantly different from Bronze Age religious notions. The Bible was not the product of “the people” of the Levant. It was produced by priests with particular political and economic ambitions. Diana’s description of changes in the religious rituals and myths which led up to Christianity is far more damning than the typical Atheist critique. In particular, it describes the outrageous suffering of children at the hands of ancient religious leaders. She also highlights positive aspects of ancient cultures, which were the origins of Humanism and secular government. Readers, Atheist and religious, will feel better and more secure in their modern ethics, after exploring the world of their ancient ancestors with Sex Rites.

andrewcriddle · 02-08-2012, 11:06 AM

IIUC It seems to be arguing that the ugly allegations made by non-Christians against Christians (and by orthodox Christians against heretical Christians) were broadly true.

Andrew Criddle

stephan huller · 02-08-2012, 11:11 AM

If the early Christians were getting laid more often they wouldn't have been arguing amongst themselves so much.

If a BS in History qualifies someone to rewrite the history of early Christianity I suspect that many of us suddenly emerge as 'authorities' too.

Roger Pearse · 02-08-2012, 11:33 AM

I got as far as page 4. The book's argument, stated simply, seems to be this:

* Lots of heresies claimed to be Christians.
* Anyone who claims to be a Christian is right, and no Christian is allowed to disagree. Not even apostles. Even if all these pretenders disagree with each other violently.
* Therefore early Christianity includes all the degenerate stuff that the early Christians were (in fact) opposed to.
* So we can accuse the Christians of all sorts of things that we do and that we know very well that they don't, and never did.

The only question for me is whether this poor screwed-over woman actually believes that argument herself.

But that's BORING! What I want REALLY to know is whether the book contains pictures of the authoress doing the sex and drugs and bloodshed that she says every ancient cult did (especially the one we know is opposed to it), ideally all at the same time! If not, why not? If it's not WRONG to sell sex, or sell books by sex, then where IS it? Hardly worth buying if not, surely? I was most disappointed, when I heard with excitement that Freke and Gandy were authors of porn books, to discover no dirty pictures in the Jesus Mysteries. Really I was. (Although I'm not sure naked pictures of Freak and Bendy would have done it for me anyway.) *

All the best,

Roger Pearse
* Note for the humour-impaired: this is satire.

DCHindley · 02-08-2012, 12:13 PM

The last time I heard that Judaism and/or Christianity was a kind of sex cult, I was listening to this weird preacher type guy in the waiting room at the auto repair shop. We had been talking for a bit, and he seemed rather knowledgable, but until he mentioned the "fact" that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a temple prostitute, I did not realize he was an Imam with the Nation of Islam.

DCH (on break, boss)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

A facebook friend posted a link to this author's book. It is provocatively titled, but from a cursory glance seems to be better than the average self-published book on Christianity.

Sex Rites: The Origins of Christianity (or via: amazon.co.uk) by Diana Agorio

It is available as an ebook and can be previewed on Smashwords.

Quote:

Her goal with Sex Rites is to provide Atheists with a sophisticated understanding of how the Abrahamic religions developed. She hopes to dispel the Atheist notion that the Bible is Bronze Age mythology. Actually, it is Hellenistic Period mythology, which was significantly different from Bronze Age religious notions. The Bible was not the product of “the people” of the Levant. It was produced by priests with particular political and economic ambitions. Diana’s description of changes in the religious rituals and myths which led up to Christianity is far more damning than the typical Atheist critique. In particular, it describes the outrageous suffering of children at the hands of ancient religious leaders. She also highlights positive aspects of ancient cultures, which were the origins of Humanism and secular government. Readers, Atheist and religious, will feel better and more secure in their modern ethics, after exploring the world of their ancient ancestors with Sex Rites.

sotto voce · 02-08-2012, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

A facebook friend posted a link to this author's book. It is provocatively titled, but from a cursory glance seems to be better than the average self-published book on Christianity.

Sex Rites: The Origins of Christianity (or via: amazon.co.uk) by Diana Agorio

It is available as an ebook and can be previewed on Smashwords.

Quote:

The Bible was not the product of “the people” of the Levant. It was produced by priests with particular political and economic ambitions.

Ambitions to be unambitious, then. The priesthood of Israel was unique in having no say in anything, qua priesthood. All priests did was carry out the statutory sacrifices, etc. By the book, of course.

Democracy was the model for Israel.

As it was, and remains, for the church, of course.

Ktotwf · 02-08-2012, 01:09 PM

I've always found the Psychedelic Mushrooms origin story more compelling myself.

Roger Pearse · 02-09-2012, 11:36 AM

Just went to the Amazon page and found this gem:

Quote:

These myths were used by ... Christian clergy, to justify ... raping, mutilating, drugging, and killing children. The myths remain part of Christian theology to this day.

Yes, I remember that from Sunday School. We did that once a month.

Ktotwf · 02-10-2012, 07:33 AM

Yeah, how dare they!

It is only the raping of children that is widespread among the clergy.

Roger Pearse · 02-10-2012, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ktotwf

Yeah, how dare they!

It is only the raping of children that is widespread among the clergy.

Don't worry, I'm sure you were too ugly to be at risk. Unlike myself, although, for some reason, it didn't happen to me or to any of the gorgeous people I know. But of course the journalists who write those stories must be right and it must be endemic. Better hide under the bed.

Maybe that's why that same society fits thirteen-year olds with contraceptive implants without their parents' knowledge. Because they all believe in no sex before marriage and go to church, so are at great risk. Yes, that must be it.

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02-08-2012, 11:06 AM	#2
andrewcriddle Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Birmingham UK Posts: 4,876	IIUC It seems to be arguing that the ugly allegations made by non-Christians against Christians (and by orthodox Christians against heretical Christians) were broadly true. Andrew Criddle

02-08-2012, 11:11 AM	#3
stephan huller Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: seattle, wa Posts: 9,337	If the early Christians were getting laid more often they wouldn't have been arguing amongst themselves so much. If a BS in History qualifies someone to rewrite the history of early Christianity I suspect that many of us suddenly emerge as 'authorities' too.

02-08-2012, 11:33 AM	#4
Roger Pearse Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: N/A Posts: 4,370	I got as far as page 4. The book's argument, stated simply, seems to be this: * Lots of heresies claimed to be Christians. * Anyone who claims to be a Christian is right, and no Christian is allowed to disagree. Not even apostles. Even if all these pretenders disagree with each other violently. * Therefore early Christianity includes all the degenerate stuff that the early Christians were (in fact) opposed to. * So we can accuse the Christians of all sorts of things that we do and that we know very well that they don't, and never did. The only question for me is whether this poor screwed-over woman actually believes that argument herself. But that's BORING! What I want REALLY to know is whether the book contains pictures of the authoress doing the sex and drugs and bloodshed that she says every ancient cult did (especially the one we know is opposed to it), ideally all at the same time! If not, why not? If it's not WRONG to sell sex, or sell books by sex, then where IS it? Hardly worth buying if not, surely? I was most disappointed, when I heard with excitement that Freke and Gandy were authors of porn books, to discover no dirty pictures in the Jesus Mysteries. Really I was. (Although I'm not sure naked pictures of Freak and Bendy would have done it for me anyway.) * All the best, Roger Pearse * Note for the humour-impaired: this is satire.

02-08-2012, 01:09 PM	#7
Ktotwf Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,936	I've always found the Psychedelic Mushrooms origin story more compelling myself.

02-10-2012, 07:33 AM	#9
Ktotwf Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,936	Yeah, how dare they! It is only the raping of children that is widespread among the clergy.

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