Posted by thx3188 at 208.218.130.146 on August 24, 2000 at 18:52:18:
In Reply to: Yo D. Stratford -- about "Dogma" & "Blair Witch" posted by Isis on August 24, 2000 at 14:55:37:
I had heard the same argument somewhere before, but I couldn't place it.
I remember where it was, now.
In my studying of H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, I found that a lot of what Lovecraft portrayed as Sumerian mythology really had nothing to do with it. The Sumerians worshipped the same set of Gods that the Egyptians did and, in a way, had almost the same belief structure as the Norse. There was a God of Thunder, a God of Light, a Goddess of Fertility, etc.
Their beliefs in no way revolved around a giant, gelatinous, squid lookin' thing named Cthulhu. In fact, the only Gods that Lovecraft didn't make up for his purposes were Azathoth and Dagon. The others were all cleverly crafted to fit into the Sumerian mythology by way of the Necronomicon, or (loosely translated) Laws of the Named Dead, which he constructed of his own imagination.
Because the general public had little to no knowledge of Sumerian religious practices, it became common knowledge that the Sumerians were a demon worshipping, virgin sacrificing, sacreligious people, which they clearly were not.
In conclusion, I just have to say one thing:
Dogma happens.
thx3188
Believe me, I did a lot of research. One does not throw together an A+ report on the religious practices of Ancient Sumeria in under 45 minutes without knowing his shit.