Vampire legends go back far beyond Ancient Babylon or Sumer. They have always been with us. Maybe they are some kind of genetic memory of things that existed before the Flood, or just part of the collective unconscious telling us truths about the blood that got confused over the ages.
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But first on earth, as vampire sent,
Is this what you are talking about? But it's all folklore... Not even mythology.
The whole idea of vampires is silly. There was an article in Skeptical Inquirer (I think) a while back about the mathematics involved which disprove the idea of vampires.
For example, when a vampire bites someone, that person turns into a vampire, and then that person bites someone who turns into a vampire, and so on which turns into a giant vampire pyramid scheme. Assuming that a vampire needs to feed once every night, and every person they turn into a vampire then needs to feed once a night, then in the span of 30 days there would be 1,073,741,824 vampires running around. With a world population of around 6 1/2 billion, chances are good that everyone would know a vampire sooner or later. Or, for that matter, would BE a vampire sooner or later.
The fact that vampire legends have lasted thousands of years pretty much disproves that they exist. It's just another boogeyman myth.
There are plenty of ancient legends of the undead who prey on the living in some way or another, often by drinking their blood. People have always loved a good ghost story, and still do. The association with vampire bats, which actually do drink blood, is much more recent. Vampire bats live in South and Central America, not the Middle East.
Or maybe, like all those other myths you think are true because they've been around for thousands of years (Jesus, werewolves, Intelligent Fundies), they might just be stories?
But I can sort of see where you're coming from. If you believe one ridiculous myth, you might as well buy into them all, right?
"Maybe they are some kind of genetic memory of things that existed before the Flood,..."
There was no flood, it's just another fairy story and for you to repeat it after being repeatedly told makes you a liar.
Isn't it Sumeria , not Sumer?
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For example, when a vampire bites someone, that person turns into a vampire, and then that person bites someone who turns into a vampire, and so on which turns into a giant vampire pyramid scheme.
Assuming that a vampire needs to feed once every night
I'll admit I know little of the ancient vampire stories. Most of my knowledge comes from the modern Stoker-inspired monsters. But even Dracula manages to avoid starting this "Pyramid" in the above fashion.
As long as the vampires are smart, their condition is entirely sustainable.
Christians probably shouldn't whine about vampires when one of Christianity's rituals involves drinking the "blood of Christ". You know, that thing called communion.
Btw vampires never existed; the flood never happened either. In fact the whole thread is a load of fail.
And as for kids liking vampires, let them enjoy the stories. Stop being a bunch of perpetual wet blankets.
#1025340,
Yeah, that's what I'd think too. I think the person who originally came up with that article was good at math but didn't really know much about vampire folklore.
Paschal Wagner,
You have won 1 internet! Will you be home between one and five to take delivery?
I don't think vampire legends go back that far.
There are two people in history named Dracula.
Vampire stories go further back than Stoker, although the vampires of folklore are very different from the pale, urbane Count. Vampires of folklore are typically ruddy, bloated peasants, angry about their death or simply too evil to die.
Vampires, Burial, and Death by Paul Barber describes the more recent Eastern European legends that inspired Polidori, Stoker, and others. Wikipedia also has a decent article.
EDIT: Barber summarized his research in a Skeptical Inquirer article .
Vampire legends go back far beyond Ancient Babylon or Sumer.
Yep, as long as there has been darkness, there have been some sort of boogie man to haunt it.
They have always been with us.
Wait what? Are you suggesting that they are real?
Maybe they are some kind of genetic memory of things that existed before the Flood, or just part of the collective unconscious telling us truths about the blood that got confused over the ages.
No, no, no! Vampires are and their is no evidence of them ever being real. The "vampires" of today are inspired by the media, books, Hollywood and so on.
Well known fact. Kain was the first vampire.
Oh, right. That's Vampire: The Masquerade, not real life. Sorry . I suffered an attack of fundie inability to distinguish fact from fiction.
...collective unconscious telling us truths about the blood...
That didn't make sense even when stoned!
I don't think blood has many secrets, if any, left to be discovered...
@ #1025506
Or birds, if you believe .
. . .
And shamans all over Central and South America can turn into jaguars, eclipses are caused by jaguars or dogs eating the sun or moon, spotted or striped animals got their markings by painting them on or being tricked into having them painted on, black-footed cats (3-7lb.) really can kill giraffes, caves are a source of lightning. . .
See, there are lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots . . . of legends, myths, stories, and gods/supernaturals and they all explain something to the people who invented/developed them. They generally are not true explanations, but it takes some relatively modern knowledge to know that. I don't expect a lot of the people who still hold these ideas to know better. You, with access to education and massive amounts of collected knowledge, I do. I suppose I expect too much.
The name vampire comes from Serbian language, the most famous of their vampires being Sava Savanovic. Legends of people drinking blood are older than that, but you as a Christian have no high ground to argue about that.
The vampire legend is ancient and nearly universal because it stems from an ancient and nearly universal concern; the fear of plagues. The vampire of classic folklore was a personification of the threat of rampant diseases on a population that was unequipped to deal with them. Genetic memory and the collective unconscious are mythical notions with no basis in reality, just like the biblical flood.
They have always been with us
The stories have, yes. Cultural anthropologists and historians have some very interesting theories as to why such stories are so universal.
But that's all they are, stories. Enjoy your vampire movies, books, roleplay games, whatever. That's fine. But remember that, in the end, it's just fiction.
Sumer was around long before that imaginary Flood of yours. It was even around before God supposedly created the World. So, if Vampire legends go back far beyond Sumer, they're older than Scripture...
What truths about the blood? That some species, mosquitos for example, use blood as nourishment? That people sometimes get sick in Malaria and other diseases, after being bitten by a mosquito?
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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