Where did religion come from? When did it start? If there is but one God, why are there so many religions?In contemplating these questions, I came to realize that the validity of religious belief could not be effectively debated without acquiring an in-depth knowledge of its history; without comparing the various religious texts; without deliberating the concept of creation in light of modern scientific research; without considering an alternative to Heaven and Hell, and to an elusive anthropomorphic God.We are left to speculate as to when our forebears first developed an awareness of their humanity, and the possible awareness of spirits, demons, and gods, and in what form these elusive entities were perceived. With the advent of writing, and the ability to chisel hieroglyphics into stone, this enduring legacy enables us to trace with a fair degree of certainty the evolution of religion over the past 7,000 years or so.While the majority of people believe in one version of religion to the exclusion of all others, the history of religion exposes a progression that links Paganism and polytheism, and finally with monotheism with a belief in the Abrahamic God of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It also reveals the degree to which the various denominations have created, altered, and manipulated the mythology of early religious belief to suit their own agendas.Faith or Fiction? is an historical account of the emergence of religion from its recorded roots seven thousand years ago. It reveals how religion evolved from what was likely a single source of belief, to dominate and secularize the great portion of the global population.
About the Author: At age 80 years, Dr. Robert Harris is able to reflect on what has thus far been dominated by adventure; bodily, spiritually and intellectually. A flare for leadership, Robert became a Troop Leader in the Boy Scouts, and as a member of his high school's Military Cadet Unit, he attended Officer Training School. At age 18 years he became a veteran while serving with the Royal Australian Navy in Malaya. It was also the year he abandoned his belief in the anthropomorphic God of Christianity. He went on to serve in three Police Services, including six years with the Royal Papua and New Guinea Constabulary in which, at age 21 years, he was the youngest person to hold the rank of Inspector. Robert has been awarded five medals, three military and two police medals, for service to his country. Abandoning his studies in Law in favor of travelling to the United States, Robert graduated in 1978 with a degree of Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College in Davenport, Iowa. He undertook additional studies in Nutrition, Health and Counseling Psychology, and Human Development. He completed a one-year residency in Radiology, and served on the faculty of two colleges in California. With a career in clinical Chiropractic now spanning 40 years, Robert continues to operate a successful practice in Australia. Taking a keen interest in the explosion of obesity, which resulted in a twelve year period of research and clinical trials, Robert published the popular Australian top-ten best seller, Slim Forever, which was followed by The Slim Forever International Cookbook. Robert began to believe in the existence of a Universal energy source that was the beating heart and thinking brain of all creation; a belief he learned was shared by others under the banner of Pantheisim, a name coined by Dutch Philosopher and Separdic Jew, Barak Spinoza. Realizing his belief in a universal intelligence paralleled, to some degree, the basic tenets of monotheistic belief, he began a study of the history of organized religion in order to learn if there was a connection. So voluminous and convincing was the material he uncovered, Robert believed he should share it with the multitude of people who are currently questioning their religion, who want to have faith without religion, but are unable to find the answers. This resulted in the publication of the four-book series: The God Alternative; Faith or Fiction?; Faith Without Religion; and, Decoding the Mystery of Life. drrobertharrisbooks.com