How did mythology and religion first begin? Where did the ideas of “God,” “spirit” and “soul” come from? The author takes us to ancient times, showing us how early humans struggled to make sense of the world around them. Drawing on history, geology, volcanology, anthropology, chemistry, astronomy, archeology, oceanography, biology and cognitive science, the author reveals the surprising true meaning of our most sacred stories. "Bill Lauritzen is some kind of genius." Sir Arthur C. Clarke. "Lauritzen has some good ideas ..." Daniel Dennett, Philosopher, Author. "Anyone interested in science and religion should read this book." Dr. Elizabeth Loftus, Ph.D., Psychology, UC Irvine. “An interesting and thought-provoking book." Dr. Mamikon Mnatsakanian, Ph.D, Astrophysicist, Mathematician, California Institute of Technology [Note: in the next edition, in progress, I will include the following etymology of "pyramid." Footnote references not shown here.] “Pyramid” Etymology Greek: The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) traces pyramid to ancient Greek πυραμίδ- (pyramid), πυραμίς (pyramis), suggesting that it might stem from πυρός—wheat or grain—as if the pyramids giant granaries. That's a stretch; they're not hollow, and there’s solid evidence they were tombs. The OED also notes some “ancient authors” link it to πῦρ—fire—think “pyro-“ in pyromaniac and pyrotechnic. Egyptian: In hieroglyphs, a pyramid shape stands for MR or MER, a “place of ascendance.” Yet some “alternative” Egyptologists prefer PR.NTR, (Per-Neter) meaning house-nature . In a 1903 paper, Budge unpacks “Neter” as “eternal existence, self-begetting, self-production, primeval matter,” adding it’s “almost impossible not to think” it ties to ‘self-existence,’ and the power to ‘renew life indefinitely.’” So a pyramid might be 1) fire, 2) a place of ascendance, 3) primal stuff that keeps life surging. All of these fit well with my theory of the Great Pyramids representing volcanoes. [Note2 : in the next edition, in progress, I will include my following interpretation of "primeval waters" as "lava"] Three wavy lines depicted horizontally 𓈗 is usually translated as “water,” but this glyph can also determine something to be a liquid. This same symbol appears in the hieroglyph for Nun, and in the glyph for Heh, which Budge defines as “the primeval watery mass whence came everything.” Here is a list in which I have replaced the word “water” with the more fitting “liquid” so you can see how well the language of lava fits with the primeval liquid: Nun (Nu): 𓎛𓎛𓎛𓈗𓀭 Primordial liquid of creation. Heh (Huh): 𓎛𓅱𓎛𓅱𓈗 The primordial liquid mass whence came everything. Nenui: 𓈖𓈖𓅱𓇋𓈗 Primordial liquid matter. Netu: 𓈖𓏏𓅱𓈗 A river of boiling water, or liquid fire, in the underworld (Duat). Mer-khebu: 𓈗𓎡𓃀𓅱 The lake of boiling liquid with a fetid smell. Net Asar: 𓈖𓏏𓈗𓁩 A stream of Osiris in the underworld. Net-Ra: 𓈖𓏏𓈗𓂋 A canal in the underworld. This reinterpretation also fits well with a geological interpretation of ancient Nile River Valley religion. Which is more likely: that the origin-of-the-world stories were inspired by a river? Or by the more spectacular and awe-inspiring scenes of lava and volcanoes? Certainly, the waters of the Nile were “life-giving” in the middle of the desert, but we are talking here not about maintaining life, but about the creation of life, the world, the underworld, and the heavens! Bill Lauritzen is an accomplished author, inventor, engineer and scientist. His multidisciplinary approach has enabled him to make contributions in several fields. His website is www.BillLauritzen.com. Used Book in Good Condition