Ancient Astronauts, Cosmic Collisions

Ancient Astronauts, Cosmic Collisions PDF Author: William H. Stiebing
Publisher: Prometheus Books
ISBN: 1615926976
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 226

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Book Description
Controversial archaeological and astronomical "discoveries" have been the subject of countless news stories, best-selling books, movies, and television programs. Promoted (but seldom critically evaluated) are the theories that markings in the desert of Peru are the remains of an ancient airfield used by space visitors, that the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt exhibits advanced technology unknown to the ancient Egyptians, and that there were near-collisions between planets of our solar system in historical times.This book critically evaluates many of these popular hypotheses about man''s early history. It presents the most important evidence and arguments for and against theories of a universal flood, the lost continent of Atlantis, mysterious pyramid powers, pre-Columbian voyages to America by ancient Egyptians and Phoenicians, and Velikovsky''s cosmic catastrophism.Professor Stiebing stresses the need for careful and objective analysis of the "evidence" used to support radical reconstructions of the past. The book discusses radio-carbon dating, archaeological stratigraphy, textual interpretation, and epigraphy as well as emphasis on the proper use of data provided by geology, astronomy and other sciences. It is written in non-technical language and will appeal to a wide audience.

Ancient Astronauts, Cosmic Collisions

Ancient Astronauts, Cosmic Collisions PDF Author: William H. Stiebing
Publisher: Prometheus Books
ISBN: 1615926976
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 226

Get Book Here

Book Description
Controversial archaeological and astronomical "discoveries" have been the subject of countless news stories, best-selling books, movies, and television programs. Promoted (but seldom critically evaluated) are the theories that markings in the desert of Peru are the remains of an ancient airfield used by space visitors, that the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt exhibits advanced technology unknown to the ancient Egyptians, and that there were near-collisions between planets of our solar system in historical times.This book critically evaluates many of these popular hypotheses about man''s early history. It presents the most important evidence and arguments for and against theories of a universal flood, the lost continent of Atlantis, mysterious pyramid powers, pre-Columbian voyages to America by ancient Egyptians and Phoenicians, and Velikovsky''s cosmic catastrophism.Professor Stiebing stresses the need for careful and objective analysis of the "evidence" used to support radical reconstructions of the past. The book discusses radio-carbon dating, archaeological stratigraphy, textual interpretation, and epigraphy as well as emphasis on the proper use of data provided by geology, astronomy and other sciences. It is written in non-technical language and will appeal to a wide audience.

50 Popular Beliefs That People Think Are True

50 Popular Beliefs That People Think Are True PDF Author: Guy P. Harrison
Publisher: Prometheus Books
ISBN: 1616144963
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 460

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Book Description
“What would it take to create a world in which fantasy is not confused for fact and public policy is based on objective reality?" asks Neil deGrasse Tyson, science popularizer and author of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry. "I don't know for sure. But a good place to start would be for everyone on earth to read this book." Maybe you know someone who swears by the reliability of psychics or who is in regular contact with angels. Or perhaps you're trying to find a nice way of dissuading someone from wasting money on a homeopathy cure. Or you met someone at a party who insisted the Holocaust never happened or that no one ever walked on the moon. How do you find a gently persuasive way of steering people away from unfounded beliefs, bogus cures, conspiracy theories, and the like? This down-to-earth, entertaining exploration of commonly held extraordinary claims will help you set the record straight. The author, a veteran journalist, has not only surveyed a vast body of literature, but has also interviewed leading scientists, explored "the most haunted house in America," frolicked in the inviting waters of the Bermuda Triangle, and even talked to a "contrite Roswell alien." He is not out simply to debunk unfounded beliefs. Wherever possible, he presents alternative scientific explanations, which in most cases are even more fascinating than the wildest speculation. For example, stories about UFOs and alien abductions lack good evidence, but science gives us plenty of reasons to keep exploring outer space for evidence that life exists elsewhere in the vast universe. The proof for Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster may be nonexistent, but scientists are regularly discovering new species, some of which are truly stranger than fiction. Stressing the excitement of scientific discovery and the legitimate mysteries and wonder inherent in reality, this book invites readers to share the joys of rational thinking and the skeptical approach to evaluating our extraordinary world.

Conspiracy Theories and Extremism in New Times

Conspiracy Theories and Extremism in New Times PDF Author: Christopher T. Conner
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1666933090
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 445

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Book Description
Conspiracy Theories and Extremism in New Times outlines a cadre of alt-right groups, conspiracy theories, and other forms of stigmatized knowledge threatening our society. In an era dominated by the pervasive influence of social media, the scholarly gaze has often overlooked the ways far-right factions leverage these platforms to propagate anti-democratic ideologies. From the denial of the moon landing to the enigmatic labyrinth of QAnon, and a myriad of other alt-right groups in between, this anthology presents a compelling case for the continued relevancy of the Frankfurt School of Critical Social Theory. Uncover the intricate web connecting these ideologies to everyday life, and arm yourself with the critical insights needed to navigate the turbulent currents of our modern socio-political landscape.

Aliens and UFOs: Physical, Psychic or Social Reality? (Third Edition)

Aliens and UFOs: Physical, Psychic or Social Reality? (Third Edition) PDF Author: Randal Montgomery, Ph.D.
Publisher: BookLocker.com, Inc.
ISBN:
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 438

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Book Description
This comprehensive book, written and updated over a period of 43 years with hundreds of references, will appeal to both beginners and experts, skeptics and believers, as well as to fans of Science-Fiction, aviation, students of Psychology, Sociology, Psychiatry plus those interested in psychic experiences and those interested in NASA, CIA and US military coverups of UFO evidence. Foreword by Nick Pope, of Britain’s “X files”. Topics include: summary of findings and evidence from 75 years of UFOlogy; dozens of classic and recent cases which still defy skeptical explanations; 13 famous cases that have been explained or exposed as hoaxes; many government coverups; possible Nazi-Roswell-Avro-CIA connections; psychic aspects, Carl Jung etc.; Hysterical Contagion (Mass Hysteria); the Rendlesham Forest case (triangular craft seen, touched and sketched by a US Air Force security sergeant, and witnessed taking off from the forest by him and another); the famous Roswell case; Shag Harbour USO case and other USO (Unidentified Submerged Object) cases; Belgium case; the recent shoot down of a UFO in Pentyrch England – beginning of a human-alien war? the huge subliminal influence science-fiction movies, TV shows, books, and comics have had on UFO sightings and encounters; origin of the Men in Black; missing time; the technology of flying saucers, including possible propulsion systems; airships of 1890-1912: mass hysteria, UFOs or actual early dirigibles (Zeppellns)? The religion aspect (aliens function as a new mythology / belief system for many); witches (yesteryear's aliens?) Angels v. Aliens; recent US Navy sightings and disclosure in the US and other nations; the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program and Luis Elizondo, the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (2020) Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group (2021). ABDUCTIONS (a) UFO Neurosis - a new psychiatric diagnosis for some people who believe that they have been kidnapped by space aliens; (b) Some “alien abductions” are actually "screen memories" of sexual assaults, usually committed by family members or trusted friends; (c) Above applied to the famous Barney and Betty Hill case and to a few others; (d) A different hypothesis applying psychologist Julian Jaynes' 1976 theory about the bicameral mind to "experiencers" to suggest that some have bicameral brains like everyone did 4000 years, according to Jaynes; (e) One case that would stand up if it were tried at court (Pascagoula Mississippi).

Ancient Near Eastern History and Culture

Ancient Near Eastern History and Culture PDF Author: William H. Stiebing Jr.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1315511150
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 722

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Book Description
This introduction to the Ancient Near East includes coverage of Egypt and a balance of political, social, and cultural coverage. Organized by the periods, kingdoms, and empires generally used in Near Eastern political history, the text interlaces social and cultural history with the political narrative. This combination allows students to get a rounded introduction to the subject of Ancient Near Eastern history. An emphasis on problems and areas of uncertainty helps students understand how evidence is used to create interpretations and allows them to realize that several different interpretations of the same evidence are possible.This introduction to the Ancient Near East includes coverage of Egypt and a balance of political, social, and cultural coverage.

The Skeptic Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience [2 volumes]

The Skeptic Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience [2 volumes] PDF Author: Michael Shermer
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 1576076547
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 920

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Book Description
A thorough, objective, and balanced analysis of the most prominent controversies made in the name of science—from the effectiveness of proposed medical treatments to the reality of supernatural claims. Edited by Michael Shermer, editor and publisher of The Skeptic magazine, this truly unique work provides a comprehensive introduction to the most prominent pseudoscientific claims made in the name of "science." Covering the popular, the academic, and the bizarre, the encyclopedia includes everything from alien abductions to the Bermuda Triangle, crop circles, Feng Shui, and near-death experiences. Fifty-nine brief descriptive summaries and 23 investigations from The Skeptic magazine give skeptical analyses of subjects as far-ranging as acupuncture, chiropractic, and Atlantis. The encyclopedia also gives for-and-against debates on topics such as evolutionary psychology and case studies on topics like police psychics and the medical intuitive Carolyn Myss. Finally, the volumes include five classic works in the history of science and pseudoscience, including the speech William Jennings Bryan never delivered in the Scopes trial, and the first scientific and skeptical investigation of a paranormal/spiritual phenomenon by Benjamin Franklin and Antoine Lavoisier.

The Haunting of America

The Haunting of America PDF Author: William J. Birnes
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 9780765326188
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 404

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Book Description
In the tradition of their Haunting of the Presidents, national bestselling authors Joel Martin and William J. Birnes write The Haunting of America: From The Salem Witch Trials to Harry Houdini, the only book to tell the story of how paranormal events influenced and sometimes even drove political events. In a narrative retelling of American history that begins with the Salem Witch Trials of the seventeenth century, Martin and Birnes unearth the roots of America's fascination with the ghosts, goblins, and demons that possess our imaginations and nightmares. The authors examine the political history of the United States through the lens of the paranormal and investigate the spiritual events that inspired public policy: channelers and meduims who have advised presidents, UFOs that frightened the nation's military into launching nuclear bomber squadrons toward the Soviet Union, out-of-body experiencers deployed to gather sensitive intelligence on other countries, and even spirits summoned to communicate with living politicians. The Haunting of America is a thrilling exploration of the often unexpected influences of the paranormal on science, medicine, law, government, the military, psychology, theology, death and dying, spirituality, and pop culture.

Archaeological Fantasies

Archaeological Fantasies PDF Author: Garrett G. Fagan
Publisher: Psychology Press
ISBN: 9780415305921
Category : Pseudoarchaeology
Languages : en
Pages : 448

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Book Description
Including case studies, this collection of engaging and stimulating essays written by a diverse group of scholars, scientists and writers examines the phenomenon of pseudoarchaeology from a variety of perspectives.

Lost Knowledge

Lost Knowledge PDF Author: Benjamin B. Olshin
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004352724
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 474

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Book Description
Lost Knowledge: The Concept of Vanished Technologies and Other Human Histories investigates early texts that speak of sophisticated technologies millennia ago that became obscured over time or were destroyed with the civilizations that had created them.

Encyclopedia of Dubious Archaeology

Encyclopedia of Dubious Archaeology PDF Author: Kenneth L. Feder
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 031337919X
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 306

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Book Description
This book provides a fascinating, encyclopedic antidote for the mysticism and pseudoscience surrounding well-known or highly publicized archaeological and anthropological "discoveries." Archaeology attempts to answer the question "where do we come from?" in the broadest sense possible; as a result, it is a highly interesting topic for all mankind. When did human beings first walk the earth? How did civilization develop? What compelled our human ancestors to build things like the pyramids, the Great Sphinx, or Monk's Mound? This book presents the widely unknown scientific facts behind the most popular and enthralling "mysteries" of our world from an expert archaeological perspective—and lays out the information and research in a manner that is approachable, engaging, and entertaining for any reader. Encyclopedia of Dubious Archaeology: From Atlantis to the Walam Olum contains detailed and highly descriptive definitions for—and explanations of—terms related to extraordinary claims about human antiquity and its study. Some of the terms in this extensive list of topics relate to archaeological hoaxes. Many of the entries relate to dubious interpretations of the human past; some of the terms relate to far-fetched arguments that actually have produced evidence in support of their veracity.