Of Islam and Osiris?

[Marduk]

General question for Muslims or people who live in the mideast, Does anyone in Egypt or Iraq, Syria or Iran ever question why that when their countries worshipped Osiris or Marduk or Mithra they ruled the known world with the greatest empires on Earth and now that they have switched to Allah are just another third world nation.
Do they ever consider reviving Ra or Anu?
It must be weird to walk in the Shadows of the Pyramids and Karnak and wonder "gee when we dropped these old gods things sure went to hell in a handbasket"

[ December 30, 2001: Message edited by: marduck ]</p>

[Toto]

Iteresting thought, except that after the glories of the Pyramids etc., Arabs under Islam did rule the world, and were the most advanced civiliation for a significant period. It's not like the adoption of Islam led immediately to third world status. I think most in the middle east look back to that more recent period of history as "normal".

Contrast Spain: they kicked the Jews and the Moors out for the greater glory of the Christian god, then after the gold they stole from the New World ran out, they just sank into oblivion as a world power.

[Ojuice5001]

Or how about the Roman Empire? It started going down the tubes about the time people abandoned the worship of Jupiter and his cohorts. Every pagan knew that Jupiter had abandoned the Empire, and to argue against this, St. Augustine had to make it a major theme in his career. The Abramic gods bring war to every place where they gain power. Fortunately, in the West the old gods have regained some control, and freedom from tyranny has prospered.

[nerv111]

Interesting thoughts, there dose seem to be some correlation between the deterioration of societies and monotheistic religions (namely the Abrahamic ones). That is not to say that they are the only cause of the falls of all these empires, but they certainly did play a role in bringing about condition which did degrade the empires (in particular war, i.e. lets go kill anyone and everyone who dose not believe what we do).

On a side note, isn’t it interesting that the notion of “holy” wars was nonexistent (to the best of my knowledge) in the Ancient World. Why is it that the polytheistic religions (which differ greatly amongst themselves) can coexist in harmony, while the Abrahamic ones (which all have the same foundation) insight their followers to go around killing one another?

[ December 30, 2001: Message edited by: nerv111 ]</p>

[lpetrich]

Originally posted by nerv111:
<strong>
On a side note, isn’t it interesting that the notion of “holy” wars was nonexistent (to the best of my knowledge) in the Ancient World. Why is it that the polytheistic religions (which differ greatly amongst themselves) can coexist in harmony, while the Abrahamic ones (which all have the same foundation) insight their followers to go around killing one another?
</strong>

I had started a thread on that subject in the Non-Abrahamic Religion and Philosophy section, but I haven't gotten much response on that question.

However, you do appear to be correct about the pagan Mediterranean-basin area -- holy wars and religious persecutions were very rare. The main exception I know of was the rule of heretic Pharaoh Akhanaton -- and that was mainly a way of fighting against the priests of Ammon.

But for the most part, they tolerated each other's religions and often practiced a remarkable amount of syncretism. Most places had official state religions, but these religions were, for the most part, not exclusive. Worship of the official gods of the Roman Empire never excluded the worship of others -- and there were lots of others worshipped in it.

[Marduk]

"The main exception I know of was the rule of heretic Pharaoh Akhanaton -- and that was mainly a way of fighting against the priests of Ammon."

Sort of adds to the point, Akhanaton was a monotheist!