Noah's Ark...site link

[ironworks soundlabs]

http://www.wyattarchaeology.com/noah.htm

I thought this site was pretty interesting. Some of the pictures seems pretty convincing, such as the anchor stones with the crosses engraved on them.

I am not Christian, however, I am very interested in understanding why the Bible was created. For the most part, I feel that some of these stories have some historical relevance. I also think alot of these stories were explained using the best guesses at the time (God), so that would have changed the context in which the stories were told, and passed down.

[Alon]

There are plenty of fancy websites on Atlantis, too. Stick to scholarly archaeology.

[Dagny]

years ago, before I ever picked up Ayn Rand.... I was interested in the history of religions, how they had come about and what aided them. the best thing I did was sign up at a course about the history of Jerusalem at UCLA. the course offered a history about the three major religions from an archeological perspective without all the religious overtones. the required text was "Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths" by Karen Armstrong which I found an excellent book that answered all my questions on that subject.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...326340?v=glance

"curiousity never killed the cat....it just answered his questions"

[ironworks soundlabs]

years ago, before I ever picked up Ayn Rand.... I was interested in the history of religions, how they had come about and what aided them. the best thing I did was sign up at a course about the history of Jerusalem at UCLA. the course offered a history about the three major religions from an archeological perspective without all the religious overtones. the required text was "Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths" by Karen Armstrong which I found an excellent book that answered all my questions on that subject.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...326340?v=glance

"curiousity never killed the cat....it just answered his questions" 

Hmm, I am ordering OPAR, and some other books tommorow, I may put that one on the list. I am very interested in roots of religions, so I may order this one...

[Alon]

From the reviews on Amazon, the book seems to have a pro-Muslim view. Notice Dagny read the book before studying Objectivism.

For Islam, take a look at ibn-Warraq's The Quest for the Historical Muhammed

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...=glance&s=books

For Christianity, take a look at Fredriksen's From Jesus to Christ

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/030...2759713-9590528

and Horsley's Bandits, Prophets, and Messiahs

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...=glance&s=books

and MacMullen's Christianizing the Roman Empire

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/030...2759713-9590528

For Judaism, take a look at Finkelstein's The Bible Unearthed

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/068...2759713-9590528

and Dever's Who Were the Early Israelites and Where Did They Come From?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/080...2759713-9590528

Those are all early historical overviews, if you are interested in the theological aspect of each of these religions, let me know.

[ironworks soundlabs]

From the reviews on Amazon, the book seems to have a pro-Muslim view.  Notice Dagny read the book before studying Objectivism.

For Islam, take a look at ibn-Warraq's The Quest for the Historical Muhammed

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...=glance&s=books

For Christianity, take a look at Fredriksen's From Jesus to Christ

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/030...2759713-9590528

and Horsley's Bandits, Prophets, and Messiahs

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...=glance&s=books

and MacMullen's Christianizing the Roman Empire

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/030...2759713-9590528

For Judaism, take a look at Finkelstein's The Bible Unearthed

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/068...2759713-9590528

and Dever's Who Were the Early Israelites and Where Did They Come From?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/080...2759713-9590528

Those are all early historical overviews, if you are interested in the theological aspect of each of these religions, let me know.

I would prefer systematically going through the religions in a chronological order, so I can see how each religion developed and gained followings amongst the other religions available at the time.

Which book would I recommend I tackle first? For the most part, everything I have read in regards to religion has been from a mysticist standpoint. Before I discovered Objectivism last year my thoughts were seriously influenced by Sufism, Taoism, and other eastern religions. I never really began looking at religion objectively untill recently. I have read several books that I can now see were obviously biased by the auther's beliefs. Essentially, I need to start creating a better knowledge base of religions from an objective standpoint.

Thanks!