"My guide in Luxor and Aswan gave me the understanding that each new pharaoh defaced the images of his predecessors, usually by destroying the nose of the image"
So did one of mine - but the archaeologist who guided our trip for the emtire two weeks told me different and reading I have done since being inspired by that wonderful experience seems to confirm the latter.
The Pharaohes were gods and often ran in families and you didn't muck aout with the feller who came before you if you didn't want to be gobbled up by beetles and jackals.
"I'll ignore the rest of your remarks"
Pity - I would like to have had them seriously challenged by somene who I have a fair mount of respect for - but then again, I do have history and logic on my side.
"The question of why there is suffering has always been an issue."
he ongoing thread throughout the history of religion is that you may squabble among yourselves as much as you like, but yu never question the motives of god - he's in charge!
Religion has produced nothing new that resembles evidence - it never really did - it is entirely based on unquestioned faith and the suspense of logic.
Jim Carroll