Robert Schneider wrote in alt.atheism

Elroy Willis <elo@airmail.net> wrote in message

pan <pan@psnwREMV.com> wrote in alt.atheism

pan <pan@psnwREMV.com> wrote:

As it was, Mediterranean cultures seemed to readily accept the
notion that 'prophecies' much vaguer that this Temple prophecy
were of supernatural origin (e.g. The Delphi Oracle).

Opps!
That should read: "Mediterranean cultures seemed to readily accept
the notion that 'prophecies' much vaguer **than** this..."

I watched a show about the Oracle of Delphi a couple weeks ago,
and it mentioned that some kind of gas leaking up from the rocks
in the temple was what caused people to think they'd contacted
some oracle when they went in there. I can't remember what kind
of gas it was supposed to be, though. Anyone heard the idea before?

Yes, a similar theme was made into an episode of "The Simpsons". They
saw visions standing next to Maude's statue which were caused by a
leaking natural gas pipe.

Haven't seen that one yet, but I suspect I will soon enough. I just
got Tivo and subscribed to a season pass of the Simpsons. I'm gonna
make a DVD of all of the slams at religion that occur on the show, and
pass it around.

--
Elroy Willis
EAP Chief Editor and Newshound
http://web2.airmail.net/~elo/news

Robibnikoff <nospam@newsranger.com> wrote:

Elroy Willis says...

pan <pan@psnwREMV.com> wrote in alt.atheism

As it was, Mediterranean cultures seemed to readily accept the
notion that 'prophecies' much vaguer that this Temple prophecy were of
supernatural origin (e.g. The Delphi Oracle).

Opps!
That should read: "Mediterranean cultures seemed to readily accept
the notion that 'prophecies' much vaguer **than** this..."

I watched a show about the Oracle of Delphi a couple weeks ago,
and it mentioned that some kind of gas leaking up from the rocks
in the temple was what caused people to think they'd contacted
some oracle when they went in there. I can't remember what kind
of gas it was supposed to be, though. Anyone heard the idea before?

I dunno, but I've been to Delphi and where the oracle was supposed to
have given her predictions (a sort of cave - very cool). Don't recall any gas :)

There was an earthquake, indicating the displeasure of the god)s), and the
oracle stopped giving predictions and the temple was abandonned (trans:
the earthquake disturbed the way the gas leaked to the surface and stopped
the hallucinations)

Robibnikoff <nospam@newsranger.com> wrote in alt.atheism

Elroy Willis says...

pan <pan@psnwREMV.com> wrote in alt.atheism

pan <pan@psnwREMV.com> wrote:

As it was, Mediterranean cultures seemed to readily accept the
notion that 'prophecies' much vaguer that this Temple prophecy were of
supernatural origin (e.g. The Delphi Oracle).

Opps!
That should read: "Mediterranean cultures seemed to readily accept
the notion that 'prophecies' much vaguer **than** this..."

I watched a show about the Oracle of Delphi a couple weeks ago,
and it mentioned that some kind of gas leaking up from the rocks
in the temple was what caused people to think they'd contacted
some oracle when they went in there. I can't remember what kind
of gas it was supposed to be, though. Anyone heard the idea before?

I dunno, but I've been to Delphi and where the oracle was supposed to
have given her predictions (a sort of cave - very cool). Don't recall any
gas :)

On the same show I watched, it talked about the gas companies
adding some chemical or other gas to natural gas so people could
actually smell it when there was a leak. Interestingly, the odor they
added seems to be detectable by turkey buzzards way up in the sky,
and when the gas company people look for gas leaks, they look for
buzzards circling overhead of some area, at least if the gas leak is
suspected to be somewhere where turkey vultures fly around.

If it isn't an actual dead carcass they circle over, it quite often
turns out to be a break in the gas pipeline, and whatever smell they
added attracts buzzards just like the smell of some dead rotting
animal on the ground or roadway...

Interesting, eh?

On the same show I watched, it talked about the gas companies
adding some chemical or other gas to natural gas so people could
actually smell it when there was a leak. Interestingly, the odor they
added seems to be detectable by turkey buzzards way up in the sky,
and when the gas company people look for gas leaks, they look for
buzzards circling overhead of some area, at least if the gas leak is
suspected to be somewhere where turkey vultures fly around.

If it isn't an actual dead carcass they circle over, it quite often
turns out to be a break in the gas pipeline, and whatever smell they
added attracts buzzards just like the smell of some dead rotting
animal on the ground or roadway...

In alt.atheism pan <pan@psnwremv.com> wrote:
: Elroy Willis <elo@airmail.net> wrote:
: > pan <pan@psnwREMV.com> wrote in alt.atheism
: >> pan <pan@psnwREMV.com> wrote:
: >>> As it was, Mediterranean cultures seemed to readily accept the
: >>> notion that 'prophecies' much vaguer that this Temple prophecy were of
: >>> supernatural origin (e.g. The Delphi Oracle).
: >> Opps!
: >> That should read: "Mediterranean cultures seemed to readily accept
: >> the notion that 'prophecies' much vaguer **than** this..."
: > I watched a show about the Oracle of Delphi a couple weeks ago,
: > and it mentioned that some kind of gas leaking up from the rocks
: > in the temple was what caused people to think they'd contacted
: > some oracle when they went in there. I can't remember what kind
: > of gas it was supposed to be, though. Anyone heard the idea before?
: See:
: http://www.nature.com/nsu/010719/010719-10.html
: From article:
: Ethylene, a sweet-smelling gas, stimulates the central nervous system
: - it was once used as an anaesthetic. Although fatal in large
: quantities, small doses produce a floating sensation and euphoria. In
: other words, just what an oracle needs to start having visions.
Another excellent two carbon molecule!
Interesting little fact: Needs monospaced font.
Ethylene is a two carbon organic gas, CH3 - CH3
H H
| |
H- C -- C -H
| |
H H
Ethanol, aka drinking alcohol, is the respective two carbon alcohol:
CH3CH2OH

For these last two reasons, when it was the only anesthetic, hospitals
built the operating rooms on the top floor to minimize damage from the
expected explosions.

Interesting little fact: Needs monospaced font.
Ethylene is a two carbon organic gas, CH3 - CH3

H H
| |
H- C -- C -H
| |
H H

However we can only get so lucky. Heavier than air, it can pile up on a
lab counter, and it burns with an invisible flame. Watch the bunsons. It
can also, after being around for a while, form a peroxide which is plainly
expolsive:
CH3CH2OOCH2CH3

H H H H
| | | |
H- C -- C - O - O -C -- C -H
| | | |
H H H H