Download or read book Ancient Astronauts Cosmic Collisions written by William H. Stiebing and published by Prometheus Books. This book was released on 2010-06-03 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.
Download or read book Pseudoscience and the Paranormal written by Terence Hines and published by Prometheus Books. This book was released on 2010-09-30 with total page 516 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Television, the movies, and computer games fill the minds of their viewers with a daily staple of fantasy, from tales of UFO landings, haunted houses, and communication with the dead to claims of miraculous cures by gifted healers or breakthrough treatments by means of fringe medicine. The paranormal is so ubiquitous in one form of entertainment or another that many people easily lose sight of the distinction between the real and the imaginary, or they never learn to make the distinction in the first place. In this thorough review of pseudoscience and the paranormal in contemporary life, psychologist Terence Hines teaches readers how to carefully evaluate all such claims in terms of scientific evidence.Hines devotes separate chapters to psychics; life after death; parapsychology; astrology; UFOs; ancient astronauts, cosmic collisions, and the Bermuda Triangle; faith healing; and more. New to this second edition are extended sections on psychoanalysis and pseudopsychologies, especially recovered memory therapy, satanic ritual abuse, facilitated communication, and other questionable psychotherapies. There are also new chapters on alternative medicine, which is now marketed in our drug stores, and on environmental pseudoscience, with special emphasis on the evidence that certain technologies like cell phones or environmental agents like asbestos cause cancer.Finally, Hines discusses the psychological causes for belief in the paranormal despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. This valuable, highly interesting, and completely accessible analysis critiques the whole range of current paranormal claims.
Download or read book From Eden to Exile written by Eric H. Cline and published by National Geographic Books. This book was released on 2012-12-04 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Eric H. Cline uses the tools of his trade to examine some of the most puzzling mysteries from the Hebrew Bible and, in the process, to narrate the history of ancient Israel. Combining the academic rigor that has won the respect of his peers with an accessible style that has made him a favorite with readers and students alike, he lays out each mystery, evaluates all available evidence—from established fact to arguable assumption to far-fetched leap of faith—and proposes an explanation that reconciles Scripture, science, and history. Numerous amateur archaeologists have sought some trace of Noah's Ark to meet only with failure. But, though no serious scholar would undertake such a literal search, many agree that the Flood was no myth but the cultural memory of a real, catastrophic inundation, retold and reshaped over countless generations. Likewise, some experts suggest that Joshua's storied victory at Jericho is the distant echo of an earthquake instead of Israel's sacred trumpets—a fascinating, geologically plausible theory that remains unproven despite the best efforts of scientific research. Cline places these and other Biblical stories in solid archaeological and historical context, debunks more than a few lunatic-fringe fantasies, and reserves judgment on ideas that cannot yet be confirmed or denied. Along the way, our most informed understanding of ancient Israel comes alive with dramatic but accurate detail in this groundbreaking, engrossing, entertaining book by one of the rising stars in the field.
Download or read book The Case of the Ancient Astronauts written by I. J. Gallagher and published by Steck-Vaughn. This book was released on 1977 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Investigates the possibility of early space travellers and UFO's having visited several ancient civilizations on the earth centuries ago.
Download or read book Aliens and UFOs Physical Psychic or Social Reality Third Edition written by Randal Montgomery, Ph.D. and published by BookLocker.com, Inc.. This book was released on 2012-03-15 with total page 438 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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).
Download or read book 50 Popular Beliefs that People Think are True written by Guy P. Harrison and published by Prometheus Books. This book was released on 2012 with total page 460 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "What would it take to create a world in which fantasy is not confused for fact and public policy is based on objective reality?" asksNeil deGrasse Tyson, science popularizer and author ofAstrophysics for People in a Hurry."I don't know for sure. Buta 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.
Download or read book Ancient Near Eastern History and Culture written by William H. Stiebing Jr. and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-07-01 with total page 722 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.
Download or read book Alien Worlds written by Diana Tumminia and published by Syracuse University Press. This book was released on 2007-05-17 with total page 412 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This intriguing collection of essays presents reflections upon the birth, proliferation, enduring appeal, and future of UFO mythology. Highly respected authors and researchers, representing the varied and sometimes competing perspectives of ufology and the sociology of religion, provide a fascinating and instructive voyage into the exotic social worlds of UFOs, abductees, and contactees. Reports of aliens and the changing nature of abduction experience, especially in the sexual dimension are explored in relation to literature, culture, and ideology. The influence of abduction therapy and support groups is considered, as are new religious movements (NRMs) within the UFO community. The book offers rich insights into psychology, human behavior, and religion, melding issues of race, politics, and gender. Finally, it evaluates the existing dynamic of UFOS in the age of the Information Super Highway and ever-increasing globalization. Alien Worlds will enlighten anyone wanting to understand what and how the academic world thinks about UFOs, UFO groups, and UFO phenomena.
Download or read book They Would Be Gods written by Anthony K. Forwood and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2011 with total page 446 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Encyclopedia of Dubious Archaeology written by Kenneth L. Feder and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2010-10-11 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.
Download or read book The Skeptic Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience 2 volumes written by Michael Shermer and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2002-11-14 with total page 920 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.
Download or read book After the New Age written by Steven H. Propp and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2008-12-16 with total page 598 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Its 1976, and Janet Tanhurst is a teenager who feels stifled by life with her strict mother, and the authoritarian church she must attend. Once out of high school, however, Janet is initiated into a fascinating new world of Astrology, Tarot cards, and Spirit Mediums. Next, she encounters the mysterious world of UFOs?a bewildering and sometimes frightening realm encompassing ancient astronauts, alien abductions, and shadowy government conspiracies. As the 1980s arrive, the Christian-dominated Piscean Age seems to be giving way to a long-anticipated Aquarian Age, with its hope for a coming revolution in higher consciousness. There are new paradigms in philosophy and science?promoting a holographic conception of the universe as engaged in a Cosmic Dance?along with the emergence of an introspective type of instrumental music known as New Age. With the help of bookstore owner Whisper Wynn, Janet investigates subjects such as reincarnation, quartz crystals, chakras and the human aura, in addition to an exciting new form of spiritual teaching called channeling. Following movement leaders including Shirley MacLaine and Marianne Williamson, studying enigmatic teachers like G.I. Gurdjieff and Carlos Castaneda, and inspired by medical doctors such as Deepak Chopra and Andrew Weil, she learns about Alternative Medicine and Holistic Health, as well as traditional health practices from China, Japan, and India. She assimilates wisdom from the ancient Celts along with rituals from contemporary Goddess worshippers, in formulating her own unique concept of the Divine that is within us all.
Download or read book Conspiracy Theories and Extremism in New Times written by Christopher T. Conner and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2024-08-15 with total page 445 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.
Download or read book Out of the Desert written by William H. Stiebing and published by Prometheus Books. This book was released on 2012-07-03 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Two of the best-known stories in the Bible are those of Moses leading his people out of Egypt and Joshua's conquest of the Promised Land. Indeed, they form one of the cornerstones of the Judeo-Christian tradition. But is the Bible a reliable source of information for Israel's early history? Are the Exodus and Conquest actual historical events? And if they are, when and where did they occur? Out of the Desert? rigorously examines accounts of these historic events and traces the authenticity, dates, and explanations for the Israelites' departure from Egypt and subsequent conquest of Canaan. Clarifying these events in a straightforward, informative manner, Out of the Desert? includes a generous number of charts and illustrations. William H. Stiebing, Jr. places the Exodus within its cultural context during the beginning of the Iron Age (1200-1100 B.C.), a time of drought, famine and collapse of social order, which gave way to the emergence and dominance of the tribes that joined forces to become the confederation of Israel. Many conventional ideas concerning the Exodus and Conquest are radically challenged in Out of the Desert?. Stiebing's accounts of archaeological digs and rival theories make the narrative lively and engrossing; his unique insight into the field of modern archaeology provides a rare glimpse into the wonders of man's history.
Download or read book Invented Knowledge written by Ronald H. Fritze and published by Reaktion Books. This book was released on 2009-05-15 with total page 405 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Were the Chinese the first to discover America in 1421? Did Jesus and Mary Magdalene have children together? Did extraterrestrials visit the earth during prehistory and teach humans how to build pyramids and stone structures? These are only a few of the controversial and intriguing questions that Ronald H. Fritze investigates in Invented Knowledge. This incredible exploration of the murky world of pseudo-history reveals the proven fact, the informed speculation, and the pure fiction behind lost continents, ancient super-civilizations, and conspiratorial cover-ups—as well as the revisionist historical foundations behind religions such as the Nation of Islam and the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints. Drawing on the best scholarship available, Fritze shows that in spite of strong, mainstream historical evidence to the contrary, many of these ideas have proved durable and gained widespread acceptance. As the examples in Invented Knowledge reveal, pseudo-historians capitalize on and exploit anomalies in evidence to support their claims, rather than examining the preponderance of research as a whole. From Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull to 10,000 B.C., the sensationalist topics of pseudo-history captivate audiences and permeate popular culture. Invented Knowledge offers many entertaining and enthralling examples of spurious narratives, artificial chronologies, and ersatz theories in a book guaranteed to intrigue, open eyes, and spark conversation among readers—skeptics and believers alike.
Download or read book The Story of Western Science From the Writings of Aristotle to the Big Bang Theory written by Susan Wise Bauer and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2015-05-11 with total page 411 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A riveting road map to the development of modern scientific thought. In the tradition of her perennial bestseller The Well-Educated Mind, Susan Wise Bauer delivers an accessible, entertaining, and illuminating springboard into the scientific education you never had. Far too often, public discussion of science is carried out by journalists, voters, and politicians who have received their science secondhand. The Story of Western Science shows us the joy and importance of reading groundbreaking science writing for ourselves and guides us back to the masterpieces that have changed the way we think about our world, our cosmos, and ourselves. Able to be referenced individually, or read together as the narrative of Western scientific development, the book's twenty-eight succinct chapters lead readers from the first science texts by Hippocrates, Plato, and Aristotle through twentieth-century classics in biology, physics, and cosmology. The Story of Western Science illuminates everything from mankind's earliest inquiries to the butterfly effect, from the birth of the scientific method to the rise of earth science and the flowering of modern biology. Each chapter recommends one or more classic books and provides entertaining accounts of crucial contributions to science, vivid sketches of the scientist-writers, and clear explanations of the mechanics underlying each concept. The Story of Western Science reveals science to be a dramatic undertaking practiced by some of history's most memorable characters. It reminds us that scientific inquiry is a human pursuit—an essential, often deeply personal, sometimes flawed, frequently brilliant way of understanding the world. The Story of Western Science is an "entertaining and unique synthesis" (Times Higher Education), a "fluidly written" narrative that "celebrates the inexorable force of human curiosity" (Wall Street Journal), and a "bright, informative resource for readers seeking to understand science through the eyes of the men and women who shaped its history" (Kirkus). Previously published as The Story of Science.
Download or read book Piri Reis Map of 1513 written by Gregory C. McIntosh and published by University of Georgia Press. This book was released on 2012-03-15 with total page 247 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of the most beautiful maps to survive the Great Age of Discoveries, the 1513 world map drawn by Ottoman admiral Piri Reis is also one of the most mysterious. Gregory McIntosh has uncovered new evidence in the map that shows it to be among the most important ever made. This detailed study offers new commentary and explication of a major milestone in cartography. Correcting earlier work of Paul Kahle and pointing out the traps that have caught subsequent scholars, McIntosh disproves the dubious conclusion that the Reis map embodied Columbus's Third Voyage map of 1498, showing that it draws instead on the Second Voyage of 1493-1496. He also refutes the popular misinterpretation that Reis's depictions of Antarctica are evidence of either ancient civilizations or extraterrestrial visitation. McIntosh brings together all that has been previously known about the map and also assembles for the first time the translations of all inscriptions on the map and analyzes all place-names given for New World and Atlantic islands. His work clarifies long-standing mysteries and opens up new ways of looking at the history of exploration.
