Atheism and happiness

Thousands of years ago, a charismatic teacher and miracle worker roamed the lands of a country now called Turkey. Followed by numerous disciples of varying trades, this teacher went from town to town, performing miracles and curing disease wherever he went. He met with many important officials – Titus, Vespasian, and Domitian to name a few – and attempted to aid them with a few choice kernels of wisdom.

These sayings were often very generic, and even silly at times: “although the soul wants to ascend to heaven, mountaineering does not bring it closer to God.” However, word of his healing of the sick, raising of the dead, seeing of the future, and other such miracles gained him a wide following.

Apollonius’ birth was marked by several phenomenal events. Probably the most believable of these occurred at his birth itself: Just before being born, Apollonius’ mother wondered through a field late one night before falling asleep in the grass. Some wondering swans, having just flown a long way, landed nearby, and by their cries and beating of wings, awoke her with such a start that Apollonius was born. These swans had foreseen the birth of a king and had come to witness it. Estimates place the birth of Apollonius to have occurred about 3 years prior to the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.

Some time into his 80s, Apollonius simply dissapeared. Some accounts state that he simply left his house and never returned. Others say that he dissapeared while spending a night at meditation in a temple. Others still believe that he simply dissapeared while on his own deathbed. No one knows of the Tomb of Apollonius, if one exists, or where it might be located. After his death, many writers wrote about his life and of the fantastic miracles he accomplished during his travels.

“I shall continue to speak with you as though you were present,” Apollonius is said to have told his disciples the last time he was with them.