Genesis And The Twilight Zone

GE NE SIS and the TWILIG HT ZO NE Partial Recovery of Inconvenient Truth Part I

ANATOMY of RELIGION PREAMBLE OF A FREE THINKER Many people follow their faith out of traditional upbringing, ignorance, fear, or both. Whereas, journey to the Horizon of Reality is emancipation from the shackles of religious domination and exploitation. This journey is not for the faint of heart, nor the automaton, but it is for the bold seeker of truth that burns within oneself and which cannot be silenced, no matter what price and obstacle. In our quest for the truth, we must never be afraid to question for not to question is slavery of the mind on the altar of ignorance. It is the greatest irony that men and women live and die enslaved without ever peering beneath the surface of tradition, without looking for the truth. We could have lived and died as slave to ideas we had cherished much of our life and we had taken time to look beneath the surface of those beliefs and chose to examine the evidence in search of the truth.

. Introduction . One cooling season of 1947, peer of Bedouin shepherd on daily routine pasturing along the steep northwestern shore of Dead Sea, curiously unearthed non-essential looking finds to them. Emerging just aboveground enough to attract attention, harden earth containers with several manuscripts written on papyrus and leathers became one of the most sensational finds of the millennium. . Scrolls antiquities rendered about first century BC, most likely older than oldest known Hebrew version of the Old Testament, the Aleppo codex . The first seven-finds were almost complete manuscript of the "Book of Isaiah", Society Manual of Discipline, several rules and rituals devoted to

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strict religious discipline living in imminent expectation of the end of the World in which they alone would be seen as the chosen people. Later finds included copper plague (as shown) detailing temple treasures and several fragments, which may compose entire medieval library, deliberately hidden for the future mankind retrievals. . Below the caves, a stump of Roman Fort Khirbet Qumran built about 125 BC most likely the center of Essene Society or itself the Essene Monastery.

. Cave at Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls

High on the slope of the cliff over looking the ruined of Roman Fort, one of the undisputed 20th century archaeological finds that may lead to the partial discovery of truth. However as mute and meek witnesses of the past whose historical virtue is being suppressed by ambiguous faiths for the sensibility and explosive testimonies that shall overturn the ruling of the present dogmas. In Human Rights Principle, a deliberated non-publication of archaeological finds, as a form of theft to humanity and in the case of Dead Sea Scrolls shall provoke a major international outcry.

. . Rationale . A scenario of layman’s approach in deducing the credibility of traditional faiths and to broaden our horizon to the reality of an ambiguous dogmas that stir the world into confusion. Indeed this is blasphemy in some quarters for science updates and ancient testimonial facts shall be a head wind to classical beliefs those were founded on hearsay, evolving through generations and strengthen by religious anathema. Should someone shall project in bringing forward to the open mind of humanity the basis of

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rational creed, breaking through the barrier of religious ambiguities and realignment of mankind to the reality of coveted truth is fairly inevitable. The world needs transcendental realism in order to give peace a chance. . On this behalf, reader’s reactions can be reconcile on several Ancient Historical references e.g. the books of E. Roystin Pike, Edward Ashcroft which deals with factual ancient history. The translation of the “Dead Sea Scroll”, Bible as History with Archaeological Finds and other ancient historical references as well as science literatures on Earth’s origin and its occupants. On these initiatives, we may pool ideas on how to behave in our Planet. . . The Early Pseudo Religious Cults . The Zoroastrian religion began in Iran with prophet known Zoroaster, whose origin were not known nor what century he lived. Scholars believe that Zoroaster lived sometime between the 13th and 6th century BC. Zoroaster brought monotheism to Iran worshipping one god Ahura Mazda over the pantheon of Iranian gods. . Orphism is the teachings of an ancient Greek philosophical cult that exerted great influence on Greek culture, and later on Western mysticism and occultism. It began in the sixth century BC, and is attributed to the mythical Orpheus. The chief teachings are of reincarnation, a Greek version of Karma, a history of the universe which was formed by Cronus who formed an egg and created the first king of the gods -- whom Zeus supplanted and fathered Dionysus -- the divine child. Other teachings are that the body is the prison of the soul, animals were not to be killed or eaten, the good were to be rewarded while the evil were to be punished in Nether World, and teachings of self-denial and seriousness in religious matters. Apollo was the kinder god who demanded purification and righteousness. Orphism had a great impact on alchemy. . Mithraism is the worship of Mithra. The original source of the cult is unknown but argued to be of Persian, Indian or Chinese origin. It has been called an offshoot of Zorastrianism but that is also contested and not much literary evidence of the cult has survived. According to Persian legends, Mithra was born of a rock and a virgin mother called the "Mother of God" and was first attended by shepherds. Mithra was called "the Light of the World." They believed in a heaven and hell and the dualism of good

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and evil, the final days of judgment, the end of the world as we know it and a general resurrection. Long before Jesus, December 25th was celebrated as the date of Mithra's birth. Mithra was also associated with the sun, and his followers marked Sunday as his day of worship, they called it the Lord's Day. A few of the extra-biblical traditions seem to have found its way to Christianity through Roman Mithraism. . Among the milder ceremonies of the followers of Mithra were baptism in holy water and a partaking of a sacred meal of bread and wine. After passing several ordeals the converts were "reborn" as a new man in Mithra. Though Mithra had ascended into heaven he had promised to return and bring life everlasting to his loyal followers. . Mostly all the similarities of Mithra to Christ, there were some scholars opined that Christianity came from Mithraism. For a time, the two religions co-existed together and even competed with each other but Christianity survived. The same time, there could be prophetic questions here in prefiguring the true Son of God that would come later. There had been many Messianic types of Christ in the Jewish scriptures (David and Joseph for example) and God may have been telling Gentiles also, but this is merely conjecture and there are other religions with the same similarities. The Wise men from the east who visited Jesus were said to be Zorastrians. . The dogma has great similarities to the New Testament upon a closer examination of Mithraism. They were a secret society and had graded membership but women were excluded. Mithra is one of many gods and they had a separate priesthood called "Fathers." . Judaism - the subject of the Hebrew Bible is an account of the Israelites' (also called Hebrews) relationship with God as reflected in their history from the beginning of time until the building of the Second Temple (ca. 350 BCE). This relationship is generally portrayed as contentious, as Jews struggle between their faith in God and their attraction for other gods, and as some Jews (most notably and directly, Abraham, Jacob -- later known as Israel—and Moses) struggle with God. Modern scholars also suggested that Torah consists of a variety of inconsistent texts that were edited together in a way that calls attention to divergent accounts . Christianity was a by-product of Essene teachings and principles being propagated by the followers of Jesus of Nazareth. The name of this

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organization was just incidental during their fled from persecution and settled in Antioch when local people keep calling them Christians. Those all begun when Jewish nationalists tried to subvert the Roman authority and cracking down of rebels where Jesus was a known leader. . . Zoroaster and Zoroastrianism . There is no certainty at all about the period in which Zoroaster lived. Some say that Zoroaster lived about 6000 BC. Others maintain that he flourished in the middle of the seventh century B.C. . Zoroaster was the greatest prophet among the ancient Iranians. He took his birth in order to establish the worship of Ahura Mazda, the Supreme Lord of the Universe and to fulfil the Divine Mission. His own original writings, the precious Gathas in the Avestan language, indicate that he was a God-intoxicated person. . Zoroaster’s father was the venerable Porushaspo and his mother Dughdhvo. Zoroaster was born in the west of Iran in Takht-e-Suleman in the district of Azerbaijan. He was a direct descendant in the royal line of the house of Manushcihar, the ancient King of Iran. . The Prophet of Iran is known to his followers as Zarathustra. (Possessor of yellow or old camels. ‘Ustra’ means camels.) . When the Prophet of Iran was born, nature rejoiced. The trees, rivers and flowers expressed their joy and delight. The demons were frightened. As soon as the child was born, he did not cry like an ordinary mortal. He made a loud laughter. Many angels and archangels came to adore him. . Zoroaster’s family name was ‘Spitama’, which means ‘White’. Zoroaster had two elder brothers and two younger brothers. The birth of Zoroaster was miraculous. The glory of Ahura Mazda descended from heaven and entered the house of the future mother of the prophet. When she was pregnant, archangels came to her and worshipped and praised the unborn child. . Zoroaster married three times and had many children. His first wife had one son and three daughters. The youngest daughter Pourucista married

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Jamaspa, who was the uncle of Zoroaster’s third wife. Zoroaster had two sons by his second wife. . We know very little of the early life of Zoroaster. Even when he was a boy, he showed great wisdom. He argued with wise men and censured the heretics. . Demons and evil spirits tried to kill him. The Turanian King Durasrobo also tried to kill the child, but the life of the prophet was miraculously saved by the all-merciful Lord. . Zoroaster developed dispassion when he reached age of sixteen. The objects of the world lost all attraction for him. He despised all mundane pleasures. He rose above all sensual cravings. He showed intense love and compassion for all living beings . Zoroaster left his home at the age of twenty and wandered from place to place. He led a life of purity and righteousness. He roamed about in forests. He lived alone in caves and mountain-tops. He controlled his tongue and subjugated his other senses. He was very abstemious in his diet. He spent his time in calm meditation. . Zoroaster experienced Samadhi or communion with Ahura Mazda, the Supreme Lord of the Universe, on the top of Mount Sabatam. He had prophetic divine visions. He conversed directly with Ahura Mazda and received the wisdom of the Lord. He received seven revelations from Ahura Mazda. At the age of thirty, he came out as the Prophet of God. After receiving the divine light of revelation, he became the renowned messenger of Ahura Mazda. . Several archangels helped Zoroaster in the spiritual path. Archangels are divine messengers of the highest order. They are the attendants of Ahura Mazda. They correspond to the Siva-Ganas—the attendants of Lord Siva; —and to Jaya, Vijaya, Nanda, Sunanda, etc.—the attendants of Lord Vishnu. They are the guardian-deities or the Lokapalas of the world. Zoroaster had direct conversation with these archangels. . Vohumanah is the archangel of good thought. He is also the presiding Lord of domestic animals. He appeared before Zoroaster and helped him to cast off the physical sheath and directed his soul to the supreme abode of Ahura Mazda. Ahura Mazda Himself gave instructions to the Prophet

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and imparted divine wisdom to him. Zoroaster obeyed the commands of Ahura Mazda. . When Zoroaster was coming down from the celestial abode of Ahura Mazda, he was terribly attacked by the evil force Ahriman, the Satan of Zoroastrianism. Ahriman wanted to kill Zoroaster, but Zoroaster’s spiritual powers saved him. The Prophet became the master of all demons after conquering Ahriman. He began to preach again. . Zoroaster experienced a second vision. The same archangel asked the prophet to take great care of the animals and to protect them. . Then Zoroaster conversed in his third vision with Asha Vahishta, the archangel of righteousness who is the presiding Lord of sacred fires. The archangel commanded Zoroaster to protect the sacred fire and all fires. . Zoroaster conversed with Khehathra Vairya, the archangel of good royalty who is the presiding Lord of metals. The archangel commanded the Prophet to take care of the metals. Then Zoroaster conversed with Spenta Armaith, the archangel of modesty, who is the presiding Lord of earth. Then he conversed with Hauravatat, the archangel of health who is the presiding Lord of the waters. Lastly, he conversed with Ameretat, the archangel of immortality who presides over plants. . Zoroaster had a perfect knowledge of the celestial hierarchy of gods through these visions. Zend Avesta, which is the Bible and the Gita of the Parsis, contains the wisdom which the Prophet received from Ahura Mazda, the Supreme Lord. . The divine experiences of Zoroaster are similar to the experiences of Satyakama Jabala of the Chhandogya Upanishad. The Wind-God, the God of Fire, the Sun-God, and Varuna or the presiding Deity of the Waters imparted divine wisdom to Satyakama. Archangel Vahishta is the Fire-God or Agni of the Hindus. Archangel Hauravatat is Varuna of the Hindus. . Zoroaster disliked the Kavis and the Karpans, who were the chiefs of the demon-worshippers. The Karpans were devoted to rites and ceremonies. They were addicted to the use of Homa, the intoxicating drink, in their religious ceremonies. The Prophet tried to convert all the demonworshippers, the evil men and women and their chiefs, viz., the Kavis and the Karpans. The Kavis and the Karpans were the priests. Naturally, all

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orthodox priests are opponents of broad reforms. Zoroaster failed in his attempt. . Zoroaster traveled from place to place. He went to India and China, but no one received his message in the beginning. He first converted his own cousin Maidhyoi-madnha. This disciple remained faithful to Zoroaster till the end of his life. . The Kavis and the Karpans, the learned priests of the courts, poisoned the ears of Vishtasp, the Sovereign of Iran. They intrigued against the Prophet and accused him before the king of being a sorcerer. They persuaded the king to put him in prison to die of starvation. Zoroaster remained in the prison for sometime and was saved by the Lord. . The favorite black horse of the king fell ill. Its four legs were drawn up into its belly. Zoroaster sent word to the king that he would cure the horse. He imposed four conditions, which the king readily accepted. Vishtasp had to accept the new faith. He had to consent that his son Isfendiar would defend the new faith. Zoroaster was to be allowed to convert Queen Hutaosa. The king had to reveal the names of all those who had plotted against Zoroaster and punish them. When each leg of the horse came out, each of the four conditions was granted by the king. . The king, in turn, demanded that four conditions of his should be accepted by Zoroaster. First, the king wanted to know his final destiny and his place in heaven; second, he wanted that his body might become invulnerable; third, he desired that he might have universal knowledge; and lastly, the king wished that his soul might not leave his body until the resurrection. Three archangels appeared before the king and the queen and dazzled their eyes. The king and the queen trembled at their sight. They heard the voice from the light which said that they had come at the command of the Lord to show the king and the queen the glory of the religion of Zoroaster. . King Vishtasp was convinced. He was also convinced of the supernatural powers of the Prophet. He fell at the feet of Zoroaster, accepted his creed and worshipped him as the Prophet of Iran. He experienced a glimpse of heaven. The archangel Ashavahishta gave the king nectar to drink. The queen and other chieftains, and also the brother of the king, and Frashaoshtra, the father-in-law of Zoroaster, became devoted followers of Zoroastrianism. The new faith spread far and wide with the help of the

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royal patron. The masses also accepted the new faith. Zoroastrianism became the religion of the Iranian Kingdom. . The success of the new religion became the cause for two bitter religious wars between Iran and Turan. Zarir, the brother of King Vishtasp and the king himself defeated the enemies. Zarir played a wonderful part. He was a formidable hero in the war. His gallantry was beyond description. But he was treacherously slain by a poisoned spear hurled from behind by Vidrasfsh. Aryasp, the Turanian king, promised to give his daughter in marriage to Vidrasfsh for doing this horrible, ignominious act. . Bastwar, the young son of Zarir, a mighty hero, who might be called a Maharatha, who was equal in strength to Bhishma, killed Vidrasfsh and defeated Aryasp. King Aryasp again invaded Iran eighteen years after his defeat. He destroyed the temples, killed the priests and burnt the Zend Avesta. In the second war, the hero was Ispendiar, the son of King Vishtasp. He defeated Aryasp, drove him out of Iran and killed him. . The Prophet of Iran was praying before the altar in the temple of NushAdar with a rosary in his hand. A Turanian, Bratrok-resh by name, killed the prophet with his sword. . Zoroaster threw his rosary at Bratrok-resh. A fire proceeded from the rosary. It fell on Bratrok-resh and destroyed him. Zoroaster died at the age of seventy-seven. Thus the glorious Prophet of Iran, the great messenger of Ahura Mazda and the founder of Zoroastrianism or the religion of Mazda-worship passed away. . Zoroaster did many miracles. He carried out the behests of the angels. He protected the fires and the cattle. He healed the sick and restored the sight of a blind man. He had a great reputation as a scholar and physician. He established many fire-temples. He spread the new faith all over the country. He suppressed the worship of demons, witchcraft and sorcery. He drove pestilence and removed national calamities and disasters. He cured diseases, counteracted the noxious creatures and brought abundant rain on earth. . Zoroaster was pious, noble and compassionate. His message was the noble message of high moral life which paves the way for the attainment of immortality and eternal bliss and the doctrine of the God of

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Righteousness or Ahura Mazda. "Love the righteous. Have compassion for the distressed." These constitute Zoroaster’s main ethical teachings. . . . . Mithra and Mithraism . An old-Iranian god of light, contracts and friendship. He also maintains the cosmic order. Sometimes mentioned as the son of Ahura Mazda, he assists him in his struggle against the forces of evil, represented by Angra Mainyu. Mithra was born from a rock (or a cave). He fought with the sun and managed to capture the divine bull and slayed it before he ascended to heaven. From the blood of the bull came forth all the plants and animals beneficial to humanity. . With the emerging of Zoroastrianism, he was reduced to the status of Yazata. In the Avesta he was portrayed as having ten thousand ears and eyes, and he rides in a chariot pulled by white horses. In the 4 century BCE his popularity rose and again he held a high position in the Persian pantheon. Eventually his cult spread beyond Iran and Asia Minor and gradually became a mystery cult. The ascetic religion of Mithraism (to which only men were allowed) became increasingly popular among the Roman soldiers around 100 CE and at that time Mithra was known in Rome as 'Deus sol invictus' ("the unconquered sun"). Even the Roman emperor Commodus was initiated into Mithra's cult. When Constantine the Great was converted to Christianity in 312 CE, Mithraism started to decline and after a temporary revival under Julius the Apostate (331-363) the cult disappeared for good. . Mithra was worshipped in Mithraea, artificially constructed caves that represented his birth-cave. The ceiling looked like the starry sky and at the sides benches where placed for the ritual meals. In the center of the Mithraea was a niche which held a relief of the god, dressed in Phrygian clothing (short tunic and cloak, long trousers and a hat with a curled tip), who kills a bull. The Mithraea were spread all over the Roman empire and some 50 of these caves still exist in Rome today. .

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. Mithraism . Mithraism is the ancient Roman mystery cult of the god Mithras. Roman worship of Mithras began sometime during the early Roman empire, perhaps during the late first century of the Common Era (hereafter CE), and flourished from the second through the fourth centuries CE. While it is fairly certain that Romans encountered worship of the deity Mithras as part of Zoroastrianism in the eastern provinces of the empire, particularly in Asia Minor (now modern Turkey), the exact origins of cult practices in the Roman cult of Mithras remain controversial. The evidence for this cult is mostly archaeological, consisting of the remains of mithraic temples, dedicatory inscriptions, and iconographic representations of the god and other aspects of the cult in stone sculpture, sculpted stone relief, wall painting, and mosaic. There is very little literary evidence pertaining to the cult. . . The Deity: Mitra, Mithra, Mithras . Mithras is the Roman name for the Indo-Iranian god Mitra, or Mithra, as he was called by the Persians. Mitra is part of the Hindu pantheon, and Mithra is one of several yazatas (minor deities) under Ahura-Mazda in the Zoroastrian pantheon. Mithra is the god of the airy light between heaven and earth, but he is also associated with the light of the sun, and with contracts and mediation. Neither in Hinduism nor in Zoroastrianism did Mitra/Mithra have his own cult. Mitra is mentioned in the Hindu Vedas, while Mithra is is the subject of Yashts (hymns) in the Zoroastrian Avesta, a text compiled during the Sassanian period (224-640 CE) to preserve a much older oral tradition. . . Eastern Origins of the Roman Cult . The precise relationship between the Roman cult of Mithras as it developed during the empire and the Mitra and Mithra of the Hindu and Zoroastrian pantheons, respectively, is unclear. The theory that Roman Mithraism had its roots in Zoroastrianism was first put forward by Franz Cumont, a Belgian scholar, in his two-volume publication Textes et monuments figurés relatifs aux mystères de Mithra in 1896 and 1899. Cumont compiled a catalogue of every known mithraic temple, monument,

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inscription, and literary passage relating to Mithras and claimed on the basis of his study of this body of evidence that Roman Mithras was, ultimately, Zoroastrian Mithra. . Cumont argued by extension that if Roman Mithras had Iranian roots, the cult of Mithraism must have originated in the eastern provinces of the Roman empire and spread westward with legionaries in the Roman army, merchants from eastern provinces (often lumped under the broad misnomer "Syrians"), freedmen in the imperial bureaucracy, and slaves. . Cumont himself recognized possible flaws in his theory. The most obvious is that there is little evidence for a Zoroastrian cult of Mithra (Cumont 1956), and certainly none that suggests that Zoroastrian worship of Mithra used the liturgy or the well-devoloped iconography found in the Roman cult of Mithras. . Moreover, few monuments from the Roman cult have been recovered from the very provinces which are thought to have inspired worship of Mithras (namely the provinces of Asia Minor). Finally, Cumont was aware that the earliest datable evidence for the cult of Mithras came from the military garrison at Carnuntum in the province of Upper Pannonia on the Danube River (modern Hungary). Indeed, the largest quantity of evidence for mithraic worship comes from the western half of the empire, particularly from the provinces of the Danube River frontier and from Rome and her port city, Ostia, in Italy. . To explain this phenomenon, Cumont proposed that soldiers stationed in western provinces and transferred to eastern provinces for short periods of time learned of the deity Mithra and began to worship and dedicate monuments to a god they called Mithras when they returned to their customary garrison. It is true that soldiers from the Roman legion XV Apollinaris stationed at Carnuntum in the first century CE were called to the East in 63 CE to help fight in a campaign against the Parthians and further to help quell the Jewish revolt in Jerusalem from 66-70 CE. . Members of the legion made mithraic dedications back in Carnuntum after their return from these campaigns, possibly as early as 71 or 72 CE. Once these Roman soldiers and the camp-followers of the legions, who included merchants, slaves, and freedmen, started to worship Mithras, argued Cumont, their further movements around the empire served to spread the cult to other areas.

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. Cumont's scholarship was so influential that it founded mithraic studies as an area of inquiry in its own right. Cumont's student, Maarten J. Vermaseren, was a scholar equally as prolific as his mentor. Among Vermaseren's greatest contributions was an up-dated English language catalogue of mithraic monuments (Vermaseren 1956, 1960). . Structure and Liturgy of the Roman Mystery Cult of Mithras . The Roman cult of Mithras is known as a "mystery" cult, which is to say that its members kept the liturgy and activities of the cult secret, and more importantly, that they had to participate in an initiation ceremony to become members of the cult. As a result, there is no surviving central text of Mithraism analogous to the Christian Bible, and there is no intelligible text which describes the liturgy. Whether such texts ever existed is unknown, but doubtful. Worship took place in a temple, called a mithraeum, which was made to resemble a natural cave. . Sometimes temples were built specifically for the purpose, but often they were single rooms in larger buildings which usually had another purpose (for example, a bath house, or a private home). There are about one hundred mithraea preserved in the empire. Mithraea were longer than they were wide, usually around 10-12m long and 4-6m wide, and were entered from one of the short sides. Roman dining couches, called klinai or podia, lined the long sides of the mithraeum, leaving a narrow aisle in between. . At the end of this aisle, opposite the entrance, was the cult image showing Mithras sacrificing a bull. To enhance the resemblance to a natural cave the ceiling of the mithraeum was vaulted and often had crushed pottery adhering to it to imitate natural rock. Sometimes the ceilings were pierced with holes to let shafts of light in. The cave was intended to recall an event in Mithras' life and also to symbolize the dome of heaven, or the cosmos. . We surmise from the structure of mithraea and from paintings which are preserved in certain mithraea that mithraists gathered for a common meal, initiation of members, and other ceremonies. The details of the liturgy are uncertain, but it is worth noting that most mithraea have room for only thirty to forty members, and only a few are so large that a bull could actually be sacrificed inside. .

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The structure of the cult was hierarchical. Members went through a series of seven grades, each of which had a special symbol and a tutelary planet. From lowest to highest these grades were Corax (raven, under Mercury), Nymphus (a made-up word meaning male bride, under Venus), Miles (the soldier, under Mars), Leo (the lion, under Jupiter), Perses (the Persian, under Luna, the moon), Heliodromus (the Sun's courier, under Sol, the sun), and finally Pater (father, under Saturn). Those who reached the highest grade, Pater, could become the head of a congregation. Because mithraea were so small, new congregations were probably founded on a regular basis when one or more members reached the highest grade. . Two aspects of mithraic initiation offer important insight into the cult. First, it was possible for a mithraic initiate to be a member of more than one cult, and second, women were not permitted to become members. These facts are critical to understanding the cult of Mithraism in relation to other Roman cults, to official Roman state religion, and to the cult of Christianity. . . Mithraic Iconography . Mithraic monuments have a rich and relatively coherent iconography, chronologically and geographically speaking. In each mithraic temple there was a central scene showing Mithras sacrificing a bull (often called a tauroctony). Mithras is clad in a tunic, trousers, cloak, and a pointed cap usually called a Phrygian cap. He faces the viewer while half-straddling the back of a bull, yanks the bull's head back by its nostrils with his left hand, and plunges a dagger into the bull's throat with his right. . Various figures surround this dramatic event. Under the bull a dog laps at the blood dripping from the wound and a scorpion attacks the bull's testicles. Often the bull's tail ends in wheat ears and a raven is perched on the bull's back. On the viewer's left stands a diminutive male figure named Cautes, wearing the same garb as Mithras and holding an upraised and burning torch. Above him, in the upper left corner, is the sun god, Sol, in his chariot. On the viewer's left there is another diminutive male figure, Cautopates, who is also clad as Mithras is and holds a torch that points downwards and is sometimes, but not always, burning. Above Cautopates in the upper right corner is the moon, Luna. This group of figures is almost always present, but there are variations, of which the most common is an

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added line of the signs of the zodiac over the top of the bull-sacrificing scene. . For a long time the meaning of the bull-sacrificing scene and its associated figures was unclear, but a long series of studies beginning with one by K. B. Stark in 1869 and culminating in studies by Roger Beck (1984 and 1988), David Ulansey and Noel Swerdlow (1991) has revealed a comprehensible astrological symbolism. Each figure and element in the scene correlates to specific constellations, to the seven planets recognized by the ancient Romans, and to the position of these in relation to the celestial equator and the ecliptic, particularly at the time of the equinoxes and the solstices. . The bull-sacrificing scene is usually carved in stone relief or painted on stone and placed in mithraea in a visible location. In addition to this central scene there can be numerous smaller scenes which seem to represent episodes from Mithras' life. The most common scenes show Mithras being born from a rock, Mithras dragging the bull to a cave, plants springing from the blood and semen of the sacrificed bull, Mithras and the sun god, Sol, banqueting on the flesh of the bull while sitting on its skin, Sol investing Mithras with the power of the sun, and Mithras and Sol shaking hands over a burning altar, among others. These scenes are the basis for knowledge of mithraic cosmology. There is no supporting textual evidence. . . Mithraism Geographically, Socially, and Chronologically Popularity . The archaeological evidence for Mithraism, consisting mostly of monuments, inscribed dedications, and the remains of mithraea, indicates that the cult was most popular among the legions stationed in frontier areas. The Danube and Rhine river frontier has the highest concentration of evidence, but a significant quantity of evidence amply demonstrates that Mithraism was also popular among the troops stationed in the province of Numidia in North Africa and along Hadrian's wall in England. The inscriptions on dedications found in all these areas support Cumont's assertion that Mithraism was most popular among legionaries (of all ranks), and the members of the more marginal social groups who were not Roman citizens: freedmen, slaves, and merchants from various provinces. .

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The area where the concentration of evidence for Mithraism is the most dense is the capital, Rome, and her port city, Ostia. There are eight extant mithraea in Rome of as many as seven hundred (Coarelli 1979) and eighteen in Ostia. In addition to the actual mithraea, there are approximately three hundred other mithraic monuments from Rome and about one hundred from Ostia. This body of evidence reveals that Mithraism in Rome and Ostia originally appealed to the same social strata as it did in the frontier regions. The evidence also indicates that at least some inhabitants knew about Mithraism as early as the late first century CE, but that the cult did not enjoy a wide membership in either location until the middle of the second century CE. . As the cult in Rome became more popular, it seems to have "trickled up" the social ladder, with the result that Mithraism could count several senators from prominent aristocratic families among its adherents by the fourth century CE. Some of these men were initiates in several cults imported from the eastern empire (including those of Magna Mater and Attis, Isis, Serapis, Jupiter Dolichenus, Hecate, and Liber Pater, among others), and most had held priesthood in official Roman cults. The devotion of these men to Mithraism reflects a fourth-century "resurgence of paganism," when many of these imported cults and even official Roman state religion experienced a surge in popularity although, and perhaps because, their very existence was increasingly threatened by the rapid spread of Christianity after the conversion of the emperor Constantine in 313 CE. . Mithraism had a wide following from the middle of the second century to the late fourth century CE, but the common belief that Mithraism was the prime competitor of Christianity, promulgated by Ernst Renan (Renan 1882 579), is blatantly false. Mithraism was at a serious disadvantage right from the start because it allowed only male initiates. What is more, Mithraism was, as mentioned above, only one of several cults imported from the eastern empire that enjoyed a large membership in Rome and elsewhere. The major competitor to Christianity was thus not Mithraism but the combined group of imported cults and official Roman cults subsumed under the rubric "paganism." . Finally, part of Renan's claim rested on an equally common, but almost equally mistaken, belief that Mithraism was officially accepted because it had Roman emperors among its adherents (Nero, Commodus, Septimius Severus, Caracalla, and the Tetrarchs are most commonly cited). Close

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examination of the evidence for the participation of emperors reveals that some comes from literary sources of dubious quality and that the rest is rather circumstantial. The cult of Magna Mater, the first imported cult to arrive in Rome (204) was the only one ever officially recognized as a Roman cult. The others, including Mithraism, were never officially accepted, and some, particularly the Egyptian cult of Isis, were periodically outlawed and their adherents persecuted. . . Mithra and Christ . Most of the research into Mithraism, a religion with many parallels to Christianity, comes from two writers, Cumont and Ulansey with a variety of other writers input. Some similarities between Mithraism and Christianity are; . • Virgin birth • Twelve followers • Killing and resurrection • Miracles and healing • Birth date on December 25 • Sunday as lord’s day • Morality • Mankind's savior • Known as the Light of the world • Symbolic taking of bread and wine for body of god • And etc. . Have you ever wondered why December 25th was chosen to celebrate the birth of Christ? If the accounts in the Bible are correct, the time of Jesus birth would have been closer to mid-summer, for this is when shepherds would have been "tending their flocks in the field" and the new lambs were born. Strange enough there is an ancient pagan religion, Mithraism, which dates back over 2,800 years that also celebrated the birth of their "savior" on that date. . Many elements in the story of Jesus' life and birth are either coincidental or borrowings from earlier and contemporary pagan religions. The most obviously similar of these is Mithraism. Roman Mithraism was a mystery religion with sacrifice and initiation. Like other mystery cults, there's little

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recorded literary evidence. What we know comes mainly from Christian detractors and archaeological evidence from Mithraic temples, inscriptions, and artistic representations of the god and other aspects of the cult. In an EAWC (Exploring Ancient World Cultures) essay entitled Mithraism, Alison Griffith explains Cumont's theory of a Zoroastrian origin for the Roman Mithraist religion. . While this theory is disputed, there was a Mitra in the Hindu pantheon and a minor deity named Mithra among the Persians as well. Cumont came to believe the religion spread westward from Eastern Roman provinces. However, as Griffith explains, there is little evidence of a Zoroastrian Mithra cult and most evidence for Mithraic worship comes from the western portion of the empire from which Cumont correctly deduced that "Mithraism was most popular among legionaries (of all ranks), and the members of the more marginal social groups who were not Roman citizens: freedmen, slaves, and merchants from various provinces...." No women were allowed. . . The Dawning of the Age of Aries . The main problem with basing Mithraism on a Zoroastrian cult is that there is no evidence that the Zoroastrians' Mithra practiced bull killing, the central aspect of Roman Mithraic iconography. An image of Mithras killing the bull holds pride of place in each mithraeum (cave-like temple for the worship of Mithras). Ulansey believes the images of Mithras slaying the bull are actually astronomical star maps. In support of this he points out that all the figures represented in the iconography have a place in the constellations (Taurus, Canis Minor, Hydra, Corvus, and Scorpio). He says that the other iconography and even the initiation ceremonies are consistently astronomical. Mithras' place as bull-slayer has cosmological significance because, if Ulansey is right, Mithraists attribute to their god the ability to shift the equinox from the constellation of Taurus to Aries: His killing of the bull symbolizes his supreme power: namely, the power to move the entire universe, which he had demonstrated by shifting the cosmic sphere in such a way that the spring equinox had moved out of Taurus the Bull. . . MITHRAISM – a Historical Introduction

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. For over three hundred years the rulers of the Roman Empire worshipped the god Mithras. Known throughout Europe and Asia by the names Mithra, Mitra, Meitros, Mihr, Mehr, and Meher, the veneration of this god began around 2800 years ago in Persia, where it was soon moved west and became imbedded with Babylonian doctrines. There is mention of Mithra or Mitra (et al) before 2800, but only as a minor diety and without much information. It appears to be after 2800 when Mithra is transformed and starts to play a major role among the gods. . The faith spread east through India to China, and reached west throughout the entire length of the Roman frontier; from Scotland to the Sahara Desert, and from Spain to the Black Sea. Sites of Mithraic worship have been found in Britain, Italy, Romania, Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey, Persia, Armenia, Syria, Israel, and North Africa. . In Rome, more than a hundred inscriptions dedicated to Mithra have been found, in addition to 75 sculpture fragments, and a series of Mithraic temples situated in all parts of the city. One of the largest Mithraic temples built in Italy now lies under the present site of the Church of St. Clemente, near the Colosseum in Rome. The widespread popularity and appeal of Mithraism as the final and most refined form of pre-Christian paganism was discussed by the Greek historian Herodotus, the Greek biographer Plutarch, the neoplatonic philosopher Porphyry, Origen, and St. Jerome the church Father. . Mithraism was quite often noted by many historians for its many astonishing similarities to Christianity. The faithful referred to Mithra as "the Light of the World", symbol of truth, justice, and loyalty. He was mediator between heaven and earth and was a member of a Holy Trinity. . According to Persian mythology, Mithras was born of a virgin given the title 'Mother of God'. The god remained celibate throughout his life, and valued self-control, renunciation and resistance to sensuality among his worshippers. Mithras represented a system of ethics in which brotherhood was encouraged in order to unify against the forces of evil. . The worshippers of Mithras held strong beliefs in a celestial heaven and an infernal hell. They believed that the benevolent powers of the god would sympathize with their suffering and grant them the final justice of immortality and eternal salvation in the world to come. They looked

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forward to a final day of Judgment in which the dead would resurrect, and to a final conflict that would destroy the existing order of all things to bring about the triumph of light over darkness. . Purification through a ritualistic baptism was required of the faithful, who also took part in a ceremony in which they drank wine and ate bread to symbolize the body and blood of the god. Sundays were held sacred, and the birth of the god was celebrated annually on December the 25th. After the earthly mission of this god had been accomplished, he took part in a Last Supper with his companions before ascending to heaven, to forever protect the faithful from above. . However, it would be a vast oversimplification to suggest that Mithraism was the single forerunner of early Christianity. Aside from Christ and Mithras, there were plenty of other deities (such as Osiris, Tammuz, Adonis, Balder, Attis, and Dionysus) said to have died and resurrected. Many classical heroic figures, such as Hercules, Perseus, and Theseus, were said to have been born through the union of a virgin mother and divine father. Virtually every pagan religious practice and festivity that couldn't be suppressed or driven underground was eventually incorporated into the rites of Christianity as it spread across Europe and throughout the world. . . The Persian Origins of Mithraism . In order to fully understand the religion of Mithraism it is necessary to look to its foundation in Persia, where originally a multitude of gods were worshipped. Amongst them were Ahura-Mazda, god of the skies, and Ahriman, god of darkness. In the sixth and seventh century B.C.E., a vast reformation of the Persian pantheon was undertaken by Zarathustra (known in Greek as Zoroaster), a prophet from the kingdom of Bactria. The stature of Ahura-Mazda was elevated to that of supreme god of goodness, whereas the god Ahriman became the ultimate embodiment of evil. . In the same way that Ahkenaton, Heliogabalus, and Mohammed later initiated henotheistic cults from the worship of their respective deities, Zarathustra created a henotheistic dualism with the gods Ahura-Mazda and Ahriman. As a result of the Babylonian captivity of the Jews (597 B.C.E.) and their later emancipation by King Cyrus the Great of Persia (538 B.C.E.), Zoroastrian dualism was to influence the Jewish belief in the

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existence of HaShatan, the Adversary of the god YHVH, and later permit the evolution of the Christian Satan-Jehovah dichotomy. . Persian religious dualism became the foundation of an ethical system that has lasted until this day. The reformation of Zarathustra retained the hundreds of Persian deities, assembling them into a complex hierarchical system of 'Immortals' and 'Adored Ones' under the rule of either AhuraMazda or Ahriman. Within this vast pantheon, Mithras gained the title of 'Judger of Souls'. He became the divine representative of Ahura-Mazda on earth, and was directed to protect the righteous from the demonic forces of Ahriman. Mithras was called omniscient, omnipotent, infallible, eternally, watchful, and never-resting. In the Avesta, the holy book of the religion of Zarathustra, Ahura-Mazda was said to have created Mithras in order to guarantee the authority of contracts and the keeping of promises. The name Mithras was, in fact, the Persian word for 'contract'. The divine duty of Mithras was to ensure general prosperity through good contractual relations between men. It was believed that misfortune would befall the entire land if a contract was ever broken. . Ahura-Mazda was said to have created Mithras to be as great and worthy as himself. He would fight the spirits of evil to protect the creations of Ahura-Mazda and cause even Ahriman to tremble. Mithras was seen as the protector of just souls from demons seeking to drag them down to Hell, and the guide of these souls to Paradise. As Lord of the Sky, he took the role of psychopomp, conducting the souls of the righteous dead to paradise. . According to Persian traditions, the god Mithras was actually incarnated into the human form of the Savior expected by Zarathustra. Mithras was born of Anahita, an immaculate virgin mother once worshipped as a fertility goddess before the hierarchical reformation. Anahita was said to have conceived the Saviour from the seed of Zarathustra preserved in the waters of Lake Hamun in the Persian province of Sistan. Mithra's ascension to heaven was said to have occurred in 208 B.C.E., 64 years after his birth. Parthian coins and documents bear a double date with this 64 year interval. . Mithras was 'The Great King' highly revered by the nobility and monarchs, who looked upon him as their special protector. A great number of the nobility took theophorous (god-bearing) names compounded with Mithras. The title of the god Mithras was used in the dynasties of Pontus, Parthia,

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Cappadocia, Armenia and Commagene by emperors with the name Mithradates. Mithradates VI, king of Pontus (northern Turkey) in 120-63 B.C.E. became famous for being the first monarch to practice immunization by taking poisons in gradually increased doses. . The terms mithridatism and mithridate (a pharmacological elixir) were named after him. The Parthian princes of Armenia were all priests of Mithras, and an entire district of this land was dedicated to the Virgin Mother Anahita. Many Mithraeums, or Mithraic temples, were built in Armenia, which remained one of the last strong holds of Mithraism. The largest near-eastern Mithraeum was built in western Persia at Kangavar, dedicated to 'Anahita, the Immaculate Virgin Mother of the Lord Mithras'. . Other Mithraic temples were built in Khuzestan and in Central Iran near present-day Mahallat, where at the temple of Khorheh a few tall columns still stand. Excavations in Nisa, later renamed Mithradatkirt, have uncovered Mithraic mausoleums and shrines. Mithraic sanctuaries and mausoleums were built in the city of Hatra in upper Mesopotamia. West of Hatra at Dura Europos, Mithraeums were found with figures of Mithras on horseback. Persian Mithraism was more a collection of traditions and rites than a body of doctrines. However, once the Babylonians took the Mithraic rituals and mythology from the Persians, they thoroughly refined its theology. . The Babylonian clergy assimilated Ahura-Mazda to the god Baal, Anahita to the goddess Ishtar, and Mithras to Shamash, their god of justice, victory and protection (and the sun god from whom King Hammurabi received his code of laws in the 18th century B.C.E.) As a result of the solar and astronomical associations of the Babylonians, Mithras later was referred to by Roman worshippers as 'Sol invictus', or the invincible sun. The sun itself was considered to be "the eye of Mithras". The Persian crown, from which all present day crowns are derived, was designed to represent the golden sun-disc sacred to Mithras. As a deity connected with the sun and its life-giving powers, Mithras was known as 'The Lord of the Wide Pastures' who was believed to cause the plants to spring forth from the ground. . During the time of Cyrus and Darius the Great, the rulers of Persia received the first fruits of the fall harvest at the festival of Mehragan. At this time they wore their most brilliant clothing and drank wine. In the Persian calendar, the seventh month and the sixteenth day of each month

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were also dedicated to Mithras. The Babylonians also incorporated their belief in destiny into the Mithraic worship of Zurvan, the Persian god of infinite time and father of the gods Ahura-Mazda and Ahriman. . They superimposed astrology, the use of the zodiac, and the deification of the four seasons onto the Persian rites of Mithraism. "Astrology, of which these postulates were the dogmas, certainly owes some share of its success to the Mithraic propaganda, and Mithraism is therefore partly responsible for the triumph in the West of this pseudo-science with its long train of errors and terrors." (Franz Cumont, French Mithraic researcher Les Mystères de Mithra, p.125 ) . The Persians called Mithras 'The Mediator' since he was believed to stand between the light of Ahura-Mazda and the darkness of Ahriman. He was said to have 1000 eyes, expressing the conviction that no man could conceal his wrongdoing from the god. Mithras was known as the God of Truth, and Lord of Heavenly Light, and said to have stated "I am a star which goes with thee and shines out of the depths". Mithras was associated with Verethraghna, the Persian god of victory. He would fight against the forces of evil, and destroy the wicked. It was believed that offering sacrifices to Mithras would provide strength and glory in life and in battle. . In the Avesta, Yasht 10, it reads that Mithras "spies out his enemies; armed in his fullest panoply he swoops down upon them, scatters and slaughters them. He desolates and lays waste the homes of the wicked, he annihilates the tribes and the nations that are hostile to him. He assures victory unto them that fit instruction in the Good, that honour him and offer him the sacrificial libations." Mithras was worshipped as guardian of arms, and patron of soldiers and armies. The handshake was developed by those who worshipped him as a token of friendship and as a gesture to show that you were unarmed. When Mithras later became the Roman god of contracts, the handshake gesture was imported throughout the Mediterranean and Europe by Roman soldiers. . In Armenian tradition, Mithras was believed to shut himself up in a cave from which he emerged once a year, born anew. The Persians introduced initiates to the mysteries in natural caves, according to Porphyry, the third century neoplatonic philosopher. These cave temples were created in the image of the World Cave that Mithras had created, according to the

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Persian creation myth. As 'God of Truth and Integrity', Mithras was invoked in solemn oaths to pledge the fulfillment of contracts and punish liars. . He was believed to maintain peace, wisdom, honour, prosperity, and cause harmony to reign among all his worshippers. According to the Avesta, Mithras could decide when different periods of world history were completed. He would judge mortal souls at death and brandish his mace over hell three times each day so that demons would not inflict greater punishment on sinners than they deserved. Sacrificial offerings of cattle and birds were made to Mithras, along with libations of Haoma, a hallucinogenic drink used by Zoroastrian and Hindu priests, equated with the infamous hallucinogen 'Soma' described in the Vedic scriptures. Before daring to approach the altar to make an offering to Mithras, Persian worshippers were obliged to purge themselves by repeating purification rituals and flagellating themselves. These customs were continued in the initiation ceremonies of the Roman neophytes. . The Expansion of Faith . With the rapid expansion of the Persian Empire, the worship of Mithras spread eastward through northern India into the western provinces of China. In Chinese mythology, Mithras came to be known as 'The Friend'. To this day, Mithras is represented as a military General in Chinese statues, and is considered to be the friend of man in this life and his protector against evil in the next. . In India, Mithras was recognized as 'God of Heavenly Light' and an ally of Indra, King of Heaven. Mithras was often prayed to and invoked along with Varuna, the Hindu god of moral law and true speech. Jointly known as 'Mitra-Varuna', it was believed that together they would uphold order in the world while travelling in a shining chariot and living in a golden mansion with a thousand pillars and a thousands doors. Mithras was also praised in the Vedic hymns. Just as in the Zoroastrian Avesta, the Hindu scriptures recognized Mithras as 'God of Light', 'Protector of Truth', and 'Enemy of Falsehood'. . The worship of Mithras also extended westward through what is now Turkey to the borders of the Aegean Sea. A bilingual dedication to Mithras, written in Greek and Aramaic, was found engraved upon a rock in a wild pass near Farasha in the Turkish province of Cappadocia.

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. Mithras was also the only Iranian god whose name was known in ancient Greece. A grotto located near the Greek town of Tetapezus was dedicated to Mithras, before it was transformed into a church. However, Mithraism never made many converts in Greece or in the Hellenized countries. That country never extended the hand of hospitality to the god of its ancient enemies. . According to the Greek historian Plutarch (46-125 C.E.) Mithras was first introduced into Italy by pirates from Cilicia (Southeast Turkey) who initiated the Romans into the secrets of the religion. These pirates performed strange sacrifices on Mount Olympus and practiced Mithraic rituals, which according to Plutarch "exist to the present day and were first taught by them". However, there were many foreign cults in Italy at that time, and these early Mithraists did not attract much attention. . It is one of the great of ironies of history that Romans ended up worshipping the god of their chief political enemy, the Persians. The Roman historian Quintus Rufus recorded in his book History of Alexander that before going into battle against the 'anti-Mithraean country' of Rome, the Persian soldiers would pray to Mithras for victory. However, after the two enemy civilizations had been in contact for more than a thousand years, the worship of Mithras finally spread from the Persians through the Phrygians of Turkey to the Romans. . The Romans viewed Persia as a land of wisdom and mystery, and Persian religious teachings appealed to those Romans who found the established state religion uninspiring - just as during the Cold War era of the 1960's many American university students rejected western religious values and sought enlightenment in the established spirituality of Communist EastAsian "enemy countries". . . THE BIBLE . In the beginning, there was no word but growls and signs guided the instinct of hunter-gatherers on peaceful coexistence in the wilderness and moving apart their whereabouts as resentment occurred. Words came into the flesh as time progressed conversely proportional with time and space. Hunter-gatherers became men and women who settled and needs of leadership prevailed. Morality was born and human traditions were

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necessary to govern. In the later circa, handed down wellbeing were written in cuneiform tablets and later in codices. . Ancient historical records also pointed out that those cuneiform tablets and codices were adapted by shepherd-scribes from the Doctrine of the Kingdoms of Ebla and Mari somewhere around 2,900 years BC, where they were free to move around and does some trades with the inhabitants. Most likely the prevailing civilized society that period that had established system of crude governance. Adaptations through hearsay and evolving through generations, until the period that they had learned to established their system of writing and marking on tablets. Those desert nomads known to be the tribes of the Patriarch, established covenant that bound them together on unity wherever they maybe. . A partial flash back on ancient history shall give us idea on how religion evolved from crude cults to civilize dogmas on our generations. The most prevailing oldest origin was “The Legend of Enuma Elish” where Marduk created the world and the creation of mankind. This legend crept to the different ancient cults in the Kingdom of Mari, which is presently located at Tell Hariri, along Euphrates River and about 120 kilometers southeast of Deir Ezzor, a province of Syria. (Just like what happened to the legend of Sta. Claus … fortunately occurred on a more civilized time and people were adamant to believe but still children does) Most likely, Abraham had absorbed the doctrine during his adolescence in the Kingdom of Haran and Ur, on what is now in the vicinities of Mosul, Iraq. . Unlike the legend of Adam and Eve, the legend of Enuma Elish about creation had been recited to the temples of Ur and Haran for more than 4,000 years way back before Abraham. A great likelihood is in the essence of Genesis, with more civil in narration. Both legends justified incest relationship. . In the later circa, Greek Mythology also evolved into different cults such as Orphism, a dominant religious-cult with a great influenced from the gods of Mount Olympus. The blending of those mystery-cults were practiced by Roman soldiers in form of Roman Mithraism and where Christianity derived and evolved. . In year 325 AD, Constantine the Great called the Council of Nicaea. He ordered the first fifty copies of codices to be undertaken by Bishop Eusebius from the works of a theologian named Origen before circa 231

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AD, from the compilations of available records of the known Political Sanhedrin written by Josephus and convened by Romans in 57 B.C.E. (Taken from the Greek word for council (synedrion), the term was apparently applied to various bodies but became especially the designation for the supreme Jewish legislative and judicial court) Indeed the main theme was an excerpt from the surviving records of the Great Political Sanhedrin as the old Roman Constitution for Palestine during the reigned of Hasmonean dynasty and it should be understand that some thoughts and events were reconciliation of Origen and the rational knowledge of Eusebius suitable for that respective period. . Copies were distributed as far as Great Britain. During the reign of Henry VIII, he ordered the English translation and was printed by Tyndale and Miles Covedale. The monarch then ordered the book to be set up on churches and be read. When James I was enthroned, he authorized the revision and clarification for Bishop Bible those appeared in 1568. During the renaissance age, Queen Victoria came into the throne and the general belief of World creation was 08th day of October 4004 BC, but later was disputed for it was a Sunday. Some scholars that era suggested an adjustment and proposed to be 27 years earlier. Those calculated guesses are irreconcilable on our time. . Reckoning the contents of the Old Testament, after the great exodus Moses revived that covenant into stone tablets as “Jehovah’s Law”. Again there was ambiguity on the word Jehovah as adapted in our time. In cordices, some appeared to be “J” and some “E” as Elohim and interpreted by Greeks as JHVH. It must be understand that JHVH also appeared in Mithraism religious-cult as one of the gods. Hebrews transcribed it later to Yahweh and further erroneously translated by Elizabethan English into Jehovah. So Jehovah Law was established by the Renaissance Age which means Covenant to the Hebrews and later called Bible . . Several Councils of Ambiguity . Arius (250 - 336 CE) proposed that Jesus and God were very separate and different entities: Jesus was closer to God than any other human being, but he was born a man, had no prior existence and was not a god. On the other hand, God has been in existence forever. Arius felt that any attempt to recognize the deity of Christ would blur the lines between Christianity

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and the Pagan religions. If Christianity recognized two separate gods, the Father and Jesus, it would become a polytheistic religion. . Athanasius (296 - 373 CE) argued that Jesus must be divine, because otherwise, he could not be the Savior. The atonement would not have been possible. . Both Arius and Athanasius had large, evenly matched followings among the bishops. Emotions ran high. The council, under intense pressure from Emperor Constantine, resolved its deadlock by a close vote in favor of Athanasius. The dissenting bishops were offered two options: to sign the settlement at Nicea or be exiled. The bishops produced the Nicene Creed, which declared that Jesus Christ was "of one substance with the Father." This did not immediately settle the question of the divinity of Christ; many bishops and churches refused to believe in the council's decision for decades. . "The bishops granted to the bishop of Alexandria [in Egypt] papal authority over the eastern half of the empire, and to the bishop of Rome they granted papal authority over the western portion of the empire.” . 330 CE: Emperor Constantine decided to build a "New Rome" on the site of the Greek city of Byzantium (now at Istanbul, Turkey). It was called Constantinople. It became the center of the largely Christian empire. 5 By this time, the church had evolved from a small, scattering of congregations to a geographically widespread church under the authority of many bishops. . 341 CE: Many now believe that Christianity became the dominant religion of the Empire through the evangelical efforts of the early church during the fourth century CE. The evidence seems to show that this is not true; "The Greek-Roman world was not...converted to a new religion, but compelled to embrace it." The Church authority had became concentrated in the five bishops or patriarchs located in Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, Jerusalem and Rome. Although they were officially given equal status, the Bishop of Rome was considered by many to be the first among equals. . 381 CE: At the Council of Constantinople, the earlier council's decision on the deity of Jesus was confirmed and Arianism was formally declared a

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heresy. They also voted that Holy Spirit was the third Person of the Trinity. Almost all of the churches abandoned Arianism after this council. . Near the end of the century, the Roman Emperor “Theodosius decreed that the doctrine of the Trinity was to be the official state religion and that all his subjects should adhere to it." Siricius who reigned from 384 to 399 CE, became the first bishop of Rome to be called Pope (father) . 431 CE: The Council of Ephasus was called to debate the precise nature of Jesus. Again, there were two main competing belief systems. . From the city of Alexandria, scholars developed the Alexandrian School of Thought which: . Promoted the allegorical interpretation of the Bible – that it contained hidden meanings. . • Emphasized the divinity of Jesus • Recognized that Jesus had both human and divine nature . Within the city of Antioch, Nestorius and other scholars developed the Antiochene School which: . • Rejected an allegorical interpretation of the Bible • Emphasized the humanity of Jesus • Saw the two nature of Jesus as being loosely connected . The Council excommunicated Nestorian and declared his beliefs (Nestorianism) to be heresy. The Virgin Mary's status was elevated from the mother of Jesus to "theotokos", the mother of God. . 440 CE: Pope Leo I became the Bishop -- a post that he held for 21 years. He maintained that the pope was highest ranking of the Christian bishops. . 451 CE: Emperor Marcian called the Council of Chalcedon to resolve still another debate about Jesus. The traditional belief that Jesus had both a divine and human nature was being challenged by Monophysitism, an outgrowth of the Alexandrian school. Their followers believed that Christ had only a single divine nature. The council rejected that belief. In their Chalcedonian Definition, they affirmed that Christ had two natures, human and divine. These were without confusion, without change, without

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division, without separation." This formulation has survived as the traditional belief to the present day among almost all branches of Christendom. The East Syrian (Nestorian) church and the Oriental Orthodox Christian church disagreed with the council's decision, and split off from the rest of Christianity in the first major schism from Pauline Christianity. . A minor, little known, statement of the Council was Canon #15: "No woman under 40 years of age is to be ordained a deacon, and then only after close scrutiny." 1 This is believed to be the last time in church history that the ordination of women was mentioned as a routine practice, until modern times. . During the 5th century CE, various Germanic tribes invaded Rome and destroyed much of the Roman Empire. Meanwhile, the church centered in Rome successfully converted the invaders to Christianity. Authority within the church was coalescing around the Bishop of Rome in the west and the Patriarch of Constantinople in the east. Divisions between the two power centers in the Christian church gradually intensified. . Gnostic Christianity’s membership went into a steep decline nearing the sixth century and by 553 CE: Emperor Justinian called The Second Council of Constantinople. He invited equal numbers of bishops from each of the five patriarchal sees. The Bishop of Rome, Pope Vigilius saw that many more bishops from the east than from the west would be present. He refused to attend. . The council concentrated on the writings of three Christian leaders: Theodore of Mopsuestia, Theodoret and Ibas. All three were condemned by the council as heretics: "We observed that the pupils of Nestorius were trying to bring their heresy into the church of God by means of the heretical Theodore, bishop of Mopsuestia and his books as also by the writings of the heretical Theodoret and the disgraceful letter which is alleged to have been sent by Ibas to Mari the Persian. Our observations prompted us to correct what was happening. We assembled in this imperial city, summoned here by the will of God and the command of the most religious emperor. . Gnostic Christianity ceased being a significant force by the 6th century. The only group to have continuously survived into modern times is the Mandaean sect of Iraq and Iran. This group currently numbers fewer than

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15,000. Gnostic Christianity has been revitalized in the West and is now growing rapidly. . The eastern and western branches of Christianity continued their process of separation. This was caused by a variety of factors: . . The Slavs invasions in the Balkans. . The religious language in the west was Latin, while the eastern church used Greek. Bilingual theologians became increasingly rare. . “While the intellectual thought of Eastern Christianity was driven by Greek teachers, Western Christianity came to be dominated by the teachings of Augustine of Hippo." (354 – 386 CE) . "Although the two regions belonged to the same church, they became increasingly remote from each other." A formal split did not occur until 1054 CE when the Roman Catholic church and Eastern Orthodox churches formally separated. Although discussions are currently underway to bring the two churches into some form of unity, little progress is being made. . Going back to the Council of Nicene, the birthday of Jesus was fixed on the 25th day of December in order to preserved the feast day of Sol Invictus and Mithra as favored to the deity of Constantine the Great. Prior to the fixing of Jesus birthday, every 25th day of December the feast of Sol Invictus, known to be the goddess of the Rising Sun, were celebrated with great jubilation. Small green branches of trees decorated with little lights were paraded. This most likely the origin of our Christmas trees. However if we shall based Jesus birth in accordance to the description of the Bible, it should be about mid-summer. What a great cult and religious compromise that cater the likeness of Christianity and Mithraism on particular items; . . Religious Evolution . During the period of the Twelve Tribes of the Patriarch, this Covenant was the only essence that bound them together against their common enemies for they were all desert nomads (Bedouins) spread-out through the fertile

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crescent. They had established their kingdom too, just later to be conquered and subjected to deportation to Babylon. . During their generations of exile, the only consolations and identities were to clung on Covenant that bound them together. As one can observe Jews around the World today. Lots of lost, unrecorded events and executions until the time of Henry VIII of England and onward. . One sensational event was the imprisonment of Galileo Galilei. His only motive was to save his church from error that the Earth revolve around the Sun and not the Sun revolve around the Earth as dogma dictated on those circa. He was condemned for blasphemy. The ancient church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva had been the stage of his punishment for it stood beside the Dominican convent used by Jesuit Priests who was the Masters of scientific teaching in Rome were Galileo’s judges. Again, one of the greatest religious ambiguity that did not escape from the judgment of history although great amount of initiatives were invested to sealed the event from public knowledge. . Another great religious momentous was the Council of Trent on 08th day of April 1546. The Declaration of the Bible to be the "WORD OF GOD". It was the great consensus called on that particular time needed to reinforce religious faith being on the verge of collapse. However the side effects, was the propagation of different religious sects. The intangible resources and capitalism; the Word of God. . However time evolve. These dogmas can not sustain the suppression of truth and shall fade away on natural weariness of time and neither the fitted religious anathema can hold humanity from seeking the coveted realism, that God came down to Earth and into the human flesh and die, just because someone had eaten the forbidden fruit. Now is the high time for humanity to depart from religious ambiguity and search transcendent reality. . Leaping forward to our present time, some eminent evangelists in 1909 were irate of religious rhetoric and published series of pamphlets entitled; “On Fundamentals” insisted upon to return to the basis of the Protestant faith that doctrine shall derived solely from the Bible. And this was the birth of “Fundamentalism” which most likely echoed to some Muslim Fundamentalists, based on Mohammed opening phrase when he depended his Quran to the Meccans.

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. Going back to the years when this greatly contested areas was occupied by the Roman Empire, Essene Society and Qumran Monastery already existed. It was founded as School of Thoughts including Pythagoras Mathematics, Natural Science and Astronomy. The mission of which was to reconcile the World existence through the investigation of phenomena. Here, 365 days calendar was calibrated and applied hence after. . The time when Jesus was already member of the celibate at the age of 17 years old, Essence Society became a Nationalist in character where both Pharisees and Sadducees were members. There was a disparity in the age of Jesus. During His age of 12 in the temple, the actual must be about 16 for His birthday was about 5 BC. Religious and political issues were undertaken which greatly influenced the formation of the New Testament. Now, if they had partially amended the Covenant for the suitability of that time, why not further amend for the essence of our generation. . It appears in the “Dead Sea Scroll” translation that some events were not accorded to or scrapped from the translations of the New Testament. Most likely for some sensitivities that shall harm the current dogma. . One crucial event was the crucifixion of the three Nationalists, namely Simon Magus, Judas Escariot and Jesus, where the chronology were not fully discussed. It appeared that only Judas died in the tomb through suffocation after taken down from the cross. The near-death of Jesus and the later involvement in the mission. It also appears in the translation that Jesus did not experienced death in that particular moment but was revived by Simon Magus inside the tomb and was later taken to heaven and stayed there until the age of 36. Luke 24:50&51; Mathew 28:11-15 and Mark 16:4246; Experienced those time were someone took three days to die on the cross. Heaven is the holiest place on Essene Hierarchy inside the ascetic monastery of Qumran. . Jesus later was a shadow figure in the mission using the pseudonym “X” and Maranatha, for it was already reported in Rome that the three nationalists were executed and those relieved the political pressure. It also appears in the translation that Jesus was physically present during the Council of Ephesus in 70 AD and His last appearance was recorded in the Book of Revelation using the title “ The Lamb”. In the translation also appears that Jesus traveled with Paul to Rome. .

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The only hint of today’s theology is when Jesus declared to Peter; “ On this Rock, You will build my Church,” for Rome that time was so formidable and powerful empire, as comparison to a rock. No more was stated about Jesus but in 73 AD during the wedding of His son Jesus Justus in Rome, was accompanied by a coronation showing that his Father had died. . . Paul the Formator . During the time of Athanasius and Augustine, they had several sects of Christianity Arians, Donatists, Manichaeans, some gnostics and a remnant of the original followers of Jesus and James (the Ebionites who were soon to be extinct.) The first Christianity to deify Jesus was Arianism actually invented by Shaul/Saul/Paul, but Named Arian after Bishop Arius nearly 200 years later. A Pagan cult later was founded on Jesus. It was modified by Tertullian who designed the Trinity. It qualified as Pagan through the full deification of Jesus by Athanasius and Augustine. Athanasian Trinitarianism was the one out of several Christian cults that Constantine made official. . However, Constantine's Trinitarianism was already mostly Eastern Pagan (largely Persian with some Greek and Egyptian components). They didn't need to convert most of the eastern pagans because the new Christianity was essentially Pagan with a rather generic pagan virgin born god-man who died and resurrected. Pagans just changed his name from Aten, Horus, or Mithra to Jesus Christ and carried on business as usual. . Still there were many Pagans of western origin and Egyptians who were slaughtered by the Imperial Troops of Theodosius I and Justinian. NonChristian Pagan temples were either destroyed or converted into Churches. The true numbers of pagans killed is shrouded in history because it was suppressed. Records were mostly destroyed. But pockets of religious antiquity apparently survived for some centuries in rural areas. The word Pagan is from Paganus (meaning rural, rustic, or peasant.) They survived the persecutions in remote farm villages in western forested areas of the British Isles, France, Germany, Poland, and the Balkans. . Things would have turned out differently if they had murdered every Pagan in the empire. No one knows how it would have turned out if James

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and the Apostles of the original faith of Jesus had not driven Paul out of Israel. But they did drive Paul out of Jerusalem. Israel stayed with the Judaic faith. Paul later constructed a Pagan Religion with parts from Judaism, Mithraism, the Cult of Sol Invictus, and Greek Philosophy that could be acceptable to the Pagans of the Empire. . . . . European Influence . In Ireland, the people were easily converted by Patrick (Padraig) because he presented it in a Druidic way. Even Druids and Bards made up a large number of the first ordained Christian priests in the Celtic lands. The festivals of the Celtic faith were kept and well preserved in detail, but given Christian names. Shrines and sacred healing springs once dedicated to older goddesses were assigned to the Virgin Mary. Ceremonies to Lugh the sun god were now to Jesus. The Pagan trinity of Dagda or Aed Álainn (father), Lugh (son), and Danu or Brigit (Earth mother) by a little slight of hand was transformed into the Christian Trinity. The shamrock was already the symbol of the Celtic Pagan Trinity so it became the symbol of the new Christian Trinity. Irish Pagans already had a cross. It was a very intricately decorated cross with a central circle and interweaving matrix pattern with nature symbols. It had been in Ireland for at least 600 years before Christ. . But it did not have the image of a corpse on it. Initially the corpse bearing Christian Crucifix was ridiculed by resistant Druid Pagans as the “Dead God.” So for centuries the Celtic Christian cross remained the old Pagan Celtic cross with no body of Christ attached. Because Ireland lay beyond the reach of the Pope, she could get away with displaying the very beautiful old cross and maintain a married clergy, until after the Norman and English conquests. . Christianity's Pagan Inheritance: . • Baptism (Mithraism) • Eucharistic Meal of symbolic eating of God (Mithraism) • Saving Grace (Mithraism) • Mitre of Mithraic bishops adopted by Christian Bishops

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• •

Christmas – December 25 birthday of Jesus, Mithra, Lieu, Ligh, Hesus, Aten and Sol Invictus “Sun” Day Sabbath – canceling the Judaic 7th day Sabbath Spring Equinox – from Ostern Nordic festival

• . . Celtic Mythology and Celtic Religion . We do know that the Celtic religion was nature based (trees, water, etc.), what Neo-Pagans now call "earth spirituality". It is thought that there were three classes of "clergy", druid, bard and ovate, with differing functions, though it's difficult to pinpoint these differences. Some feel it was a question of degree and level of training. Seership was a highly developed and a very important function. Druids not only led spiritually, but functioned as arbiters and judges. There is some evidence to suggest that the druid hierarchy spanned Celtic Europe with some archdruids (àrddraoidh) having ultimate jurisdiction over large areas. . These manuscripts were Irish and Welsh, with the Irish being earlier. Since this site deals with Scotland, it the Irish tradition we will discuss, as that is the mythology that went to Dal Riada along with fledging Christianity and that informs Highland folklore and customs to this day (as well as many of our own). . The Celtic calendar was lunar based, with thirteen months. Extra days as needed were added at New Year’s as a "time between times." Their year was divided into eight segments, each with a corresponding festival. The four fire festivals take place on the last evening of a month and the following day because the Celts, like the Jews, count a day from sunset to sunset. That's why we celebrate All Hallows Eve, Midsummer's Eve and so on. . These four “Fire Festivals” are tied to the agricultural cycle as follows; . SAMHAIN is celebrated on October 31-November 1 (our Halloween). It is the end of the harvest, the beginning of winter and once marked the Celtic New Year. At Samhain, the barrier between our world and the Otherworld thins, allowing contacts between the spirits (faeries) and humans. Normal rules of human conduct do not apply and one may "run wild". Great bonfires are lit and participants join hands and circle the fire, or young

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men take blazing torches and circle (sun wise) their homes and lands to protect them from evil spirits. This was also a festival of the dead and the church was easily able to transform these holidays into All Saint's Day (November 01) and All Soul’s Day (November 02) . IMBOLC is celebrated February 1-2 (later transformed into CANDLEMAS by the church, and popular now as Groundhog Day). IMBOLC marked the beginning of spring, the beginning of new life (in Britain the beginning of lambing season). Dedicated to the ancient mother goddess in her maiden aspect, it was later transformed into a feast day for the Irish saint of the same name (and attributes) St. Brigid. . BEALTAINE (BEALLTAINN in Scots Gaelic, meaning May Day), celebrated April 30-May 1. This is the third festival of the agricultural year. The myth surrounding this festival is common to many ancient pagan religions. The god, BEL (or CERNUNOS, the horned god of Ireland) dies but is reborn as the goddess' son. He then impregnates her ensuring the never-ending cycle of rebirth. This is very basic FERTILITY worship. May Day traditions includes young people picking flowers in the woods (and spending the night there), and the dance around the May Pole, weaving red (for the god) and white (for the goddess) streamers round and round. A great bonfire celebrates the return of the sun. In Ireland, the first bonfire was lit on Tara by the High King followed by all the others. On May Day itself, the Highland tradition has the entire community leading the cattle to summer pasturage, not to return until Samhain. . LUGHNASADH (Lammas in England) is the final celebration of the agricultural year. It is the feast of the god Lugh and the first fruits of the harvest (generally wheat or corn). LUGHNASADH is celebrated August 31September 1. In Scotland, the first stalks of corn are called "John Barleycorn", of course, and were used to make the first beer of the fall season. Now, John Barleycorn refers to that greatest of Scots drinks (many distilleries are closed for August, reopening for the fall whiskymaking season on September 1). This festival, as celebrated in England, gives me the willies, reminding me of that great horror novel by Thomas Tryon, Harvest Home. At Lammas, the Corn King dies (to be reborn at spring), ensuring plenty for the winter. . The other four holidays of the Celtic year are the Solar festivals of LIGHT. They celebrate the spring and fall equinoxes and the winter and summer

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solstices. Each name contains the word "Alban" meaning "Light of". The name for ancient Scotland was Alba. . ALBAN ARTHUAN (Light of Arthur),or ALBAN GEAMHRADH (in Scotland) like WINTER SOLSTICE celebrations all over the world, celebrates the return of the sun following the shortest day in the year. It's no wonder the church adopted these holidays as the birthdate of the Son. From ancient Celtic and Norse mythology we enjoy such holiday traditions as holly and mistletoe (sacred to the druids), the Yule log, Santa Claus in his aspects of Father Christmas or the Holly King. Supposedly, King Arthur was born on the winter solstice in Breatainn (and he, too, will come again). In Ireland and Scotland it is Lugh, the Sun God, and son of the High God Aed Álainn. Lugh is also born of a Human Virgin, much like the later story of Jesus. [And like Jesus he is to return to save the Celts.] . Ireland celebrates Christmas much more enthusiastically than Scotland. Under the Old Christian Kirk at its strictest, Christmas was viewed as an idolatrous celebration and not observed. Today, the more secularized Scots put most of their merry-making efforts into Hogmanay, the New Year's celebration. . The spring (vernal) equinox is celebrated as ALBAN EILEAN* (Light of the Earth). The equinoxes were considered a time of balance, not only between dark and light, but between worlds as well and, therefore, a time of high magical potential. More mundanely, this festival signified the time for spring planting and fertility rituals. . ALBAN TRAIGH* (Light of the Shore) is celebrated as Midsummer's Day with games, picnics, and all manner of light-hearted fun. The antics of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by Shakespeare well captures the spirit of this festival, including the interaction between our people and those of the faerie world. . Finally, ALBAN UISGE* (Light of the Water) is observed at the autumn equinox and, like the spring equinox, is a very sacred time when the line between worlds is thin and magical possibilities abound. . Much more seems to be known about the four fire festivals (which are still celebrated in many traditional ways) than the four solar festivals. Were the solar festivals mainly druidic sacred times in which lay participation was minimal (it would seem that some of the neo-druids have taken this view

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and make rather more of these dates than the Irish and Scots do)? Or could the solar celebrations pre-date druidism, belonging to the Stonehenge builders, the Tara People, and falling slowly into disuse? This seems a possibility since the Celtic calendar is lunar based, rather than solar. [Genetic markers show that the Scottish Highlanders and the Irish of West Ireland and Ulster are the major descendents of the Tara People, the Henge builders.] . In any case, we find in Celtic mythology a strong foundation in ancient goddess (mother earth) known by different names (Sila na nGig, Danu, or Brigit.) Celtic Religion is/was a fertility religion (common throughout the ancient world.) . It merged with the peculiar emphasis on the OTHERWORLD and its accessibility to mankind found in the druid religion. More than any other people, perhaps, the Celts live with one foot in this world and one in the other. The druid belief was that we are composed of mind, body and spirit with spirit acting as the bonding agent between body and mind, rather than an elevated or qualitatively different state of being. Similar beliefs in Christianity suggest the possibility that they were Druidic beliefs incorporated in the composite religion of Christianity. . Thereby, we are enabled to travel between worlds, if we know how, or if we are born with the gift. Combined with the druidic belief in reincarnation, there is little fear of the Otherworld and the faerie world is simply an alternate reality, rather than a higher plane. . There are lots of books here to choose from organized roughly from top to bottom in the areas of ancient Celtic mythology and religion, the Irish myths (I did not include the Welsh myths, as it was the Irish sagas that traveled to Scotland), and, finally, druidism. . The subject of the old religions only take issue with the comment that Christianity was invented suddenly and thus differs from those religions that evolved with human cultures. The mechanics of Christianity in fact evolved over about 8000 years or more. It was only the name which came about more or less suddenly in the reign of Emperor Constantine. The particular patchwork religion that Constantine sanctioned was composed of many parts of older religions. The Syncretism of those Pagan Religions with a rather distorted version of Judaism into one organized state cult was rather sudden.

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. But all of the components of the composite religion known as Christianity had indeed evolved over many millennia. . Christianity is not very unique. Many religions have been constructed from bits and pieces of older religions. Christianity is only unique because it was invented in historical times when its gestation/embryology could be recorded. . Paul was the catalyst if not inventor of early Christianity. He is a good candidate because he was a Jew. But he was no ordinary Jew. He was a "Hellenized Jew" fluent in Greek, and Aramaic. He was raised in a city called Tarsus not in Palestine. It was in Cilicia, an Indo-European region of Asia Minor, where people were mixed Luvian, Achaean Greek, Armenian, with remnants of Hittites, Cappadocian, and Macedonians. Those people all adhered to variations of the Old Indo-European Religion of 8000 BC which gave rise to Old Iranian, Zoroastrian, Old Aryan to Hinduism, Tocharian, Thracian-Cimmerian, Greek, Hittite, Roman, Illyrian, Celtic, and Germanic etc. These were polytheistic and evolved into the "Eastern Mystery Cults” in the Eastern Roman Empire. . The major ones in Cilicia/Tarsus were Mithraic (most men and most soldiers), Cybele (women only), Sol Invictus, Neo-Platonic, Stoicism, and the Imperial Roman Cult. There was a Jewish minority but under heavy Indo-European influence. Paul was likely more familiar with Mithraism than Judaism. But he was familiar with the Jesus Cult in Palestine, a sect of Judaism based on a Yeshua who may have lived and died during the reign of King Alexander Jannaeus before the Romans arrived on the Jerusalem scene. Yeshua taught moral principles with compassion and love deviant from the harshness of Old Judaism. . Legend here in Ireland has it that when Padraig (Patrick) converted Ireland, he won the support of Druid by appointing them as Christian priests on the same day that they would agree to convert. Celtic Christianity for the early centuries was believed to incorporate Druid philosophy. . Aed Álainn or Dagda became God the Father. Lugh the Son of Aed Álainn by impregnation of a human virgin, was a god-man long before Jesus, became Jesus. The Mother Goddesses Brigit, Sila na nGig, or Danu were represented at sacred springs. The Goddesses were merged into the

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Virgin Mary who also inherited most of the springs. Brigid held on to a few by being transformed from a Goddess into a Christian Saint. Bel the Antlered God of Ireland (Cernunnos of Britain and Gaul) the bringer of spring rebirth and protector of nature was degraded to the Christian Evil God, Satan. (BTW, Satan is in every way a god, the counterpart of the Zoroastrian Aingra Maingu or Ahriman God of Darkness. Satan/Aingra Maingu) opposes the Good God of Light Ahura Mazda (Ormuzd) or Dagda, Jupiter, and Zeus (all of whom are Father of the Gods, or Eochaidh Ollathair in Irish.) . So while Celtic Christianity was just Druidism under a new set of names, it became Catholicism only after the Norman Conquest placed the Celtic Church under the Roman Pope's authority, in the 12th Century. It was then that Roman Catholic priestly celibacy was imposed on the Irish. . Christianity continues to Evolve. In the Americas, it incorporated Native Mayan, Aztec, and Inca rituals and even the gods. Native American animist festivals are still celebrated today with the local parish priest taking part. . . Jesus as the Hypothetical God . Jesus was crucified in the middle of the day or afternoon. He was taken down before sunset. It means his time on the cross may have been anywhere from one to five hours. Victims of crucifixion often lingered an agonizing death on the cross for up to three days. Death in a couple of hours is fishy. . So he was supposedly placed in a tomb/cave much like Mithra had been placed. If sundown was 7 pm, and he was in the tomb, at that time, then he spent 5 hours on Friday, 24 hours on Saturday, and 7 hours on Sunday when he walked out. That is 36 hours. Three days, or Three nights is misleading. The number three was picked because it is a magic number and applied to Jonah, Mithra, Apollonius, and most of the other virgin born god-man resurrecting redeemers. . If the couple hours on the cross produced hypoxia, and brain ischaemia, with acidosis so severe as to kill Jesus then we have a different scenario. He may have dropped his blood pressure so low or suffered cardiac arrest to lose consciousness. In this case his brain was getting no oxygen and no blood flow. He not only had anoxia. He had lack of blood perfusion with

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O2 and glucose. There was no venous blood removing CO2 and other toxins of metabolism. The build-up of neurotransmitter amines and glutamate plus the destruction of calcium channels in the neurons led to Calcium influx, potassium out flux, water permeation and cell swelling and bursting. . After a couple hours in this severe state the neuronal nuclei would break up. Mitochondria would burst and cease cellular metabolism. Swelling cells would rupture. In a few more hours his brain, axons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes would necrose. His capillary network would fragment with clots in the stasis of blood flow. . Then the brain would turn into a semi-liquid mush. All fibre circuits would be erased. All memories, language functions, learned motor skills (walking), cognitive processing, emotional circuits, vision, hearing, and autonomic regulation. That rather multi-modal autonomic network would control temperature regulation, sweating, cardiac rate regulation, blood pressure control systems, sexual accessory sequence programmes, and the conscious on-off ARAS switch. All of this would have already been lost. . In such a body, the necrotic brain can produce no electrical saltatory transmission. No synapses would be left anyway. This is "Brain Death" which are compelled to determine to my great sadness in patients about once per week. Once true Brain Death is determined by: . 1. Loss of pupillary reflexes; 2. Loss of reflexive eye movements (Doll’s eyes and caloric responses); 3. Loss of corneal responses; 4. Absence of any spontaneous breathing trigger with measured hypoxial hypercabia; 5. Loss of patterned motor responses (flaccid paralysis); 6. Flat lined EEG done twice 24 hours apart, or non-flow on MRAngiography; 7. In the 24-hour period, blood tests showing zero sedative drug levels; 8. Then that is the final form of death, irreversible Brain Death/necrosis. . None have ever recovered if all 8 criteria are met, in multiple different studies. Since there are no shortages of people dying, the numbers in studies summated are 5 digits. Unfortunately the gospel writers never mentioned the following;

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. 1. No one noted a carotid, radial or femoral pulse of Jesus; 2. No one noted pupillary reactions, (size, symmetry, light and accommodation); 3. No one noted his ocular motor reflexes (Doll’s eye, Cold water calorics); 4. No one checked his patterned motor responses that may persist in some reversible comas; 5. No one recorded total flaccid paralysis, decerebrate or decorticate rigidity, myoclonus; 6. No one noted listening to his heart according to the gospels; 7. No one noted listening to his lungs with an ear or stethoscope; 8. No one oted presence or absence of corneal reflexes; 9. No one noted muscle tone. . Naturally no EEG was done. So we don’t know if he was flat-lined. All of the above minus the EEG are very specific easy tests for brain death. Roman soldiers may have known those reactions, especially their medics. . So we can’t say with certainty if he died…on the cross or later of senile dementia or other cause. Until very recent times and in many substandard medical care facilities, determinations of death or brain death prove to be incorrect when the patient awakens screaming in the Morgue. Did Jesus actually die based on the written narrative? We may never know. And if did not die, the rest of the story would be different. There would not have been a resurrection. It would have be recovery from reversible coma not death. And we would be celebrating Mithra’s birth on December 25, as Mithramas. . So if Jesus really died, and was dead 36 or 39 hours, his brain was a featureless mush. No blood flow meant no oxygen, no removal of glutamate, no prevention of open Calcium ion channels, and no maintenance of membrane stability of neurones. Then apoptosis (cell death) occurred. There was nothing with which to activate the cortex for consciousness, no perception, no awareness, no vision, no hearing, no tactile sensation, no motor neuronal firing along axons to activate muscles, no circuits to think, or circuits to talk. There would be no neurons, no axons, and no synapses to transmit data. . To truly resurrect as the person Jesus, his entire brain would have to be remade from scratch with intact neurons, axons, myelin sheathes, synapses, ample concentrations of neurotransmitters at pre-synaptic

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nerve endings, and normal transmitter receptors on healthy dendrites of neurons. The new brain would have to be an exact copy of his original brain down to each synapse in the right place. And the trillions of circuits (and million billion synapses) of the individual person would have to be exactly re-duplicated in the pre-death patterns. His entire life memories would have to be reinstalled into the circuitry of his brain, the most complex computer in history. That has never been known to occur. One must postulate very special magic, and magic has yet to be proven to exist. The burden of proof that Jesus died and resurrected is on the person making that extraordinary implausible claim. What is the proof that he died? Nobody did even a superficial cursory neurological exam. And how can they explain the rewiring of the most complex computer ever known aside from magic. . So a truly dead Jesus resurrecting would not be possible outside of the realm of fantastic magic and fantasy thinking. Believers would say nothing is impossible with the excuse...miracles (i.e. magic). But that is unprovable. Magic is a cop out when one cannot explain the impossible. It is trying to explain the impossible with the unknown. . So either Jesus died end of story; or he awoke from transient shocktrauma coma (not a true resurrection from the dead.) But we can't have both. And we will never know. . Option 1. Jesus died in on the cross, brain liquidified, and there could have been no resurrection. . Option 2. Jesus didn't die on the cross, but recovered lying in the tomb and awoke from transient coma, to some day die of some other natural cause such as Old age in India (one story) . Option 3. Jesus didn't exist in real life. He was a fictional hero of the Joseph Campbell variety. His life was founded on the virgin birth, godman, redeemers who died and resurrected in 16 older Pagan cults. Paul, and other Church Fathers superimposed the personality of Melchizcedek to satisfied the supposed coming of the redeemer or simply infused with Mithraism, consciously or unconsciously absorbed Mithra's biography for the fictional Jesus. . . Rationale

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. Even Jesus had not substantiated the true description of God (where, what, how & when was the true origin) - in the sense that future generation shall no longer argue its ambiguous description. He left us open and circular phrases as the battle cry of religion. And unfortunately, was the free for all interpretation of later generations. Some entities had more influenced and authority (anathema) over the others and had the sole accessed in literature and later the formation of the most ambiguous faith back-up by literary heresy integrated in some lines of the bible. Truly ... it was the later generation intervention that strengthened the ambiguous belief. If Jesus of Nazareth was truly God as Christian had conceived ... World had no chaos today. . The point is, God has the qualities that Man doesn't have . . . qualities that Man himself knows he cannot have . . .omnipotence, omniscience et al. . Man dies. But he fears death and wants to live longer, he then created God in order for him to look up to something after death. God now is immortal. . Man cannot do everything. He feels inadequate he cannot fulfill bigger tasks, he then created God so that he can let God do the 'impossible' things for him. God now is omnipotent. . Man (so far) cannot understand everything. He thinks he cannot explain everything around him, he then created God so that he can get short-cut answers to his inquiries. God now is omniscient. . Man is alone. He distrusts his fellow for they've done awful things to him, he then made God his companion and he won't be needing anyone anymore. He also wants God to watch over him wherever he is. God now is selfless and omnipresent. . God is Man's model. It has become so powerful that he fears his creation already. So in order for him to get everybody else

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to appreciate his creation, God had 'perfect human qualities' -sincere, loving, faithful et al. No one should want to praise a frightening God right? Now it has become Man's perfect model to emulate. . God is the manifestation of Man's need for perfection. He created God to compensate his flaws. THE QURAN . Mohammed on his prime was a noted merchant in Mecca and it was not his motive to propagate another version of religion nor to establish a system of governance but his desert experiences in caravan trading urged him to formulate sort of moral ascendancy to guide Nomads on the Basic Principle of Righteousness. Fear should motivate those desert menace to minimized if not eliminated harassment to the caravan trades. Indeed the motivation was socioeconomic sustainability of their community. Something has to be done until he adopted the Essene Principle of Righteousness and Pacifism. In year 610 AD declared that he was the new prophet given a God message through Archangel Gabriel. . When Meccans challenged Mohammed to perform miracle as proof of his divine mission, his defense; He appealed boldly that the book taking shape on his supervision to be so wonderful works expressing profound and majestic of religious truth. Surely, had not written by a mere man as himself for he was unlettered but a miracle that had came down from heaven. Like Jesus, Mohammed practiced the utterance of guarded words and Quran most likely is a slight slip from Qumran and in acknowledgement of his Essene tutor and further more Kaba (stone of Makkah) came from the Hebrew root word of Kaballah, meaning to receive or to accept the doctrine. Allah is the suffix of Kaballah thus combine meaning is the “Acceptance of Doctrine”. Or Alaha as god in Hebrew. This simply shows that thoughts of Old Testament (the Torah) have no distant difference. . During his initial preaching in 622 AD, was chased by Meccan tribes and took refuge in Medina where he lived with Jewish community. Mustering strength in 630 AD, conquered Mecca where he established his domain. Also around those period that he motivated Jihad to boost the moral of his people in depending his good cause. .

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After His death in 632 AD, his friend Abu Bekr succeeded him and organized the records properly and were transcribed. At about 650 AD, a fresh version was prepared and regarded as the canonical virtue. Three copies were made integrating guidelines for traditional governance and sent each to Damascus, Basrah and Kupa. The original was preserved in the Mosque at Medina where Mohammed was buried. Again some disparity of adapting calendar for Mohammed had obtained the old copy of the Essene Scroll prior to the calibration of a factual calendar – an ego that failed to rationalize. There is no reason to doubt that indeed Quran posses excellent and wonderful verses. . Most likely, the promoters of the present suicide bombers (or in plain language the assassins) are rigorist who take advantage to hide themselves on religion and to inject anathema to move people and exploit the primitiveness of knowledge for the satisfaction of their designed greed. . This strategy is a reckoning of the 12th century when Muslim was divided into Orthodox Sunnites, who were the followers of Prophet Mohammed and the Unorthodox Shiites who only accepted the earthly rule of the Prophet descendants. . Some Shiites further branched to Ismailites where Hassan Ben Sabban after so many oddities traveling around promoting Ismailism reach Daylam, part of Persia southern highland adjacent to the Caspian Sea. Atop the two thousand meters rock in Elburr Mountain, he found the castle of Alamut, which were the refuges of the independent Shiites. . Here he installed himself the Chief or the Sheik, choosing Sheik Al Jebal, literally translated as the old man of the mountains (similar to present day Osama) that instilled respect amongst his men and terrorized his opponents. After him came the three Dai-Al Kirbal or the summoner and then the Dai’s as missionaries who went out to conduct recruitment, the Fidas or the devoted ones were the predecessor of Fadayeen and later the Al Queda terrorists on Middle East during the closing of 20th and beginning of 21st century. Below them were the Lasiks or the masses that were used for menial works (and now sources of suicide bomber recruits) but knew nothing of the upper echelons. . It was undoubtedly a genius organization as shown in the manner on how Hassan took over the castle and from this vantage location, he sent out

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his missionaries to surrounding villages to convert inhabitants into Ismailism while housing his recruits around the castle. Exotic chambers and gardens were created at Alamut where neophytes were catered and thought about paradise. Dancing girls and musical instruments entertained the new comers and hashish were served to provide great satisfaction. . Novitiates have ultimate sensual pleasure, which now controlled their wellbeing and then brought to the sheik with assurance of eternal pleasure in paradise and would repay implicit and blind obedience. The drugged youths underwent brainstorming sessions after sessions and with great emphasized of the word … KILL! … KILL! … KILL! After their minds were under controlled, graduated with a golden dagger. So the hashish or hashasin eaters gave their name as Assassins, which later our dictionaries adapted the word. . Hassan exploited the blind obedience of those assassins to the outmost satisfaction of his greed. On his reign, whoever ran against his teaching of Ismailism was assassinated. And now on our modern times, bombs instead of golden daggers are use but the same paradise and religious anathema and motivations are being employed in obtaining blind obedience to the “Unlucky Recruits”. . Now, to rationalize the true motive of the above, can they qualify to be called Muslim? Muslim is a teaching of Islam and Islam is peace. This is the true motive of Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon Him) when preaching righteousness amongst the nomadic tribes. Or are we dealing with “Designed Greed”. . It appears now that some quarters inclined on the Fundamentalism of Ismailite and hence Ismailism had departed from the principle of Shiite dogma where Shiite had also deviated from the original Sunnite that was the Orthodox Muslim where Islam is the sole teaching. The general feeling therefore, that true sense of Fundamentalist does not belong anymore to Islam but just keep on using Muslim as their cover and protection to pursue their designed greed. They have to use genius and all drastic means to endeavor their “WILL” to the world inhabitants as had Hassan Ben Sabban, the self-proclaimed sheik has done to took-over the Castle of Alamut for the foundation of Ismailite Doctrine with the used of his Assassins. .

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Malcolm X a.k.a. El Hajj Malik El Shabazz quoted before his death on February 21, 1965 and it quote: “ I did many things as Muslim that I am sorry now. I was a zombie then - like all rigorist Muslims – I was hypnotized, pointed in a certain direction and told to march. Well, I guess a man is entitled to make a fool of himself if he’s ready to pay the price. It cost me twelve years in limbo and a death warrant.

. The next day while standing at the rostrum of Audubon Ballroom on speaking engagement, was assassinated at 1:30 post meridian in Harlem, New York. . . Commentary to All Gods . Where is the graveyard of dead gods? What lingering mourner waters their mounds? . There was a time when Jupiter was the king of the gods, and any man who doubted his puissance was “ipso facto” a barbarian and an ignoramus. But where in all the world is there a man who worships Jupiter today? . And who was Huitzilopochtli? In one year - and it is no more than five hundred years ago - 50,000 youths and maidens were slain in sacrifice to him. Today, if he is remembered at all, it is only by some vagrant savage in the depths of the Mexican forest. . Huitzilopochtli, like many other gods, had no human father; his mother was a virtuous widow; he was born of an apparently innocent flirtation that she carried out with the sun. When he frowned, his father, the sun, stood still. When he roared with rage, earthquakes engulfed whole cities. When he thirsted he was watered with 10,000 gallons of human blood. But today Huitzilopochtli is as magnificently forgotten as the dear departed Allen G. Thurman. . Once the peer of Allah, Buddha and Wotan, he is now the peer of Richmond Hobson, Alton B. Parker, Adelina Patti, General Weyler and Tom Sharkey. . Speaking of Huitzilopochtli recalls his brother Tezcatlipoca was almost as powerful; he consumed 25,000 virgins a year. Lead me to his tomb and I

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would weep, and hang a “couronne des perles”. But who knows where it is? Or where the grave of Quitzalcoatl is? Or Xiehtecuthli? Or Centeotl, that sweet one? Or Tlazolteotl, the goddess of love? Or Mictlan? Or Xipe? Or all the host of Tzitzimitles? Where are their bones? . Where is the willow on which they hung their harps? In what forlorn and unheard-of hell do they await their resurrection morn? Who enjoys their residuary estates? Or that of Dis, whom Caesar found to be the chief god of the Celts? Of that of Tarves, the bull? Or that of Moccos, the pig? Or that of Epona, the mare? Or that of Mullo, the celestial jackass? There was a time when the Irish revered all those gods, but today even the drunkest Irishman laughs at them. . But they have company in oblivion: the hell of dead gods is as crowded as the Presbyterian Hell for babies. . Damona is there, Esus and Drunemeton, Silvana and Dervones, Adsalluta and Deva, Belisima, and Uxellimus, Borvo, Mogons and Grannos, All mighty gods in their days, worshipped by millions, full of demands and impositions, able to bind and loose - all gods of the first class. Men labored for generations to build vast temples to them – temples with stones as large as cars and mini-bus. . The business of interpreting their whims occupied thousands of priests, bishops, archbishops To doubt them was to die, usually at the stake. . Armies took to the field to defend them against infidels; villages were burned, women and children butchered, cattle were driven off. Yet in the end, they all withered and died. And today there is none so poor to do them reverence. . What was became of Sutekh, once the high god of the whole Nile Valley? What has become of Resheph, Baal, Anath, Astarte, Ashtoreth, Hadad, Nebo, Dagon, Melek, Yau, Ahijah, Amon-Re, Isis, Osiris, Ptah and Molech and other gods? . All were gods of the highest eminence. Many of them are mentioned with fear and trembling in the Old Testament. They ranked, five or six thousand years ago, with Yahweh Himself; the worst of them stood far higher than Thor, yet they all gone down to the chute and with them all the following; .

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Arianrod, Nuada, Argetlam, Morrigu, Tagd, Govannon, Goibniu, Gunfled, Dagda, Odin, Ogma, Ogryvan, Marzin, Dea Dia, Mara, Iuno, Lucina, Diana of Ephesus with the luminous face, Saturn, Robigus, Furrina, Pluto, Cronos, Vesta, Engurra, Zer-panitu, Belus, Merodach, Ubilulu, Elum, Udimmer-an-kia with his mighty guard, U-sab-sib, U-Mersi, Marduk, Nin, Persephone, Tammuz, Istar, Venus, Lagas, Beltis, Nirig, Nusku, En-Mersi, Aa, Assur, Sin, Beltu, Apsu, Kushi-banda, Elali, Nin-azu, Mami, Qarradu, Zaraqu, Ueras and Zagaga. . Ask the rectors to lend you any good book on comparative religion; you will find them all listed. They were gods of the highest dignity - gods of civilized peoples - worshipped and believed in by millions. . All were omnipotent, omniscient and immortal. And all were dead and unknown today. . . . In Sear ch of R eality . The word religion - derived from the Greek root word; relig – meaning to tie. Religion is a traditional belief that evolved from multiple generations of cults and was handed down to our generation in a civilize approach. It was established by the general consensus to move primitive people, a moral whose driving force is social feeling, a dogma fitted with anathema without considering logical intelligence. In a general layman’s point of view; is a cockerel that thinks he has to crow at dawn so that the sun will shine again. Religion is versed in the game of mystic and fantasy, to cater the fears of human. It established the common belief of life after death, however there has never been a shred of evidence that such exist. The only reason why it continue to flourish because it keep humanity aware and happy in dying. . The general belief of the great rational majority is that; something must be done to clip religion into the “Proper Sphere of Creed” in order to overthrow the uncertainty of ages and to acquire transcendental reality -based on true and universal accepted doctrine. . Rigorous assumptions and hearsay of the past are no longer binding to our current generations. .

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It is a cool irony about the world today, that United Nations had the Committee of Decolonization (C24) for just a very few parcels on Earth and can not propose to create a Committee to decolonize the world from religious ambiguity and fear. . It should be one of the main duty of the United Nations to initiate and create a Committee for Religious Enlightenment and Unified Faith, that better understanding between Peoples is absolutely necessary for the future and science could help to bring this about. . It is the moral obligation of United Nations to initiate and move on. Two decades has been allocated to the Committee of Decolonization. Try to visualize the positive effect on two decades of Transcendental Reality Development and Enlightenment if the Member-Nations shall give the sincerity to propagate peaceful coexistence and religious understanding. Surely, most hard liners and old rigorist conservatives shall past away with their classical dogma and learned-rational generation with open minds shall manage to workout the feasible and viable consensus accordingly to the naked truth. . We shall know a little more, but the real nature of things can be proven by science. If not our time, most likely the next generation or the future mankind. Now on the age of tumultuous social change, we all need the unbiased truth. Why succumb and cuddle uncertainties? Just because for the self-interest of the few? Why not share the reality to mankind and live in peace? Or most likely, frightened by the consequences that may occur if sudden truth prevail. Then why not propose a viable consensus on how to bring about the real truth. Although damages may occur along the way, but let the interim-process and broadness minimize the effect. We have to remember that “Truth will set us Free” . . . . Part II . AN ATOMY OF L IFEFORMS . We must understand that our Earth is just a dot in the Universe with no special role but to abide with the evolution of time and space. .

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Updated discoveries revealed that Mother Earth evolve on about every 35,000 to 42,000 year-cycle. Most likely traverse on asteroid belt or nutation of earth axis tilting from 22 to 24.50 degrees back and forth in every 42,000 year-cycle caused the melting and freezing of polar cap. Nutation - is the swinging of Earth’s axis. Near the height of the last ice age, North Pole did not point toward Polaris or the North Star as it is today but instead, it pointed to Vega, the brightest Star in the Constellation Lyra. This most likely constitute the pulling of water to froze on polar caps and then melting it out again in another 42,000 years on slow process. Evidence of which was the landmass on the Antarctic uncovered by ice during the melting cycle and had acquired civilization that period. . . Stone-Age graveyard reveals life in a “green Sahara” . Scientists in Niger have found the Sahara Desert’s largest known StoneAge graveyard, which offers an unparalleled record of life when the region was green.

Archaeologists work on a gravesite esti mated as 10,000 years old in Gobero, Niger. (Image courtesy Geographic ciety)

Nat'l So

University of Chicago professor and National Geographic Explorer-inResidence Paul Sereno, whose team first happened on the site during a dinosaur-hunting expedition, unearthed the cemetery, according to the organization. . Dating back 10,000 years and called Gobero after the Tuareg name for the area, the site was brimming with skeletons of humans and animals including large fish and crocodiles, researchers said. Gobero is hidden away within Niger’s forbidding Ténéré Desert, known to local Tuareg no-

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mads as a “desert within a desert.” The Ténéré is the setting of other dramatic scientific findings including the 500-toothed, plant-eating dinosaur Nigersaurus and the enormous extinct crocodilia Sarcosuchus, also known as Super Croc. The discovery of the lakeside graveyard—said to represent two successive human populations divided by more than 1,000 years—is reported in the September issue of National Geographic magazine and the Aug. 14 issue of the research journal PLoS One. . As they explored the site, researchers said, they tiptoed among dozens of fossilized human skeletons laid bare on the surface of an ancient dune field by the hot Saharan wind. Jawbones still clenched nearly full sets of teeth; a tiny hand reached up through the sand, its finger bones intact. On the surface lay harpoon points, potsherds, beads and stone tools. The site was pristine, apparently never visited. . Two seasons of excavation supported by the society eventually revealed some 200 graves clearly belonging to two successive lakeside populations, scientists said. The older group, determined to be Kiffian, were hunters of wild game who left evidence that they also speared huge perch with harpoons when they colonized the green Sahara during its wettest period between 10,000 and 8,000 years ago. Their tall stature, sometimes reaching well over 6 feet, was not immediately apparent from their tightly bound burial positions. . The more recent population was the Tenerian, a more lightly built people who appeared to have had a diverse economy of hunting, fishing and cattle herding, according to the research team. They lived during the latter part of the green Sahara, about 7,000 to 4,500 years ago. Their one-of-akind burials often included jewelry or ritual poses—a girl wearing an upper-arm bracelet carved from a hippo tusk, for example, and a stunning triple burial containing a woman and two children in a poignant embrace. . “At first glance, it’s hard to imagine two more biologically distinct groups of people burying their dead in the same place,” said team member Chris Stojanowski, a bioarchaeologist from Arizona State University.

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“The biggest mystery is how they seemed to have done this without disturbing a single grave. . Although the Sahara has long been the world’s largest desert, a faint wobble in Earth’s orbit and other factors occurring some 12,000 years ago caused Africa’s seasonal monsoons to shift slightly north, bringing new rains to the Sahara. From Egypt in the east to Mauritania in the west, lakes with lush margins dotted the formerly parched landscape, drawing animals, fish and eventually people. Separating these two populations was an arid interval perhaps as long as a millennium that began about 8,000 years ago, when the lake disappeared and the site was abandoned. . Dating the sun-bleached bones of fossil humans in the Sahara has was very hard, researchers said. Using a new technique, the team reported it had obtained nearly 80 so-called radiocarbon dates from Gobero bones and teeth. Radiocarbon dating is a method of estimating the age of biological material based on changes in its content of radioactive carbon. . Archaeologist Elena Garcea of the University of Cassino in Italy helped identify the site’s poorly known cultures so well-preserved at the site. Garcea, an expert in ancient pottery who has spent nearly three decades digging at Stone Age sites in northern Africa, traveled with Sereno in 2005 to the site. She recalls standing there amazed, gazing at far more human skeletons than she had seen in all her digs combined. . She quickly homed in on two distinct types of pottery, one that bore a pointillistic pattern linked with the Tenerian and another that had wavy lines and zigzags. “These are Kiffian,” a puzzled Garcea told Sereno. “What is so amazing is that the people who made these two types of pots lived in the same place more than a thousand years apart”. . Over the next three weeks Sereno, Garcea and their team of five excavators made a detailed map of the site. They exhumed eight burials and collected scores of artifacts from both cultures. In a dry lake bed nearby,

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they found dozens of Kiffian fish hooks and harpoons carved from animal bone as well as skeletal remains of massive Nile perch, crocodile and hippo. . A year later, a second round of excavation turned up more riddles, researchers said. An adult Tenerian male was buried with his skull resting on part of a clay vessel; another adult male was interred seated on the shell of a mud turtle. . One burial, however, brought 2006 activity at the site to a standstill: Lying on her side, the skeleton of a petite Tenerian woman emerged from the sand, facing the skeletons of two young children; their slender arms reached toward her and their hands were clasped in an everlasting embrace. Samples taken from under the skeletons contained pollen clusters—taken as evidence the people had been laid out on a bed of flowers. The team employed a range of new techniques to preserve this remarkable burial exactly as it had been for more than 5,000 years. . Bioarchaeologist Stojanowski analyzed dozens of individuals’ bones and teeth for clues to the two populations. “This individual, for example, had huge leg muscles,” he said of ridges on the thigh bone of a Kiffian male, “which suggests he was eating a lot of protein and had an active, strenuous lifestyle. The Kiffian appear to have been fairly healthy—it would be difficult to grow a body that tall and muscular without sufficient nutrition.” In contrast, the femur ridge of a Tenerian male was barely perceptible. “This man’s life was less rigorous, perhaps taking smaller fish and game with more advanced hunting technologies,” Stojanowski said. . Analysis of measurements on Kiffian skulls links them to skulls found across northern Africa, some as old as 16,000 years, Stojanowski said. The Tenerian, however, are not closely linked to these ancient populations. The team is continuing to analyze Gobero bones for more clues to the people’s health and diet. A large-scale return expedition is planned to the site to further explore the two populations that coped with extreme climate change.

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. . . . Meek Witness . A solitary chunk of granite, small enough to heft in one hand, is key evidence that Australia and parts of Antarctica were once attached to North America, a new study suggests. . The Earth's continents are thought to have collided to become super continents and broken apart again several times in Earth's 4.5 billion year history. The most recent super continent was Pangaea, which began to break apart about 200 million years ago; the landmasses that comprised Pangaea eventually wandered into the current configuration of continents. . Several super continents predating Pangaea have been proposed by geologists, including one dubbed Rodinia that exist about 1.1 billion years ago. . For several decades, researchers have theorized that part of the ancient super continent Rodinia broke away from what is now the southwestern United States around 800 million to 600 million years ago, eventually drifting southward to become eastern Antarctica and Australia. The idea is known as the southwestern United States to East Antarctica (SWEAT) hypothesis. . But there was little physical evidence that could tie the southernmost continent to the long-disappeared Rodinia. Until scientists stumbled upon this rock that is Granite rock belt. . John Goodge of the University of Minnesota-Duluth and his team were searching in Antarctica's Trans-Antarctic Mountains for rocks carried along by ice rivers that could provide clues to the composition of the underlying crust of Antarctica, which in most places is buried under 2 miles of ice. .

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One rock, found atop the so-called Nimrod Glacier, was later determined to be a very specific form of granite with what Goodge describes as having "a particular type of coarse-grained texture”. . Chemical tests run on the rock later revealed that it has a chemistry "very similar to a unique belt of igneous rocks in North America" that stretch from California through New Mexico to Kansas, Illinois and eventually New Brunswick and Newfoundland in Canada, Goodge said. . This belt of rock was a part of what is called Laurentia, thought by some geologists to be the core of Rodinia. . The belt stops suddenly at its western margin, leading geologists to suspect that some piece of crust had rifted away from what is now the West Coast of the United States. . "It just ends right where that ancient rift margin is," Goodge said. "And these rocks are basically not found in any part of the world.” . That a small chunk of this rock should turn up on a glacier high in the mountains of Antarctica is strong evidence in support of the SWEAT model, the researchers said. . . Biological Change . At the time that this rift occurred, a massive change in Earth's biota, the Cambrian explosion was also happening. . "During the Cambrian explosion about 520 million years ago we started seeing this huge expansion in the diversity of life forms. . Piecing together Rodinia helps provide a geological context in which this diversification occurred. The shifting configuration of landmasses, collisions between them, as well as erosion and the influx of chemicals into the seas may have provided the nutrients for that expanding diversity of life forms. . .

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Diamonds may have been life’s best friend, researchers said. Billions of years ago, the surface of these gems may have provided the right conditions to foster the chemical reactions believed to have given rise to life on Earth, according to three scientists in Germany. . .

Courtesy American Chemical Society

Their study published in August 2008 of Crystal Growth & Design, a research journal of the American Chemical Society. . Many scientists have theorized that life’s chemical precursors gradually evolved from a so-called “primordial soup” of simpler molecules. But just how these simpler molecules, called amino acids, would have assembled into complex larger structures remains one of science’s great mysteries. . The authors of the new study—Andrei Sommer of the University of Ulm, Germany, and colleagues—studied diamonds, crystallized forms of carbon older than the earliest life. In a series of laboratory experiments, the scientists found that after treatment with hydrogen, natural diamond forms crystalline layers of water on its surface. These layers may have been essential for the development of life, and involved in electrical conductivity, the group argued. In other words, they explained, when primitive molecules landed on the surface of these “hydrogenated” diamonds in the early atmosphere, the resulting chemical reaction could have generated more complex organic molecules that eventually gave rise to life.

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. What really puzzled physicists and scientists the previous generations were on how we came into existence. The creation and the universe. “Big Bang Theory” now gained admittance. A positive initiative of updating some lines of the Bible. Derivations of mathematical frameworks lead to the updates of Ancient Relativity, where everything derived from energy corresponding to space and time. This too jibe to the Theory of Evolution through nature selection. A very long natural processes. However experienced taught us that indulging short and complicated laboratory processes was terribly dangerous. . Now, since the Grand Old Big Bang did occurred, the neophyte Earth had to do some housekeeping. Plankton is basic creation from sub-atomic caused by energy reaction of Earth’s ocean, derived from the simplest cell as to the process of fauna to the womb. In basic origin without predator, what shall be the outcome? Since plankton had no category neither fauna nor flora, some had been awash to the shores and were fertilized through nature selections. Others may develop unlimited appetite devouring tiny members of the colony to sustain their growth through the nature selection and the rest are history. . . Life’s Ingredients Most Likely Sprinkled on Earth . Some crucial ingredients for life on Earth may have formed in interstellar space, rather than on the planet's surface. . A new computer model indicates clouds of adenine molecules, a basic component of DNA, can form and survive the harsh conditions of space, and possibly sprinkle onto planets as the stars they orbit travel through a galaxy. . There may be only a few molecules of adenine per square foot of space, but over millions of years, enough could have accumulated to help make way for life, according to a molecular chemist team at the University of Missouri-Columbia. . Spacey Chemistry . Adenine is one of four "letters" of DNA's alphabet used to store an organism's genetic code. The idea that large, two-ringed organic

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molecules like adenine formed in space may seem outrageous, but current evidence leaves the possibility wide open. . One can find large molecules in meteorites, including adenine. We know that adenine can be made elsewhere in the solar system, so why should one consider it impossible to make the building blocks somewhere in interstellar dust. . Using computer simulations of the cold vacuum of space, The team found that hydrogen cyanide (HCN) gas can build adenine. Like pieces in a set of tinker toys, hydrogen cyanide serves as adenine's building blocks; the small molecules bond together into chains and, with a little wiggling, eventually assemble into rings. . Although adenine's first ring needs a tiny energy boost from starlight to form, ring of the molecule self-assembles without any outside help. . When a reaction occurs, usually it needs to be heated. It is remarkable to find a reaction that does not requires activation of energy. If one does this reaction in space, this is a huge advantage because it takes a long time for a molecule to be hit by a piece of light. . . Seasoned for Life . Adenine's ringed shape helps it absorb and release any excess energy without breaking apart, making it stable enough to form concentrated clouds that planets can drift through. . While getting adenine safely onto a rocky planet's surface is a less developed idea, many chemists have barely toyed with the notion that life's basic ingredients formed off of the planet's surface. . We are at a very early stage of anybody even thinking about these things. The discussion of life's origin has been highly focused on the idea of a warm pool of liquid on the planet's surface, but recent discoveries of planets around distant stars is changing that focus. . Chemistry in space is not the chemistry most of us are trained for. We should take a much bigger approach: Where are all the chemicals in the .

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We already knew that hydrogen cyanide is abundant in interstellar clouds, and it has been suggested that comets can bring some of those materials onto planets. The team idea is to detect adenine in the deep space clouds. . The likelihood of detection is very small, but it is still possible. Should the background noise could be eliminated, sensitive equipment can detect adenine dust clouds. . . . Molecules in the Outer Space . Lately, there are eight organic molecules with 6 to 8 atoms discovered in intergalactic space whereby one particular molecule found in Sagittarius B2(N), identified as acetamide, contains a type of chemical bond important for linking together amino acids, the molecular building blocks of proteins. Chances that several interpolations of those molecules interacted, forming some life-supporting elements showered our newly created planet. Indeed it took several period of incubation on this very Earth to attained micro-lives thus further evolved to us, where every generic composite are symmetrically the same from the origin. Say, Earth’s water ratio is the same ratio of water on our bodies. Elements abound this planet, are also found on our components and most likely of the same ratio too. Majority of oil deposits are between the two polar, as majority of our fats are located at the body’s midsection… etc. . . Origin of Life forms . The stellar baby boom period of the Milky Way sparked a flowering and crashing of life here on Earth, a new study suggests. . Some 2.4 billion years ago when the Milky Way started upping its star production, cosmic rays-high-speed atomic particles-started pouring onto our planet, causing instability within the living. Populations of bacteria and algae repeatedly soared and crashed in the oceans. . The researchers counted the amount of carbon-13 within sedimentary rocks, the most common rocks exposed on the Earth's surface. When algae and bacteria were growing in the oceans, they took in carbon-12, so the ocean had an abundance of carbon-13.

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. Many sea creatures use carbon-13 to make their shells. If there is a lot of carbon-13 stored in rocks, it means life, the origin of which is still unknown, was booming. Therefore, variations in carbon-13 are a good indicator of the productivity of life on Earth. . The researchers found that the biggest fluctuation in productivity coincided with star formation, which had an affect on Earth’s climate and therefore on the productivity of life on our planet. . When a star explodes far away in the Milky Way, cosmic rays penetrate through the Earth’s atmosphere and produce ions and free electrons. The released electrons act as catalysts and accelerate the formation of small clusters of sulfuric acid and water molecules, the building blocks of clouds. Therefore, cosmic rays increase cloud cover on Earth, reflecting sunlight and keeping the planet relatively cool. . Although cold and icy times are generally considered unfriendly to life, the data reveals that biological productivity kept oscillating between very high and very low. The reason, the researchers suggest, is that stronger winds during icy epochs stirred the oceans and improved the supply of nutrients in the surface waters. . The odds are 10,000-to-1 against this unexpected link between cosmic rays and the variable state of the biosphere being just a coincidence, and it offers a new perspective on the connection between the evolution of the Milky Way and the entire history of life over the last 4 billion years,” Chances are … different species of life forms are abundant floating in the universe on suspended state of whatever/wherever origin. Meteors falling in our planet possessed imprints of bacteria of unknown origin. Lately, extract of universe’s genetic structure are similar to those life forms on earth. The overwhelming probability for these suspended genes to react on suitable environment with compatible catalyst to spring up to life, to mutate and evolve on any given planet. There should be a free hand of evolution once host planet shall tolerate these life forms to survive. Somewhere on Earth, close to 4 billion years ago, a set of molecular reactions flipped a switch and became life. Scientists try to imagine this animating event by simplifying the processes that characterize living things. .

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New research suggests the simplification needs to go further. All currently known organisms rely on DNA to replicate and proteins to run cellular machinery, but these large molecules—intricate weaves of thousands of atoms—are not likely to have been around for the first organisms to use. . Life could have started up from the small molecules that nature provided." Research pointing that the first life forms were self-contained chemistry experiments that grew, reproduced and even evolved without needing the complicated molecules that define biology as we now know it. . . The Typical Origin of Space Bodies . For almost thirty years, scientists have known that complex carbon compounds called tholins exist on comets and in the atmospheres of the outer planets. Theoretically, tholins might interact with water in a process called hydrolysis to produce complex molecules similar to those found on the early Earth. . On the Earth, complex organic molecules are believed to have been an early step in the emergence of life; such compounds are called prebiotic. . Titan, the sixth and largest moon of the planet Saturn, is thought to be made largely of ice. Some of that ice may melt during meteor impacts or in underground processes, producing "ice volcanoes" that emit a "lava" containing ammonia mixed with water. Could tholins formed in Titan's atmosphere react with liquid water temporarily exposed by meteor impacts or ice volcanoes to produce potentially prebiotic complex organic molecules — before the water freezes? Until this year, no one knew. . Now, laboratory research by Catherine Neish, a graduate student working on her doctorate in planetary science at the University of Arizona, shows in the journal Astrobiology that, over a period of days, compounds similar to tholins can be hydrolyzed (which means to react with water) at nearfreezing temperatures. . Liquid water exposed on Titan is believed to persist for hundreds to thousands of years — plenty of time for such reactions to take place. . Tantalizingly, it has been suggested that a similar process may have happened on the early Earth.

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. In her lab, Neish created organic compounds similar to tholins by subjecting a mixture of 5 percent methane and 95 percent nitrogen to electrical discharge at a low temperature (-108 degrees F or -78 degrees C). She dissolved samples of the resulting material in water, and then, at a range of temperatures from freezing up to 104 degrees F (40 degrees C), measured the rate at which the mixture hydrolyzed. . Neish found that up to 10 percent of the organic compounds she began with reacted with oxygen from the water to form complex organic molecules. . While Neish's work was judged worthy of publication in a scientific journal, she has some critics. James P. Ferris, a research professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute University, who has studied the chemistry of Titan's atmosphere for many years, calls her work "flawed" because she used an electric discharge to generate tholins, while those in Titan's atmosphere are probably generated by ultraviolet (UV) light and chargedparticle radiation. . Ferris has conducted experiments on a mixture of gases similar to Titan's atmosphere using UV light and says, "The structures of the compounds made by [electric] discharge differ from those formed by UV photolysis so the hydrolysis time could be very different. Some of the photochemical products [when UV light is used] are hydrocarbons that do not react with water." . Neish responds that electric, or plasma, discharge "was meant to mimic charged particle interactions (which Ferris admits is a process at work on Titan)." She agrees that "UV light radiation produces tholins that look more like Titan's haze," but she points out that "some, if not most, of the products we make also don't react with water." . She acknowledges that her work is not an ideal representation of chemistry in Titan's atmosphere: "Tholins formed at low pressure seem to 'look' more like Titan's haze than those formed at higher pressures. You can make tholins at low pressures using UV light; you cannot make tholins at low pressure using plasma discharge. And to make the amount of tholins we needed for the experiment, we needed to use the discharge technique. UV photolysis only produces small amounts." .

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Ferris, who was not aware of Neish's work until we contacted him, agrees that analyzing the results of hydrolysis on samples produced by UV light would be "more difficult because of the small samples formed." . Another issue is that Neish performed hydrolysis of her tholins in pure water, while any water present on Titan is probably mixed with ammonia. She told us that she recently completed another set of hydrolysis experiments using mixtures of ammonia and water, and expects to publish those results shortly. . While Neish's work is not a perfect representation of chemistry on Saturn's largest moon, it nonetheless suggests that similar processes could produce organic compounds in significant quantities during periods when liquid water is available. . On Titan, this suggests that prebiotic molecules might exist in meltwater from impact craters and ice volcanoes. And similar processes might have occurred on the early Earth, before our atmosphere contained significant quantities of free oxygen. . . Primordial Soup . A very strong hypothesis for origin-of-life is that complex biological compounds assembled by chance out of an organic broth on the early Earth's surface. This pre-biotic synthesis culminated in one of these biomolecules being able to make copies of itself. . The first support for this idea of life arising out of the primordial soup came from the famous 1953 experiment by Stanley Miller and Harold Urey, in which they made amino acids—the building blocks of proteins—by applying sparks to a test tube of hydrogen, methane, ammonia, and water. . If amino acids could come together out of raw ingredients, then bigger, more complex molecules could presumably form given enough time. Biologists have devised various scenarios in which this assemblage takes place in tidal pools, near underwater volcano vents on the surface of clay sediments, or even in outer space. .

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But were the first complex molecules proteins or DNA or something else? Biologists face a chicken-and-egg problem in that proteins are needed to replicate DNA, but DNA is necessary to instruct the building of proteins. Many researchers, therefore, think that RNA—a cousin of DNA—may have been the first complex molecule on which life was based. RNA carries genetic information like DNA, but it can also direct chemical reactions as proteins do. . . Metabolism First . Now it is not unthinkable that this so-called "RNA world" is still too complex to be the origin of life. Information-carrying molecules like RNA are sequences of molecular "bits." The primordial soup would be full of things that would terminate these sequences before they grew long enough to be useful. . Instead of complex molecules, life started with small molecules interacting through a closed cycle of reactions. These reactions would produce compounds that would feed back into the cycle, creating an ever-growing reaction network. . . A Brief Glance on the Life Forms Chain Way back around 3.5 billion years, occurrence of microspheriods, filamentous, microfossils and stromatolites provide strong support for existence of life much earlier that it was ever though possible. Before the end of Precambrian era, when oxygen level in the atmosphere was less than 10 percent, organisms from primordial soup – predecessors of protein and DNA – energy triggered by chemical reaction that formed primitive proto-organisms developed method of obtaining energy by combining oxygen with nutrients in a process called respiration. At first there was no demarcation between flora and fauna similarly to our present plankton that shared some characteristics of both, utilizing the photosynthesis and respiration. As more mobile complex form called metazoans evolved and totally relied on respiration, this animal form a predatory-prey relationship. In other phase, algae that live at the inter-tidal zone later developed into primitive form of lichen and moss. Then followed by tiny fernlike plants, which is the predecessor of trees. .

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At about 700 million years ago, marine animals developed internal skeleton, one of the most significant achievements in life’s long climb to evolutionary ladder. Vertebrates on the other hand, have internal skeleton that is light, strong and flexible with more attachments for the muscles. . The first animal did not put their appearance until the plants were well established some 350 million years ago. Those were primitive amphibians. Fish with lobe fins modified into walking limbs and lung adapted for breathing air. What enticed those creatures to come ashore was abundance of food swept up on beaches during high tides and fierce competition of scare food on the ocean. . Present Fact . WASHINGTON An extraordinary fish that existed 375 million years ago had unique feature in its head that helped pave the way for vertebrate animals to live on land. scientists said Scientists for the first time described features in the underside of the skull of Tiktaalik roseae, the so-called "walking fish" discovered in the Canadian Arctic in 2004. It is considered an important transitional animal in the evolution of fish into amphibians, the first land-dwelling vertebrates. The findings showed that the migration from water to land was more complicated than merely having a fish's fins transform into legs, the scientists wrote in the journal Nature. The head showed changes from more primitive fish that helped adapt to the new feeding and breathing conditions presented by a terrestrial environment, the scientists said. Like some other fish of its time, it had gills and lungs. "It's not to say that Tiktaalik itself is a terrestrial animal. It spent most of its time in water, for sure," Jason Downs of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, one of the researchers, said in a telephone interview. "So what it's really demonstrating is that many of these changes that are occurring and things that we once associated with terrestrial life are turning out, in fact, to be adaptations for life in shallow water settings that Tiktaalik might had found himself in," Downs added. It likely inhabited the mudflats of freshwater flood plains of a subtropical environment. It was a large aquatic predator, measuring up to 9 feet long,

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with sharp teeth and a flattened head like a crocodile and unlike primitive fish. It may have been able to exit the water for short jaunts on land. "Fish in the water, insects on land -- it could feed on all of those if you look at the skull," said Neil Shubin of the University of Chicago, another of the researchers. Tiktaalik is seen as a forerunner of all land vertebrates including amphibians, reptiles, mammals and eventually people. The scientists described key features in its head and braincase and the decline in size of a bone called the hyomandibula. In fish, this bone links the braincase, roof of the mouth and gill structures and coordinates their motions during underwater feeding and respiration. As land animals evolved, the hyomandibula eventually became the stapes, one of the tiny bones in the middle ear. Tiktaalik has features of some of the more primitive fish it lived with as well as features of the first four-legged amphibians that lived on land. Its fins had discernible wrists and elbows in an evolutionary step toward legs that could be used to walk around on dry land. The underside of the skull remained encased in rock at the time Tiktaalik's discovery was announced. Using a needle to remove rock grain by grain under a microscope, scientists have painstakingly studied the inside of the creature's skull. . During Mesozoic era, from 240 to 65 million years ago, life seen many remarkable advancement. Those species that made through the great extinction at the end of Paleozoic era where similar to populations found today. This was also the era that breaking up of Super Continent of Pangaea begun. Continents started to drift on their present positions. This must be the end of Cretaceous period (65 million years ago) when Dinosaurs became extinct and the formation of two permanent polar ice caps. . Our present ice epoch took place within the Quaternary period which consist of Pleistocene era (age of recent life) and the Holocene era (concurrent with the age of modern man) the last 10,000 years after the last ice age. Pleistocene era is synonymous to the most recent ice ages.

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What is outstanding about this particular ice epoch is that our ancestors appeared on the scene somewhere in Africa where temperature were warmer to support their existence just about when ice ages began some 2 million years. And of course, this is beyond the comprehension of those Desert Nomads who tried to record events on codices where Bible, Quran and other religious procrastination evolved. . . GENE PATTERNS . The researchers looked at so-called Hox genes -- which play an important role in limb development -- in paddlefish pectoral fins. They inserted molecular markers to track where these genes are active in the fin, and found the activity pattern resembled what these genes do in limbs of land dwellers. The findings run counter to the theory that the appearance of limbs was a novel evolutionary occurrence requiring great genetic changes to enable the first limbed creatures to adapt to their new environments of streams and swamps. . The first forests sprouted up roughly 385 million years ago, with towering trees resembling modern-day palms, helping give rise to new freshwater ecosystems. Shubin and other scientists last year announced the discovery of the remains of a creature called Tiktaalik dating back to 375 million years ago and seen as a missing evolutionary link between fish and the first land vertebrates. . It had fish-like characteristics, but it boasted a skull, neck, ribs and parts of limbs resembling the first amphibians such as Acanthostega that arose 5 to 10 million years later. "So it seems like you had the genetic tool kit (for limbs) for a long period of time," Shubin said. "And then, when the new ecosystems appear at around the time of Tiktaalik and slightly before, that's when forms started to use that to make true fingers and toes and stuff like that." . . Organic System on In-depth Analysis for Natural Adaptation . Many who believe in mutation process do not postulate that these events could not have occurred without the existence of God. It simply shows that there is no conflict between God as Energy and Prime Mover with Evolution, and contend that mutation is an essence for natural process of

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adaptation. Mutation possessed an efficient time-generated process such as evolution rather than the comparatively awkward method of creating every item and being on earth separately and continuing this process forever. When spiritual or mystical mix with mutation theory had the visceral sense of metaphysics giving way to religion afar from scientific approach. Coalition is highly contrary and science could be threatening. . An organ, in medical terms is define as any differentiated part devoted to a specific function. There are many organs in the human body which need to be studied in-depth to determine whether they evolved gradually over a very long period of time, or were created spontaneously in their finished form as some of the clergies belief. They defy the mechanics of mutation in its specifics, yet insisted that they do not defy evolution itself. . Clergies on the extremist faction among the religious scholars who defy evolution at all levels and believe in spontaneity instead. Spontaneity means that each living thing were created separately in its finished form with all the organs it contains. This is certainly the religious concept of creation that we had been taught throughout generations. One thing however is certain about the organic systems, that even at their most rudimentary stage, they displayed things simultaneously. . • The mutation of an outer component which in itself entitled to be called organ; • The mutation of a transmission system like nerve cords which carry the information gathered by the outer organ; • The mutation of an internal highly complicated recognition system that constitutes specific part of the brain. It adapted to receive information and break it into components and to visualize the central message correctly. The brain center then had to transmit all information to the great number of centers in the brain that take care of recording and passing to similar nerve centers in other parts of the body; • The purposefulness and adaptation in the making of every organ that makes a component of this extremely complex organic system are but evident requirement for the survival of the species. . The general contention that eyes, ears and other vital parts are erroneously described a single organ which can perform a meaningful function of themselves. As single organ, they do not mean anything. They only begin to mean something when they are viewed as integral parts of the whole system to which they belong. Again, when minutely examined

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within their own confines, they reveal that they themselves are subsystems comprising many smaller organs within them. Thus in their totality acquire relative role of sub-systems. Even at the rudimentary stages such organs are split into components which perfectly accord with the above description. The mechanism of sight for instance, found among animals which existed hundreds of millions of years before humans came into being, show the same complexity of mutation to adapt the respective surroundings and improved through the trip of time. . Eyes which serve the same purpose of connecting the outer world with the inner universe of the living. The structural details could not have been possible without predetermined requirement of environs to survive and be adapted to the existing surroundings and through the conception of time. It should be remembered that each component comprises subcomponents which themselves are highly complex and need a lot of explanation with regard to their internal composition and the nature of material and time they are made of. . The two most vital organs which separate the living and the dead are the ears along with the auditory system and the eyes as part of the optic system. The visible external part of the ear is called the auricle with various shapes, however the purpose of which is to enlarge the catchment’s area of sound waves which are directed towards the outer opening. This serve as the entry point of the external auditory canal extending into a tube lined with skin which secretes some soft wax and is connected with the tympanic membrane (tympanum or the eardrum) ending the external ear. Air pressure on both sides are regulated by eustachian tube that connects the middle ear cavity and the throat (pharynx). . This mechanism is highly essential because it permits the eardrum to vibrate freely in all directions. The middle ear is a slit-like cavity located between the external auditory canal and the internal ear. It contains air and three ossicles, ore small bones, which are connected so that they amplify and transmit sound waves from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear. The three bones in the chain are called the malleus, the incus and the stapes or the hammer, the anvil and the stirrup. The first of these connects with the tympanic membrane and the second is joined to the first and the third ossicle. The third stapes or stirrup connects with the membrane of the oval window which in turn vibrates and transmits the vibration of the fluid in the internal ear.

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. The internal ear is a series of sacs and ducts which together perform the function of hearing and balance. This is the most complicated part of the whole ear comprising three separate spaces hollowed out inside the temporal bone. These spaces make up the bony labyrinth, comprising the vestibule, the cochlea and the semicircular canals, all filled with fluid called perilymph. The membrane are lined with nerve endings extremely sensitive to the movement of fluid. In the fluid of the bony semicircular canals are the membranous cochlea situated in the perilymph of the bony cochlea and also filled with endolymph. The sound waves cause the tympanic membrane to vibrate as they strike it. . These vibrations are enormously amplified by the ossicles and transmitted by them to the perilymph. The perilymph conducts them through the membrane to the endolymph. The waves of the endolymph are transmitted to tiny hair-like receptors which are stimulated and conduct nerve impulses through the nerve fibers to the brain center (cerebrum). . The function of balance is performed by the three loop-shape tubes of the semicircular canals which lie at right angles to one another in three different planes. The signals are constantly transmitted to the cerebrum through nerves and are interpreted there. By this interpretation we learn which way we are positioned and in which direction our position is changing. A slightest change in direction are being recorded and a corresponding awareness is created in the brain. . . . Brain Motor Reactor . A neuron is just a discharging battery. It generates a signal by depolarizing its membrane. Membranes such as those that surround cells do not readily let charged particles across them. Membranes do however contain two important types of proteins, ion channels and transporters. . Transporters use stored energy in order to actively transport particular ions across membranes in particular directions, against the concentration gradient. This enables there to be much more K+ on one side of a membrane than the other. This creates both a chemical (more potassium on one side) and electrical (more positive charges on one side) gradient across the membrane. This is a voltage gradient of –70mV.

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. The electro-chemical gradient is the basis of nerve cell signaling, because it is basically potential energy. When the ions shift across the membrane, the depolarization to less than -67 mV generates a signal. The signal passes down the axon (cable) not like true electricity but by shifts of K+ and Na+ in successive segments of the axon, then shifts back sort of like leap-frog. The signal causes calcium channels to open in the nerve terminal. Ca++ flows in, the membrane changes to release packets (quanta) of neurochemical transmitter. This crosses a microscopic gap called the synaptic cleft to a receptor on the dendrite of the next neuron in the sequence. And that neuron depolarizes to repeat the cycle. Millions to billions of these form connections like computer circuits. . The point is that on the unit level, metal ions pass through holes in a membrane and change the electrical charge from inside to outside gradient -70 mV to < -67 mV. When they are connected to millions and billions of other micro generators in circuits and circuits connect to circuits we can hold hands. Or we can derive the numerical value of Pi to thousands of decimal units, or derive the equation E = MC² of Special Relativity or compose a symphony. . Is it not that in itself wondrous? Potassium ions and Sodium ions squeezing through the membrane. . . Divine Energy In Universe . Going back to divinity, Divine Energy In Universe (DEIU) can feasibly attracted and acquires by oneself by alignment of atomic cells through natural magnetism (aura in mystical term) and be concentrated on mind to create plausible energy that can help individual in executing needs. However, the attainment of this erg, one shall ultimately focus to create mind equilibrium to facilitate the integration of DEIU without interference (Exodus 34:14) in order to manifest of what shall be to attain. . Surely, on our lifetime, without pacifism and righteousness, one could be lost in the Mainstream of the Divine Energy and the great likelihood to be scrap on the next cycle of humanity. It must be understood that Divine Energy In Universe has the Core and the only way to be on the Wavelength is complete alignment all the way along this Field without distracting one’s

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attention in drifting too far that the chances of coming nearer again shall be minimal. This stand on the truism of dogmatic teaching, however not fully digested and called the Mainstream of Divine Energy In Universe “God; Allah; etc.” or any other divinities. . Mind is the essence in man that controls the body and does react on any given space and time. Since mind is stored in the brain, there it is the body reactor. . Now, if man has reactor, why can one not process minerals posses by the physical body in a higher level. All necessary minerals to produce energy are within us. It is just a matter of breaking up our atomic slime in proportion with the space and time. How to process it? One must create required vibration to trigger the splitting of atomic slime in the brain. In layman’s view, fasting shall create equilibrium to balance our atomic slime in proportion to space and time, and shall ignite chain reactions to satisfy the entire process. . The presence of space and time; reactor in the brain; one can create vibration that shall split atomic slime passive in the brain and what needed most is the integration of the square of speed of light to manifest DEIU. The only known and available essence to fathom the square of the speed of light is the velocity of mind to think. Think and reach out to the goal being aspired. Meditate, concentrate and believe on the required space and time, then shall achieve a miraculous Energy to help attain that goal. . . . Equating God and Energy . God by faith is believed to be perfect omnipotent, omniscient, and ruler of universe, single supreme agency and prime mover. It is a psychological being to everyone, where to seek refuge in time of crisis and something to cling-on, a shelter of emotion when everything are down the limbo and desperation. God exist within the inner self of everyone and always within reach in time of needs to sustain emotional pain and depression and at this particular mode, God will surely prop-up and boost well being to overcome oddities and will cause to tackle everything with full strength and inspiration. .

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Energy is a potent property of universal matters with vital force, capable of creating reaction upon triggering and pulsate to any desire medium on a given time and space. . Should one is a smart physicist and mathematician, mathematical framework can be derive for the above from the basic Relativity Formula, a principle that Essene tried to achieve on those era. If physicists, mathematicians and scientists can assemble theoretical frameworks of universe, why laymen can not afford to confine facts for the consumption of truth. We were derived equally on this physical world with all the graces of Universe and it is up to ourselves to train our energy and psychological will on whatever goal in life we wish to be. By sharing and not fighting for such Divine Energy In Universe should Real Peace be attained and as truth prevail. Just a matter of opening our faculties in harmony with the Universal Field Energy and development our psychological well being in order to obtain that power in relation to the Principle of Nature’s Relativity. . Manifestation of Energy . Through unitary confinement of atomic fusion as complementary to bombardment of atomic nuclei; . * Unitary Confinement of Atomic Fusion is a process of training atomic magnetism into precise location and direction with corresponding uniform cycle of nutation (swinging back and forth of two opposing poles) on the local poles. (north-south) Multiple bi-polar maybe designed with corresponding typical local magnetic polar cells to certain magnitude. The common material nowadays are combination of copper, aluminum and silicon steel with corresponding insulation that can withstand heat during the process of atomic bombardment created during vibration or rotation. . * As this process start to create momentum reaching to the desired cycle nutation (commonly at 50 to 60 cycle) shall actuate, triggering chain reaction to the splitting of atoms. However due to the absence of appropriate substances and catalyst to break the nuclei, instead trigger the chain-reaction of uniform movement of atoms to almost the speed of light to the medium of designed magnitude, then shall be proportional to the amount of trained-atoms confined within the mainstream core, as expressly: . -

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Say: A total cross-sectional area of certain medium within the perimeter core can produce 0.25 milligram of trained-atoms neglecting the transfer losses can produce energy of: . E = 0.25(3x108) = 750 joules 105 . Bombardment of Atomic Nuclei . In the case of human reaction, it needs a 50-kilogram individual to trained and enriched about 0.025 milligram of atomic slime in the brain reactor and to actuate vibration in bombardment of atoms to trigger chainreaction. This shall produce about 75 joules worth of force enough to levitate, move things and events in related distance, energy magnitude to briefly join the mainstream of DEIU core, to over rule self-consciousness and to cater outside entity. Lots of activities can be obtained in relation to self-manifestation. . According to the lifeform’s chain, our ancestor’s initial appearance was somewhere in the vastness of Africa as climate being suitable for their existence that period. Following the flock’s migration during the melting of polar ice, some migrants were trapped by the ocean to the place of no return. However some were left behind roaming around the African plains developed maturity of instinct in line to their genetic calling. . The pioneering missionaries observed the first self-manifestation in African and misinterpreted as mystic and magic although practiced by the indigenous people as life affirming religion. They deliberately possessed their selves into trance and with the rhythm of drums and songs shall boost their hysteric moods and start shaking and shaking violently until possessed by the spirit. (that must be the manifested energy) Then spoke softly working slowly to a high pitch emotion. Then community starts talking, asking their ancestors for good things. This shall be the attraction of the mainstream of DEIU to oneself and as mystic that can not be explain. Through the pollution of imported religions to Africa, the practice was boldly discouraged as taken to be black cult. However during the Renaissance Age were pick-up and practice in India going down to Japan in a serene mood. . Indeed true and excellent those wonderful verses rendered the necessities during that period, but had it stood with the evolution of time to withstand

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the scrutiny of nature? Had they not aged to collide and caused fanaticism on our present and rational generation? The needs to look back and compare the recent civilization, in order to see the perspective and room for deletions. Is it unrealistic to bring the world together on the premise of the United Nations and to discuss workable agreement on rational unified truth and belief suitable to our time? If viable so, then “Cards of the Table” and altogether we shall establish the “Benchmark for Peace”. Advocacy on Transcendent Reality . A paradigm that reconciles science, philosophy and religion to bring them into alignment, to be consistent, and to be complementary. Science and scientific methodology allow us to discover facts and uncover truth about reality. Philosophy allows us to build reliable, predictive models that give us control over our environment. Religion allows us to choose those actions and alternatives that promote the greatest social good. . Transcendent Reality provides for the continual measurement of the efficacy of our philosophical models, correction of error, for evolution, for the progressive growth of knowledge, wisdom, and realization. And, It allows also for uncertainty, random chance, and chaos. . To the seekers of truth and knowledge, Transcendent Reality offers a pragmatic path to discovery that is reviewable and disciplined, philosophical constructions that are useful and verifiable, and, measurable algorithms of the greater social good. . To the less abstractly inclined, Transcendent Reality is presented as a set of rules to live by that enhance one’s survival, continuance-in-kind, and prosperity – individually, and of the greater social unit. . To the believer it is a revelation, to the blind it is an eye, to the deaf it is an ear. In the darkness it is a light to show the path. . Transcendent Reality is much more – not only is it is a path to survival, continuance-in-kind, and prosperity, but it is also a way to measure progress towards those goals. It is the answer to the meaning of life, death, and destiny. . . Morality as the Universal Law .

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Morality is a set of customs to society that regulate relationship and prescribe modes of behavior to enhance group survival. A rule of moral conduct. This is the essence that advance the herd of fauna into human. . Human society started a nomadic lives and later evolved into tribes of hunter-gatherers where instinct of morality needed to govern a crude civilization. Physical strength dominated the struggled for dominancy and the needs of mechanism to perpetuate leadership was the main concerned of the dominant male. . On one thunder storm season, lightning struck that started fire intrigued dominant male of power that can not be explained on thus period. Based of lightning incident, herd instinct has conceived a projected power to provide basis in the implementation of morality. Should laws of morality be observe and followed, a giver was required in order to be authenticated for universal adherence and acceptance. God was created by mankind through their image on those stages based on myth, dreams and visions as Projected Giver of Morality Laws. Rules in formed of cult-dogma were designed fitted with anathema and rigorous physical implementation of the dominant leaders. Those were the survival of the fittest … and only individuals adhered to the rules of God were fitted to live and to joined the new human society. . Rules… evolved into beliefs those were the basis of traditional faith that provide sustainable potent authority for the God-given Morality Laws. . Beliefs that were reasonable and rational on those particular period based on knowledge they possessed, whether or not true or probable does not matter, for it was written. Some quarters attempted to joined and designed dogmas but separated by their individual interests. Dogmatic competitions started to provoke on new human society and superstition was born to give way on blurred and rejected dogmas. . Competition for foods on hunter-gathers era evolved into dogmatic struggled and dominations. Kingdoms were established through exploitation of dominance, using gods and goddesses to provide projected powers. Those were the scuffled of god and goddesses to dominate humanity… until the time of Abraham where mankind attempted to unified god. And latter generations tried to incorporate all cult-dogmas and bind mankind into religion, but same anathema was attached to it. .

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. . . . . . . Part III

AN ATOMY OF HUMAN EV OL UT ION .

Introduction . Our Primate Origin . To understand human evolution one must understand where humans fit in relation to other forms of life. Modern humans belong to the group of mammals known as Primates. This is the scientific category describing such diverse creatures as lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, the monkeys of the New World and Old World, and also the apes. As primates we all share many characteristics, such as overlapping fields of vision caused by forward looking eyes (this allows for greater 3D vision), fine ability to grasp and handle objects in our hands, and enlarged brains relative to body size. The evolution of the Primates started in the early part of the Eocene epoch (about 55 million years ago). . Chimpanzees and humans are more closely related to each other than either is to gorillas. However, it must be stressed that humans did not evolve from living chimpanzees. Rather, our species and chimpanzees are both the descendants of a common ancestor that was distinct from other African apes. This common ancestor is thought to have existed in the Pliocene between 5 and 8 million years ago, based on the estimated rates of genetic change. Both of our species have since undergone 5 to 8 million years of evolution after this split of the two lineages. Using the fossil record, scientists attempt to reconstruct the evolution from this common ancestor through the series of early human species to today's modern human species. . So when did humans originate? The answer to that question really depends on what traits are meant by the term "human." Our

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understanding of the fossil record shows that distinctively human traits appeared neither recently nor all at once. Rather, they evolved piecemeal over a period of roughly 5 million years. By 4 million years ago, humans were habitually bipedal (walking on two legs) yet had brains roughly a third of the size of a modern human's (about the size of a modern ape's brain). By 2.5 million years ago the manufacture of stone tools was common. Large increases in brain size occurred even later. Complex behaviors such as adaptation to a wide range of environments and cultural diversification emerged only within the last 100,000 years. . Human Transformation . Human transformation is the lengthy process of change by which people originated from apelike ancestors. Scientific evidence shows that the physical and behavioral traits shared by all people originated from apelike ancestors and evolved over a period of at least 5 million years. . One of the earliest defining human traits is bipedalism -- the ability to walk on two legs -- evolved over 4 million years ago. Other important human characteristics -- such as a large and complex brain, the ability to make and use tools, and the capacity for language -- developed more recently. Many advanced traits -- including complex symbolic _expression, art, and elaborate cultural diversity -- emerged mainly during the past 100,000 years. . Humans are primates. Physical and genetic similarities show that the modern human species, Homo sapiens, has a very close relationship to another group of primate species, the apes. Humans and the great apes (large apes) of Africa -- chimpanzees (including bonobos, or so-called “pygmy chimpanzees”) and gorillas -- share a common ancestor that lived between 5 and 8 million years ago. Humans first evolved in Africa, and much of human evolution occurred on that continent. The fossils of early humans who lived between 2 and 5 million years ago come entirely from Africa. . Most scientists currently recognize some 10 to 15 different species of early humans. Scientists do not all agree, however, about how these species are related or which ones simply died out. Many early human species -- certainly the majority of them -- left no living descendants.

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Scientists also debate over how to identify and classify particular species of early humans, and about what factors influenced the evolution and extinction of each species. . Early humans first migrated out of Africa into Asia probably between 1.6 million and 2 million years ago. They entered Europe somewhat later, generally within the past million years. Species of modern humans populated many parts of the world much later. For instance, people first came to Australia probably within the past 60,000 years and to the Americas within the past 30,000 years or so. The beginnings of agriculture and the rise of the first civilizations occurred within the past 10,000 years. . . Paleoanthroplogy . Paleoanthropology is the scientific study of human evolution and a subfield of anthropology, the study of human culture, society, and biology. The field involves an understanding of the similarities and differences between humans and other species in their genes, body form, physiology, and behavior. Paleoanthropologists search for the roots of human physical traits and behavior. They seek to discover how evolution has shaped the potentials, tendencies, and limitations of all people. For many people, paleoanthropology is an exciting scientific field because it investigates the origin, over millions of years, of the universal and defining traits of our species. However, some people find the concept of human evolution troubling because it can seem not to fit with religious and other traditional beliefs about how people, other living things, and the world came to be. Nevertheless, many people have come to reconcile their beliefs with the scientific evidence. . Early human fossils and archeological remains offer the most important clues about this ancient past. Thus remains include bones, tools and any other evidence (such as footprints or butchery marks on animal bones) left by earlier people. Usually, the remains were buried and preserved naturally. They are then found either on the surface (exposed by rain, rivers, and wind erosion) or by digging in the ground. By studying fossilized bones, scientists learn about the physical appearance of earlier humans and how it changed. Bone size, shape, and markings left by muscles tell us how those predecessors moved around, held tools, and how the size of their brains changed over a long time. Archeological evidence refers to the things earlier people made and the places where

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scientists find them. By studying this type of evidence, archeologists can understand how early humans made and used tools and lived their environments. . . . . The Process of Transformation . The process of transformation involves a series of natural changes that cause species (populations of different organisms) to arise, adapt to the environment, and become extinct. All species or organisms have originated through the process of biological evolution. In animals that reproduce sexually, including humans, the term species refers to a group whose adult members regularly interbreed, resulting in fertile offspring -that is, offspring themselves capable of reproducing. Scientists classify each species with a unique, two-part scientific name. In this system, modern humans are classified as Homo sapiens. . Evolution occurs when there is change in the genes (the chemical molecule, DNA) inherited from the parents and especially in the proportions of different genes in a population. The information contained in genes can change by a process known as mutation. The way particular genes are expressed – that is, how they influence the body or behavior of an organism -- can also change. Genes affect how the body and behavior of an organism develop during its life, and this is why genetically inherited characteristics can influence the likelihood of an organism’s survival and reproduction. Evolution does not change any single individual. Instead, it changes the inherited means of growth and development that typify a population (a group of individuals of the same species living in a particular habitat). Parents pass adaptive genetic changes to their offspring, and ultimately these changes become common throughout a population. As a result, the offspring inherit those genetic characteristics that enhance their chances of survival and ability to give birth, which may work well until the environment changes. Over time, genetic change can alter a species' overall way of life, such as what it eats, how it grows, and where it can live. Human evolution took place as new genetic variations in early ancestor populations favored new abilities to adapt to environmental change and so altered the human way of life. .

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In everyday understanding, the "ascent of man" is a steady upward progression: Some 7 million years ago our slope-browed, knuckledragging ancestors break with the future chimpanzees and learn by turns to walk upright, grow bigger brains, shape bones and stones into tools -then cap the whole process by developing language. No wonder so many modern-day Homo sapiens, skeptical that the randomness of natural selection could produce such a tidy plot line, insist there must be a creator (or at least a creative intelligence) behind the story. . Of course not even Darwin argued for such a simplistic view of evolution, and scientists still differ over important aspects of the interaction of organisms and environment that favors some "improvements" over others. There are gaps in our understanding, and some of the widest can be found in anthropology, the human-centered discipline that was the biggest discovery in at least a half-century. . Homo floresiensis, is a new human ancestor whose remains were found on a remote island near Java – known to be Flores Man. They appear to have been about 3 feet tall, with grapefruit-sized brains, and to have hunted skillfully and cooperatively with stone tools. Their discoverer believes they made these tools, and also employed language; other anthropologists are unpersuaded on the first point, skeptical on the latter. . But it's the undisputed aspects of this discovery that are the most riveting. Flores Man survived into relatively modern times -- at least up to 13,000 years ago, and therefore much later than the Neanderthals of Europe, whose disappearance about 33,000 years ago had been considered the end of our archaic ancestors. . Indeed, the skeletal remains found on Flores Island dovetail neatly with the lore of modern-day residents, the Ngadha, who say the little people were around until the arrival of Dutch trading ships in the 1500s. They were hairy and gentle, the Ngadha say; they lived in the caves and accepted bowls of food we put out for them. . According to Michael Morwood, the University of New England anthropologist who led the excavation, Flores Man's closest probable relative among pre-humans lived about 1.7 million years ago in the formerly Soviet republic of Georgia. The journey to Java could have been accomplished over land, before the breakup of land masses, but how to explain the final leg to Flores, an island for 2.6 million years? Morwood

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theorizes a water crossing, probably by raft, of perhaps as little as 12 miles. . And then the interaction of organism and environment gets really interesting. The isolation of Flores invokes the "island rule" -- in the absence of large predators, whose threats make bigness a virtue, creatures larger than rabbits become smaller as an adaptation to food scarcity. Conversely, creatures smaller than rabbits get bigger, especially if they're predators. Thus Flores was home not only to downsizing prehumans but also to early elephants that shrank to water-buffalo size, and to little lizards that swelled into three-foot-long Komodo dragons. . Morwood's team couldn't resist applying the nickname "Hobbit" to the hominid remains, but the story of Flores Man -- even in today's sketchy outline -- is compelling in a way that Tolkien's trilogy can't match. It arises not as the product of imagination, but as a long series of accidents -collisions between our ancestors and environmental strictures that, contrary to previous supposition, favored shorter stature and a smaller (but perhaps better-organized) brain. . The persistence of Flores Man into such relatively recent times is equally remarkable, and has fueled some speculation than others among our evolutionary cousins might still be living in the unexplored reaches of the planet. That possibility remains remote -- but, it must be said, a bit less remote after Morwood's discovery. Humankind's family tree has suddenly become significantly bushier, as understanding of our origins continues to evolve. . . Sequence of Transformation . Human beings belong to the mammalian group known as Primates -- the scientific category that contains over 230 species of lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys of the Old and New World, and apes. Modern humans, early humans, and other primate species all share many similarities and have some important differences. Knowledge of these similarities and differences helps scientists to understand the roots of many human traits and the significance of each development in human evolution. . All primates, including humans, share at least part of a set of common characteristics that distinguish them from other mammals. Many of these

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characteristics evolved as adaptations for life in the trees, an environment in which the earliest primates evolved. These characteristics include more reliance on sight than smell; overlapping fields of vision, allowing stereoscopic (three-dimensional) sight; limbs and hands adapted for clinging on, leaping from and swinging in the trees; the ability to grasp and manipulate small objects (using fingers with nails instead of claws); large brains in relation to body size; and complex social lives. . The scientific classification of primates reflects evolutionary relationships among individual species and groups of species. Strepsirhine (meaning "wet nosed") primates -- of which the living representatives include lemurs, lorises, and other groups of species -- are all commonly known as prosimians. Strepsirhines are the most primitive of living primates. They share all of the basic characteristics of primates, although their brains are neither particularly large nor complex and they have a more elaborate and sensitive olfactory system (involved in the sense of smell) then do other primates. . The earliest monkeys and apes evolved from ancestral haplorhine (meaning "dry nosed") primates, of which the most primitive living representative is the tarsier. Tarsiers were previously grouped with prosimians, but many scientists now recognize that tarsiers, monkeys, and apes share some distinctive traits, and group the three together. Monkeys, apes, and humans -who share many traits not found in other primates -- together make up the suborder Anthropoidea. Anthropoid primates are divided into New World (South America, Central America, and the Caribbean Islands) and Old World (Africa and Eurasia) groups. The platyrrhine (broad-nosed) monkeys represent the first, and the second is the catarrhine (downward-nosed) monkeys and apes. Humans belong to this second group. . Apes and humans together make up the superfamily Hominoidea, a grouping that emphasizes the close relationship among these species. Scientists do not all agree about the appropriate classification of the families within this superfamily. Living hominoids are grouped into either two or three families: Hylobatidae, Hominidae, and sometimes Pongidae. Hylobatidae consists of the small or so-called lesser apes of Southeast Asia, commonly known as gibbons and siamangs. The Hominidae (hominids) include humans and, according to some scientists, the great apes. For those who include only humans among the Hominidae, all of the

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great apes, including the orangutans of Southeast Asia, belong to the family Pongidae. . Traditionally, the term "hominid" has referred to species of humans that evolved after the split between early humans and other ape lineages. But genetic evidence, which shows chimps and humans to be more closely related genetically (and evolutionarily) to each other than to any other ape, supports placing all of the great apes and humans together in the family of Hominidae. According to this reasoning, the evolutionary branch of Asian apes leading to orangutans, which separated from the other hominid branches by about 13 million years ago, belongs to the subfamily of Ponginae. The African apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans) are then classified in the subfamily called Homininae (or hominines). And finally, the line of early and modern humans belongs to the tribe (classificatory level above genus) Hominini, or hominins. . This classification would be true to the genetic evidence. But it tends to be confusing when learning about the subject, as many similar names (hominoid, hominid, hominine, and hominin) would apply to the different aspects of ape and human evolution. In this article the term "early human" refers to all species of the human family tree since the divergence from a common ancestor with the African apes. Popular writing often still uses the word "hominid" to mean the same thing. . . Humans as Primates . About 98 percent of the genes in people and chimpanzees are identical, making chimps the closest living biological relatives of humans. This does not mean that humans evolved from chimpanzees, but it does indicate that both species evolved from a common ape ancestor. Orangutans, the great apes of Southeast Asia, differ genetically from humans to a greater extent, indicating a more distant evolutionary relationship. . Modern humans have a number of physical characteristics indicative of an ape ancestry. For instance, people have shoulders with a wide range of movement and fingers capable of strong grasping. In apes, these characteristics are highly developed as adaptations for brachiation (swinging from branch to branch in trees). Although humans do not brachiate, the general anatomy of that earlier adaptation still remains.

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Both people and apes also have larger brains and greater cognitive abilities than do most other mammals. . Human social life, too, shares similarities with that of African apes and other primates -- such as baboons and rhesus monkeys -- that live in large and complex social groups. Group behavior among chimpanzees, in particular, strongly resembles that of humans. For instance, chimps form long-lasting attachments with each other; participate in social bonding activities, such as grooming, feeding, and hunting; and form strategic coalitions with each other in order to increase their status and power. Early humans also probably had this kind of elaborate social life. . However, modern humans fundamentally differ from apes in many significant ways. For example, as intelligent as apes are, people's brains are much larger and more complex, and people have a unique intellectual capacity and elaborate forms of culture and communication. In addition, only people habitually walk upright, can precisely manipulate very small objects, and have a throat structure that makes speech possible. . . The Fossil Primates . The origin of the mammalian group primates is traced back to Plesiadapiformes, the last common ancestors of strepsirhines and other mammals. Plesiadapiformes evolved at least 65 million years ago. They were creatures similar to the modern tree shrews. The earliest primates evolved by about 55 million years ago. The first strepsirhine primates, fossil species similar to lemurs and tarsiers, evolved during the Eocene epoch (about 56 to 34 million years ago). The oldest lineages of catarrhine primates, from which monkeys and apes evolved, are known between 50 and 33 million years ago. A primate known as Propliopithecus (one lineage sometimes called Aegyptopithecus), from the Fayum fossil sites of Egypt, is an archaic-looking catarrhine, and is thought to be what the common ancestor of all later Old World monkeys and apes looked like. So Propliopithecus may be considered an ancestor, or closely related to a direct ancestor, of humans. . Hominoids, or members of the super-family Hominoidea, evolved during the Miocene epoch (24 million to 5 million years ago). Large ape species had originated in Africa by 23 or 22 million years ago. Among the oldest known hominoids is a group of apes known by its genus name, Proconsul.

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Species of Proconsul had features that suggest a close link to the common ancestor of apes and humans. The ape species Proconsul heseloni lived in dense forests of eastern Africa about 20 million years ago. It was agile in the trees, with a flexible backbone and narrow chest of a monkey, yet capable of wide movement of the hip and thumb as in apes. . Early in their evolution, the large apes underwent several radiations, periods when species originated and became more diverse. After Proconsul had thrived for several million years, a group of apes from Africa and Arabia known as the afropithecines evolved around 18 million years ago and diversified into several species. By 15 million years ago, apes had migrated to Asia and Europe over a land bridge formed between the Africa-Arabian and Eurasian continents, which had previously been separated. Around this time, two other groups of apes had evolved – namely, the kenyapithecines of Africa and western Asia (first known about 15 million years ago) and the dryopithecines of Europe (first known about 12 million years ago). It is not yet clear, however, which of these groups of ape species may have given rise to the common ancestor of African apes and humans. . . Early Australopiths . The australopiths can be divided into an early group of species (sometimes known as gracile australopiths), which arose prior to 3 million years ago; and a later group, known as robust australopiths, which evolved after 3 million years ago. The earlier australopiths -- of which several species evolved between 4.4 million and 3 million years ago -generally had smaller teeth and jaws. The later robusts had larger faces with large jaws and cheek teeth. . A 5-million-year-old jaw fragment with one molar tooth, found in Kenya, and another jaw with two molars, about 4.5 million years old, may be the oldest australopith fossils. But scientists have not yet agreed on the matter since these fossils are so fragmented and do not tell us about the canine teeth or bipedal walking. Several of the early australopiths are given the genus name Australopithecus. Yet some of the oldest finds of australopith bones, dated about 4.4 million years old, have been given a different name because of their very ancient combination of apelike and humanlike traits. These fossils, first discovered in Ethiopia in 1994, are called Ardipithecus ramidus.

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. By at least 4.4 million years ago in Africa, an apelike species had evolved that had two important traits, which distinguished it from other apes: (1) small canine (eye) teeth (next to the incisors, or front teeth) and (2) bipedalism--that is the ability to walk on two legs. Scientists commonly refer to these earliest human species as australopithecines, or australopiths for short. The earliest australopith species known today belongs to the genus Ardipithecus. Other species belong to the genus Australopithecus and, by some classifications, Paranthropus. The name australopithecine translates literally as "southern ape," in reference to South Africa, where the first known australopith fossils were found. . Countries in which scientists have found australopith fossils include Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, and Chad. Thus, australopiths ranged widely over the African continent. The Great Rift Valley of eastern Africa, in particular has become famous for its australopith finds because past movements in Earth's crust in this region were favorable to environments in which bones are easily preserved and, later, to exposure of ancient deposits of fossilized bones. . There are many ideas about why the early australopiths split off from the apes, initiating the course of human evolution. Virtually all hypotheses invoke environmental change as an important factor, specifically in influencing the evolution of bipedalism. Some well-established ideas about why humans first evolved include (1) the savanna hypothesis, (2) the woodland-mosaic hypothesis, and (3) the variability hypothesis. . The savanna hypothesis argues that the Miocene forests of Africa became sparse and broken up between 5 and 8 million years ago due to a cooler and drier global climate. This drying trend led to the separation of an ape population in eastern Africa from other populations of apes in the more heavily forested areas of western Africa. The eastern population had to adapt to drier, open savanna environments, which favored the evolution of terrestrial living. Terrestrial apes might have formed large social groups in order to improve their ability to find and collect food and to fend off predators. The challenges of savanna life might also have promoted the rise of tool use, for purposes such as scavenging meat from the kills of predators. These important evolutionary changes would have depended on increased mental abilities and, therefore, may have correlated with the development of larger brains in early humans. .

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Critics of the savanna hypothesis argue against it on several grounds, but particularly for two reasons. First, an early australopith jaw similar to australopiths afarensis has been found in Chad in west-central Africa, 2500 kilometers west of the African rift valley. This find suggests that australopiths ranged widely over the African continent and that East Africa may not have been fully separated from environments further west. Second, there is growing evidence that open savannas were not prominent in Africa until sometime after 2 million years ago. . Criticism of the savanna hypothesis has spawned alternative ideas about early human evolution. The woodland-mosaic hypothesis proposes that the early australopiths evolved in a mosaic of woodland and grassland that offered opportunities for feeding both on the ground and in the trees. Ground feeding then favored regular bipedal activity and, eventually, the evolution of anatomical features of the hip, leg, and foot that assisted this form of locomotion. . The variability hypothesis suggests that early australopiths experienced many changes in environment and ended up living in a range of habitats, including forests, open-canopy woodlands, and savannas. In response, their populations became adapted to a variety of surroundings. Evidence from early australopith sites, in fact, shows this range of habitats. So the unique appearance of their skeletons may have allowed them the versatility of living in habitats with many or few trees. . . Australopith Characteristics . Most of the distinctly human physical qualities in australopiths related to their bipedal stance. Before australopiths, no mammal had ever evolved an anatomy for habitual upright walking. African apes move around their environments in a variety of ways. They use their arms to climb and to swing through the trees (known as brachiation). They knuckle-walk when on the ground, leaning on the middle parts of their fingers. And sometimes they move on two legs, as when chimpanzees feed on low branches or when gorillas show threat displays. The australopith body was devoted especially to bipedal walking. Australopiths also had small canine teeth, as compared with long canines found in almost all other catarrhine primates. .

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Other characteristics of australopiths reflected their ape ancestry. Although their canine teeth were not large, their faces stuck out far in front of the braincase. Their brains were about the same size as apes' today, about 390 to 550 cubic cm (24 to 34 cubic in) but were enlarged relative to body size. Their body weight, which can be estimated from their bones, ranged from about 27 to 49 kg (60 to 108 lb.) and they stood about 1.1 to 1.5 m (3.5 to 5 ft) tall. Their weight and height compare closely to those of chimpanzees (chimp height measured standing). Some australopith species had a large degree of sexual dimorphism -- males were much larger than females -- a trait also found in gorillas, orangutans, and some other primates. . Australopiths also had curved powerful fingers and long thumbs with a wide range of movement. Apes, in comparison, have longer, very strong, even more curved fingers – which are advantageous for hanging and swinging from branches -- but their very short thumbs limit their ability to manipulate small objects. While the fingers were longer than in modern humans, the australopith finger bones were not so long and curved as to suggest arm swinging. It is not yet clear whether these changes in the hand of early australopiths enabled them to use tools in a better way than earlier apes or even modern chimpanzees today. . . From Ape to Human . Fossils from several different early australopith species that lived between 4 million and 2 million years ago show a variety of adaptations that mark the transition from ape to human. The very early period of this transition, prior to 4 million years ago, remains poorly documented in the fossil record, but those fossils that do exist show the most primitive combinations of ape and human features. . Fossils reveal much about the physical build and activities of early australopiths, but little is known about surface physical features, such as the color and texture of skin and hair, or about certain behaviors, such as methods of obtaining food or patterns of social interaction. For these reasons, scientists study the living great apes -- particularly the African apes -- to better understand how early australopiths might have looked and behaved. The study of living apes, therefore, sheds light on how the transition from ape to human might have occurred. .

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For example, australopiths probably resembled the great apes in characteristics such as the shape of the face and the amount of hair on the body. Australopiths also had brains and body sizes in the same range exhibited by the great apes, leading scientists to believe that the australopiths had similar mental capabilities and possibly even social structures. . . . Bipedalism . The anatomy of australopiths shows a number of adaptations for bipedalism. Adaptations in the lower body included the following: The australopith ilium, or pelvic bone, which rises above the hip joint, was much shorter and broader than it is in apes. This new shape enabled the hip muscles to steady the body during each bipedal step. The australopith pelvis overall had evolved a more bowl-shaped appearance, which helped support the internal organs during upright stance. The upper legs angled inward from the hip joints, which positioned the knees to better support the body during upright walking. The legs of apes, on the other hand, are positioned almost straight down from the hip, so that when an ape walks upright for a short distance, its body sways from side to side. The australopith foot was also reshaped, including shorter and less flexible toes than an ape's, which provided a more rigid lever for pushing off the ground during each step. . Other adaptations occurred above the pelvis. The australopiths’ spine had an S-shaped curve, which shortened the overall length of the torso and gave rigidity and balance when standing. By contrast, apes have a relatively straight spine. The australopith skull also had an important adaptation related to bipedalism. The opening at the bottom of the skull, known as the foramen magnum, where the spinal cord attaches to the brain, was more forward than it is in apes. This position set the head in balance over the upright spine. . Australopiths clearly walked upright on the ground, but paleoanthropologists debate about whether the earliest humans also spent a lot of time in the trees. Certain physical features indicate that they spent at least some of their time in the trees. Such features include their curved and elongated fingers and elongated arms. .

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. Explaining Bipedalism . Many different explanations have been offered to account for the evolution of upright walking. Some of the ideas include: (1) freeing the hands, which was advantageous for carrying food or tools; (2) improved vision, especially to see over tall grass; (3) reducing the body's exposure to hot sun, which allowed better cooling during the day in an open landscape; (4) hunting or weapon use, which was easier with upright posture; and (5) feeding from bushes and low branches, which was easier when standing and moving upright between closely spaced bushes. . Although none of these hypotheses has overwhelming support, recent study of chimpanzees favors the last one. Chimps move on two legs most often when feeding on the ground from bushes and low branches. Chimps today are not, however, very good at walking in this way over long distances. As the distances between trees or groves of trees became wider during drier periods bipedal behavior in pre-human populations may have become more frequent. Accordingly, a more effective bipedal gait was favored not as an adaptation to savanna living but rather as a way of crossing less favored areas of open terrain. An ability to climb trees continued to be important. This idea may currently be the best explanation for the unique adaptation of the early australopiths: a combination of long, powerful arms, slightly elongated legs, and lower limbs reshaped for upright walking over long distances on the ground. . . Small Canine Teeth . Compared with apes, humans have very small canine teeth. Apes, particularly males, have thick, projecting, sharp canines that they use for displays of aggression and as weapons to defend themselves. By 4 million years ago, australopiths had developed the human characteristic of having smaller, flatter canines. Canine reduction might have related to an increase in social cooperation among humans and an accompanying decrease in the need for males to make aggressive displays. . . Australopithecus Anamensis .

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In 1965 a research team form Harvard University discovered a single arm bone of an early human at the site of Kanapoi in northern Kenya. The researchers estimated this bone to be 4 million years old, but could not identify the species to which it belonged. It was not until 1994 that a research team, led by paleoanthropologist Meave Leakey, found numerous teeth and fragments of bone at the site that could be linked to the previously discovered fossil. Leakey and her colleagues determined that the fossils were those of a very primitive species of australopith, which was given the name Australopithecus anamensis. Researchers have since found other Australopith anamensis fossils at nearby sites, dating between about 4.2 million and 3.9 million years old. The skull of this species appears apelike, while its enlarged tibia or lower leg bone, indicates that it supported its full body weight on one leg at a time, as in regular bipedal walking. . . Australopithecus Afarensis . Australopithecus anamensis was quite similar to another, much betterknown species, australopith afarensis, a gracile australopith that thrived in eastern Africa between about 3.9 million and 3 million years ago. The most celebrated fossil of this species, known as Lucy, is a partial skeleton of a female discovered by paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson in 1974 at Hadar, Ethiopia. Lucy lived 3.2 million years ago. Several hundred fossils of this species have been described from Hadar, including a collection representing at least 13 individuals of both sexes and various ages, all from a single site that is dated 3.2 million years old. . Researchers working in northern Tanzania have also found fossilized bones of australopith afarensis at Laetoli, a 3.6 million year old site best known for spectacular trails of bipedal human footprints (and the prints of other animals) preserved in a hardened volcanic ash. These footprints were discovered in 1978 by a research team led by paleoanthropologist Mary Leakey. They provide irrefutable evidence that australopiths regularly walked bipedally. . The controversy about how the australopiths moved has mainly focused on Lucy's species australopith afarensis. While Lucy certainly walked upright, she stood only 3.5 feet tall and had longer, more powerful arms than most later human species, which suggests that she was also adept at climbing trees. And while the Laetoli footprints were made by bipedal

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humans, some scientists have argued that the imprints of the heel, arch, and toes are not exactly like those made by modern human feet. In addition, other fossils from Hadar and Laetoli come from individuals much larger than Lucy, up to 5 feet tall. This has caused controversy over whether the entire set of fossils represents one or two species, although most scientists accept the single-species idea since large and small adults, probably male and female, occurred together at the same site at Hadar. . Another controversy arises from the claim that australopith. afarensis was the common ancestor of both later australopiths and the modern human genus, Homo. While this idea remains a strong possibility, the similarity between australopithecus afarensis and another australopith species -one from southern Africa, named Australopithecus africanus -- makes it difficult to decide which of the two species gave rise to the genus Homo. . . Australopithecus Africanus . Australopithecus africanus thrived in what is now the Transvaal region of South Africa between about 3.5 million and 2.5 million years ago. The anatomist Raymond Dart described this species -- the first known australopith -- on the basis of a fossil discovered in 1924 at Taung, South Africa. For two decades after this discovery, almost no one in the scientific community believed Dart's claim that the skull came from an ancestral human. In the late 1930s and 1940s, teams led by paleontologist Robert Broom unearthed many more australopith skulls and other bones from the Transvaal sites of Sterkfontein and Swartkrans. . Australopithecus africanus generally had a more globular braincase and less primitive-looking face and teeth than did Australopithecus afarensis. Thus some scientists consider the southern species of early australopith to be a likely ancestor of the genus Homo. According to other scientists, however, Australopithecus africanus had facial features that mark it on the path to the robust australopiths found later in the same region. Some recent finds from the Transvaal site of Sterkfontein indeed have begun to blur the distinction between the early australopiths and the later robust species. In 1998 a research team led by South African paleoanthropologist Ronald Clarke unearthed an almost complete early australopith skeleton at Sterkfontein. Although it may prove to be a new species, this important

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find may resolve some of the questions about where Australopithecus africanus fits in the story of human evolution. . . The Later Australopiths . By 2.7 million years ago, the robust australopiths had evolved. The robust australopiths represent an intriguing group of early humans because they survived for a long time and were quite common compared to other early human species. They had adaptations that differed from the larger-brained populations of Homo who lived at the same time, but then mysteriously became extinct by one million years ago. . Although the word "robust" originally referred to the larger body once believed to exist in these australopiths, they are now known to have been roughly the same size as australopith afarensis and australopith africanus. Instead, "robust" accurately describes the very massive molar teeth, face, and skull muscle markings that characterized these species. The robust australopiths had megadont cheek teeth -- broad, thick-enameled molars and premolars -- which formed a flattened and worn surface. Their incisor teeth, by contrast, were small. An expanded, flattened, and more vertical face accompanied this emphasis on the back teeth. The combination of broad molars and large face was effective in absorbing the stresses of strong chewing. Along the top of the head was a sagittal crest, a raised area of bone along the skull's midline from front to back, where thick muscles that moved the jaw up and down were attached. . The bars of bone along each side of the skull (the zygomatic arches) were positioned far to the side, which allowed huge openings for the chewing muscles near where they attached to the lower jaw. Altogether, these traits indicate very powerful and prolonged chewing of food. A similar expansion in the chewing structures can be seen in other groups of planteating animals. Microscopic wear on the teeth of paranthropus robustus and paranthropus boisei appear to support the idea of a vegetarian diet. It is thought that the robust australopiths had a diet consisting of tough, fibrous plant food, such as seed pods and underground tubers. However, chemical studies of fossil bones suggest that the southern species may also have eaten animals. . Because they share the features of heavy chewing, the robust australopiths appear to represent a distinct evolutionary group of early

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humans. Many paleoanthropologists have linked the robust species together with a unique genus name, Paranthropus (the name originally given to the southern robust species). This classification implies that the first robust species, paranthropus aethiopicus, became separated from the other australopiths and then evolved into paranthropus boisei and paranthropus robustus (the other two robust species). Other researchers have kept the robust species within the genus Australopithecus, stating that the eastern forms (A. aethiopicus and A. boisei) evolved their massive teeth from the early australopiths of the region (perhaps A. afarensis), whereas the southern species (robustus) evolved independently from A. africanus. If this type of parallel evolution occurred, the robust species would form two separate side branches of the human family tree. Due to alternative views such as this, the robust species are often known by more than one name (such as Australopithecus boisei and Paranthropus boisei). . . Paranthropus Aethiopicus . The earliest known robust species, Paranthropus aethiopicus, had evolved in eastern Africa by 2.7 million years ago. In 1985 at West Turkana, Kenya, paleoanthropologist Alan Walker discovered the fossil skull that defined this species. It became known as the "black skull" because of the color it had absorbed from minerals in the ground. The skull, dated 2.5 million years old, had a tall sagittal crest toward the back of its cranium and a face that projected far outward from the forehead. Paranthropus aethiopicus shares some primitive features with Australopithecus afarensis -- that is, features that originated in the earlier East African australopith. This may indicate that paranthropus aethiopicus evolved from Australopithecus afarensis. . . Paranthropus Boisei . Paranthropus boisei, the other well-known East African robust australopith, lived over a large geographic range between about 2.3 million and 1.2 million years ago. In 1959 Mary Leakey discovered the first fossil of this species -- a nearly complete skull at the site of Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. Paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey, husband of Mary, named the new species Zinjanthropus boisei (Zinjanthropus translates as "East African man"). This skull, which is dated to 1.8 million years ago, has the most specialized features of all the robust species. It has a massive, wide,

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and dished-in face that was capable of withstanding extreme chewing forces, and its molars are four times the size of those in modern humans. Since the discovery of Zinjanthropus, now recognized as an australopith, scientists have found great numbers of paranthropus boisei fossils in Tanzania, Kenya, and Ethiopia. . . . . . Paranthropus Robustus . The southern robust species, which has the descriptive name Paranthropus robustus, lived between about 1.8 million and 1.3 million years ago in the Transvaal, the same region that was home to australopith africanus. In 1938 Robert Broom, who had found many australopith africanus fossils, bought a fossil jaw and molar that looked distinctly different from those in australopith africanus. After finding the site of Kromdraai, from which the fossil had come, Broom collected many more bones and teeth that together convinced him to name a new species, which he called Paranthropus robustus (Paranthropus meaning "beside man"). . . The Fate of the Later Australopiths . The youngest fossils of robust australopiths are about 1.2 million years old, which suggests that they became extinct by around then. At about that time world climate began to fluctuate in a different pattern, and that may have reduced the food supply on which the robust species depended. Interaction with other early humans, such as Homo erectus, has been suggested as another reason for their extinction, although no compelling evidence exists of direct contact between these species. Competition with several other species of plant-eating monkeys and pigs, which thrived in Africa in the time, may have been an even more important factor. Still, the reasons why the robust australopiths became extinct, after such a successful time, are unknown. . . Fossil Find Improves Knowledge of Human Origins .

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New found fossils from Ethiopia are giving scientists a clearer glimpse into the murky origins of a hominid species that was an important link in the evolution of ape to man. The 4-million-year-old fossils belong to Australopithecus anamensis, the earliest known member of Australopithecus, the genus right before our own, Homo. . The new bones which include a femur, several teeth and the largest jaw fragment ever recovered from any hominid - were discovered last December 2005 in the Middle Awash valley of Ethiopia, a region wellknown for its rich deposit of hominid fossils. The fossils were found sandwiched between sediment layers containing the fossils of an earlier species, Ardipithecus ramidus, and the geologically younger Australopithecus afarensis. . This is the first time these three species have been found together in one geographic location and in such a tight chronological order, scientists say. . . . Filling in the Gaps . The Middle Awash valley of Ethiopia has the longest and most continuous record of human evolution of any place on Earth. Scientists have found the fossils of nearly 250 hominid specimens embedded within more than a mile of stacked sediments representing time periods that stretch back 6 million years. . The fossils of Ar. ramidus, Au. anamensis and Au. afarensis follow on the heels of one another in Middle Awash’s sediment layers - appearing at roughly 4.4 million, 4.2 million and 3.6 million years ago, respectively allowing scientists to accurately pinpoint the time when Australopithecus first appeared. . “The origins of Australopithecus have always been tricky, but now we have enough fossil evidence to indicate that the first occurrence of Australopithecus occurred 4.2 million years ago. Since their remains don’t overlap, scientists think the three species are directly related, evolving one from the other, rather than being cousins that shared a common ancestor.“ This discovery fills the gap between Ardipithicus and Australopithecus,” said study team member Tim White, an anthropologist at the University of California, Berkeley.

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. “Here is one place on Earth where you have 12 separate sediment layers, one stacked on top of another, whose fossils have filled in many of the gaps in human evolution over the years. “Many of the links are no longer missing.” . . . . Ape to Man . The story of human evolution can be divided into three distinct phases, beginning with our split from the common ancestor we shared with chimpanzees 8 million to 6 million years ago. Each phase lasted for millions of years and was dominated by a separate genus; each genus was composed of numerous species. . * The oldest genus is Ardipithecus, of which Ar. ramidus was the last member. . * Australopithecus came next. This genus began with Au.anamensis and includes Au. Afarensis of “Lucy “ fame. . * Lastly is Homo, the genus containing Homo erectus, Neanderthal, The Hobbit and us – Homo sapiens. . . Human-Neanderthal Link . A skull found in a cave in Romania includes features of both modern humans and Neanderthals, possibly suggesting that the two may have interbred thousands of years ago. Neanderthals were replaced by early modern humans. Researchers have long debated whether the two groups mixed together, though most doubt it. The last evidence for Neanderthals dates from at least 24,000 years ago. The skull bearing both older and modern characteristics is discussed in a paper by Erik Trinkaus of Washington University in St. Louis. The report

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appeared in January 2007 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The skull was found in Pestera cu Oase — the Cave with Bones — in southwestern Romania, along with other human remains. Radiocarbon dating indicates it is at least 35,000 years old and may be more than 40,000 years old. The researchers said the skull had the same proportions as a modern human head and lacked the large brow ridge commonly associated with Neanderthals. However, there were also features that are unusual in modern humans, such as frontal flattening, a fairly large bone behind the ear and exceptionally large upper molars, which are seen among Neanderthals and other early hominids. "Such differences raise important questions about the evolutionary history of modern humans," said co-author Joao Zilhao of the University of Bristol, England. It could reflect a case in which ancient traits reappear in a modern human, or it could indicate a mixture of populations, Zilhao said. Or it simply may be that science hasn't been able to study enough early modern people to understand their diversity. Dr. Richard Potts of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History noted that the skull represents the earliest modern human ever found in Europe. It's a big deal in that sense, he said, but the combination of characteristics don't necessarily indicate interbreeding between populations. Overall there is no strong evidence for mixing of Neanderthal and modern human populations and "this doesn't add any," said Potts, who wasn't part of the research team.

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None of the features cited as unusual in modern humans is exclusively Neanderthal, Potts said. Rather, they could be features passed down from earlier populations in Africa. The field work that uncovered the skull was conducted in 2004 and 2005. Meanwhile, a research team led by Svante Paabo of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, is trying to map the Neanderthal genome in hopes of better understanding any possible relationship to modern people. The research was funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, the Wenner-Green Foundation, Washington University, the Leakey Foundation, the Portuguese Institute of Archaeology, the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Science, the Romanian National Council for Academic Research and the Foundation Fyssen. . EPILOGUE . It shall take human intellect to travel progressively and spend time dissecting history on an unexplainable urging of instinct into dissertation of truth based on most reasonable and reliable references through the compiled historical records. This endeavor may not be grossly mistaken as anti-religious initiatives but instead taken as a plain language in the partial recovery of truth. It must be understood however, that every mankind has their own identity and defined role without prejudice to good works and sacrifices rendered by those who were ahead us and be known exactly what they wished to be and not beyond. . The writer just wish to share the great elation – a feeling of jubilation and encouragement that took a day to simmer down when polishing this manuscript happened to read the Episcopal Introduction of the Bible published by Claretian Publications (1988), particularly “Big Bang and not Creation” the origin of our planet on pages 07 to 09. It came to a perception that this group of humans conducts their studies in searching for the factual truth, the way ancient Essene Society had undertaken. The recovery of truth. Somehow feel naïve for lack of endeavor and initiative to

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breakthrough from the realm of religious ambiguities where their entity happened to be a pillion and most likely, unwilling to rock the boat. . Indeed true, if one is heir of a very huge old traditional house has no ability to restructure it alone. The need of community efforts and assistance to rebuild and rig all sides to prevent the collapse. All members of the community should be vigilant enough to see all unsound and unsuitable components be replace giving an outmost emphasize to the restoration of a new and stable foundation. But how soon shall it take to initiate the move? The needs of world communities, through the effort of United Nations participation can be invited for the major restoration and refurbishment works in order that all members of the world can benefit the

abode. Just think about it. . . Author’s Note . Should religion and science part ways in asserting the essence of reality, one of them is coherent with the truth. The principle parallel to certainty is the tenet consistent with the recent discoveries. This is just an endeavor of an element of mankind, but rationality and recovery of whole truth rest upon the pursuit of humanity. . Pax Vobiscum /abv/

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