QUOTE (SaRuMaN @ Apr 23 2008, 08:11 AM)
But no natural species of animal that actually does do this, not one example of it in nature anywhere.
So you are saying that the concent of a fire breathing dragon isn't based on a dragon's natural ability to breath fire but is instead a case of a dragon performing a magic trick like a fire-eater at a circus with a bottle of liquor and a small concealed torch ?
So dragons don't really breath fire at all then, in that case; doesn't this contradict your previous argument about the possibilities in nature of some animals being theoretically able to breath fire ? What is the relevance to dragons if dragon fire breathing is just a trick ?
Also, given that according to what you've said dragons were huge, sentient, flying reptiles, why would they need to put on a fire breathing display to make themselves appear more Godlike ? Why would dragons require humans to think of them as Gods and why in the present day and age do we still not see these type of draconic displays ?
What evidence do you have to support that this theory is correct ?
A number of scientists have proposed reasonable theories of how a dragon could realisitically spew fire, though the sceptics here who know little of chemistry dismiss them out of hand. I personally believe it is possible, but if in fact a natural way of spewing fire is impossible, dragons could still spew fire in the identical way of a circus fire-eater. And there is some historical precedent for this as dragons often request alcoholic beverages among their offerings. This then proves that a dragon spewing fire would not be impossible, for humans can perform the same act.
The dragons clearly answer to a higher authority. This is suggested in a variety of theologies. Their mission seems to have been ensuring the survival of the infant human race, and once the great civilizations were established, seem to have retreated into obscurity, though they have continuously been reported ever since. Only in hte last 200 years have these creatures changed from being called dragons to dinosaurs, plesiosaurs, etc.
From the ancient stories, we see evidence that the dragons are not perfect beings, but exhibit pride, anger, jealously and trickery. Pretending to breath fire to make them appear more awesome and godlike to their human 'flocks' is to be expected. The more powerful the dragon seems, the more worshippers, and attendant offerings would be provided. Many of Yahweh's miracles could have been tricks with logical explanations.
But mankind could not continue to develop if controlled by dragons, so the creator entity ordered them out of their temples and into the wilds, where they have continued to be reported even to this day. As humans became more dangerous with more advanced weapons, dragons seem to have become more and more wary, until now, most sighting are mere fleeting glimpses of the creatures, and today, few people realize these are the same dragons recorded by our ancestors.
This scenario is well supported by the historical record. The old dragon gods are replaced in some areas with human-like gods, and dragons appear less like gods, and more like monsters.
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Crocodile cults 
