JASON COLAVITO
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Books
    • Legends of the Pyramids
    • The Mound Builder Myth
    • Jason and the Argonauts
    • Cult of Alien Gods >
      • Contents
      • Excerpt
      • Image Gallery
    • Foundations of Atlantis
    • Knowing Fear >
      • Contents
      • Excerpt
      • Image Gallery
    • Hideous Bit of Morbidity >
      • Contents
      • Excerpt
      • Image Gallery
    • Cthulhu in World Mythology >
      • Excerpt
      • Image Gallery
      • Necronomicon Fragments
      • Oral Histories
    • Fiction >
      • Short Stories
      • Free Fiction
    • JasonColavito.com Books >
      • Faking History
      • Unearthing the Truth
      • Critical Companion to Ancient Aliens
      • Studies in Ancient Astronautics (Series) >
        • Theosophy on Ancient Astronauts
        • Pyramidiots!
        • Edison's Conquest of Mars
      • Fiction Anthologies >
        • Unseen Horror >
          • Contents
          • Excerpt
        • Moon Men! >
          • Contents
      • The Orphic Argonautica >
        • Contents
        • Excerpt
      • The Faust Book >
        • Contents
        • Excerpt
      • Classic Reprints
      • eBook Minis
    • Free eBooks >
      • Origin of the Space Gods
      • Ancient Atom Bombs
      • Golden Fleeced
      • Ancient America
      • Horror & Science
  • Articles
    • Skeptical Xenoarchaeologist Newsletter >
      • Volumes 1-10 Archive >
        • Volume 1 Archive
        • Volume 2 Archive
        • Volume 3 Archive
        • Volume 4 Archive
        • Volume 5 Archive
        • Volume 6 Archive
        • Volume 7 Archive
        • Volume 8 Archive
        • Volume 9 Archive
        • Volume 10 Archive
      • Volumes 11-20 Archive >
        • Volume 11 Archive
        • Volume 12 Archive
        • Volume 13 Archive
        • Volume 14 Archive
        • Volume 15 Archive
        • Volume 16 Archive
        • Volume 17 Archive
        • Volume 18 Archive
        • Volume 19 Archive
        • Volume 20 Archive
      • Volumes 21-30 Archive >
        • Volume 21 Archive
        • Volume 22 Archive
    • Television Reviews >
      • Ancient Aliens Reviews
      • In Search of Aliens Reviews
      • America Unearthed
      • Pirate Treasure of the Knights Templar
      • Search for the Lost Giants
      • Forbidden History Reviews
      • Expedition Unknown Reviews
      • Legends of the Lost
      • Unexplained + Unexplored
      • Rob Riggle: Global Investigator
    • Book Reviews
    • Galleries >
      • Bad Archaeology
      • Ancient Civilizations >
        • Ancient Egypt
        • Ancient Greece
        • Ancient Near East
        • Ancient Americas
      • Supernatural History
      • Book Image Galleries
    • Videos
    • Collection: Ancient Alien Fraud >
      • Chariots of the Gods at 50
      • Secret History of Ancient Astronauts
      • Of Atlantis and Aliens
      • Aliens and Ancient Texts
      • Profiles in Ancient Astronautics >
        • Erich von Däniken
        • Robert Temple
        • Giorgio Tsoukalos
        • David Childress
      • Blunders in the Sky
      • The Case of the False Quotes
      • Alternative Authors' Quote Fraud
      • David Childress & the Aliens
      • Faking Ancient Art in Uzbekistan
      • Intimations of Persecution
      • Zecharia Sitchin's World
      • Jesus' Alien Ancestors?
      • Extraterrestrial Evolution?
    • Collection: Skeptic Magazine >
      • America Before Review
      • Native American Discovery of Europe
      • Interview: Scott Sigler
      • Golden Fleeced
      • Oh the Horror
      • Discovery of America
      • Supernatural Television
      • Review of Civilization One
      • Who Lost the Middle Ages
      • Charioteer of the Gods
    • Collection: Ancient History >
      • Prehistoric Nuclear War
      • The China Syndrome
      • Atlantis, Mu, and the Maya
      • Easter Island Exposed
      • Who Built the Sphinx?
      • Who Built the Great Pyramid?
      • Archaeological Cover Up?
    • Collection: The Lovecraft Legacy >
      • Pauwels, Bergier, and Lovecraft
      • Lovecraft in Bergier
      • Lovecraft and Scientology
    • Collection: UFOs >
      • Alien Abduction at the Outer Limits
      • Aliens and Anal Probes
      • Ultra-Terrestrials and UFOs
      • Rebels, Queers, and Aliens
    • Scholomance: The Devil's School
    • Prehistory of Chupacabra
    • The Templars, the Holy Grail, & Henry Sinclair
    • Magicians of the Gods Review
    • The Curse of the Pharaohs
    • The Antediluvian Pyramid Myth
    • Whitewashing American Prehistory
    • James Dean's Cursed Porsche
  • The Library
    • Ancient Mysteries >
      • Ancient Texts >
        • Mesopotamian Texts >
          • Atrahasis Epic
          • Epic of Gilgamesh
          • Kutha Creation Legend
          • Babylonian Creation Myth
          • Descent of Ishtar
          • Berossus
          • Comparison of Antediluvian Histories
        • Egyptian Texts >
          • The Shipwrecked Sailor
          • Dream Stela of Thutmose IV
          • The Papyrus of Ani
          • Classical Accounts of the Pyramids
          • Inventory Stela
          • Manetho
          • Eratosthenes' King List
          • The Story of Setna
          • Leon of Pella
          • Diodorus on Egyptian History
          • On Isis and Osiris
          • Famine Stela
          • Old Egyptian Chronicle
          • The Book of Sothis
          • Horapollo
          • Al-Maqrizi's King List
        • Teshub and the Dragon
        • Hermetica >
          • The Three Hermeses
          • Kore Kosmou
          • Corpus Hermeticum
          • The Asclepius
          • The Emerald Tablet
          • Hermetic Fragments
          • Prologue to the Kyranides
          • The Secret of Creation
          • Ancient Alphabets Explained
          • Prologue to Ibn Umayl's Silvery Water
          • Book of the 24 Philosophers
          • Aurora of the Philosophers
        • Hesiod's Theogony
        • Periplus of Hanno
        • Ctesias' Indica
        • Sanchuniathon
        • Sima Qian
        • Syncellus's Enoch Fragments
        • The Book of Enoch
        • Slavonic Enoch
        • Sepher Yetzirah
        • Tacitus' Germania
        • De Dea Syria
        • Aelian's Various Histories
        • Julius Africanus' Chronography
        • Eusebius' Chronicle
        • Chinese Accounts of Rome
        • Ancient Chinese Automaton
        • The Orphic Argonautica
        • Fragments of Panodorus
        • Annianus on the Watchers
        • The Watchers and Antediluvian Wisdom
      • Medieval Texts >
        • Medieval Legends of Ancient Egypt >
          • Medieval Pyramid Lore
          • John Malalas on Ancient Egypt
          • Fragments of Abenephius
          • Akhbar al-zaman
          • Ibrahim ibn Wasif Shah
          • Murtada ibn al-‘Afif
          • Al-Maqrizi on the Pyramids
          • Al-Suyuti on the Pyramids
        • The Hunt for Noah's Ark
        • Isidore of Seville
        • Book of Liang: Fusang
        • Agobard on Magonia
        • Book of Thousands
        • Voyage of Saint Brendan
        • Power of Art and of Nature
        • Travels of Sir John Mandeville
        • Yazidi Revelation and Black Book
        • Al-Biruni on the Great Flood
        • Voyage of the Zeno Brothers
        • The Kensington Runestone (Hoax)
        • Islamic Discovery of America
        • The Aztec Creation Myth
      • Lost Civilizations >
        • Atlantis >
          • Plato's Atlantis Dialogues >
            • Timaeus
            • Critias
          • Fragments on Atlantis
          • Panchaea: The Other Atlantis
          • Eumalos on Atlantis (Hoax)
          • Gómara on Atlantis
          • Sardinia and Atlantis
          • Santorini and Atlantis
          • The Mound Builders and Atlantis
          • Donnelly's Atlantis
          • Atlantis in Morocco
          • Atlantis and the Sea Peoples
          • W. Scott-Elliot >
            • The Story of Atlantis
            • The Lost Lemuria
          • The Lost Atlantis
          • Atlantis in Africa
          • How I Found Atlantis (Hoax)
          • Termier on Atlantis
          • The Critias and Minoan Crete
          • Rebuttal to Termier
          • Further Responses to Termier
          • Flinders Petrie on Atlantis
        • Lost Cities >
          • Miscellaneous Lost Cities
          • The Seven Cities
          • The Lost City of Paititi
          • Manuscript 512
          • The Idolatrous City of Iximaya (Hoax)
          • The 1885 Moberly Lost City Hoax
          • The Elephants of Paredon (Hoax)
        • OOPARTs
        • Oronteus Finaeus Antarctica Map
        • Caucasians in Panama
        • Jefferson's Excavation
        • Fictitious Discoveries in America
        • Against Diffusionism
        • Tunnels Under Peru
        • The Parahyba Inscription (Hoax)
        • Mound Builders
        • Gunung Padang
        • Tales of Enchanted Islands
        • The 1907 Ancient World Map Hoax
        • The 1909 Grand Canyon Hoax
        • The Interglacial Period
        • Solving Oak Island
      • Religious Conspiracies >
        • Pantera, Father of Jesus?
        • Toledot Yeshu
        • Peter of les Vaux-de-Cernay on Cathars
        • Testimony of Jean de Châlons
        • Rosslyn Chapel and the 'Prentice's Pillar
        • The Many Wives of Jesus
        • Templar Infiltration of Labor
        • Louis Martin & the Holy Bloodline
        • The Life of St. Issa (Hoax)
        • On the Person of Jesus Christ
      • Giants in the Earth >
        • Fossil Origins of Myths >
          • Fossil Teeth and Bones of Elephants
          • Fossil Elephants
          • Fossil Bones of Teutobochus
          • Fossil Mammoths and Giants
          • Giants' Bones Dug Out of the Earth
          • Fossils and the Supernatural
          • Fossils, Myth, and Pseudo-History
          • Man During the Stone Age
          • Fossil Bones and Giants
          • American Elephant Myths
          • The Mammoth and the Flood
          • Fossils and Myth
          • Fossil Origin of the Cyclops
          • Mastodon, Mammoth, and Man
        • Fragments on Giants
        • Manichaean Book of Giants
        • Geoffrey on British Giants
        • Alfonso X's Hermetic History of Giants
        • Boccaccio and the Fossil 'Giant'
        • Book of Howth
        • Purchas His Pilgrimage
        • Edmond Temple's 1827 Giant Investigation
        • The Giants of Sardinia
        • Giants and the Sons of God
        • The Magnetism of Evil
        • Tertiary Giants
        • Smithsonian Giant Reports
        • Early American Giants
        • The Giant of Coahuila
        • Jewish Encyclopedia on Giants
        • Index of Giants
        • Newspaper Accounts of Giants
        • Lanier's A Book of Giants
      • Science and History >
        • Halley on Noah's Comet
        • The Newport Tower
        • Iron: The Stone from Heaven
        • Ararat and the Ark
        • Pyramid Facts and Fancies
        • Argonauts before Homer
        • The Deluge
        • Crown Prince Rudolf on the Pyramids
        • Old Mythology in New Apparel
        • Blavatsky on Dinosaurs
        • Teddy Roosevelt on Bigfoot
        • Devil Worship in France
        • Maspero's Review of Akhbar al-zaman
        • The Holy Grail as Lucifer's Crown Jewel
        • The Mutinous Sea
        • The Rock Wall of Rockwall
        • Fabulous Zoology
        • The Origins of Talos
        • Mexican Mythology
        • Chinese Pyramids
        • Maqrizi's Names of the Pharaohs
      • Extreme History >
        • Roman Empire Hoax
        • American Antiquities
        • American Cataclysms
        • England, the Remnant of Judah
        • Historical Chronology of the Mexicans
        • Maspero on the Predynastic Sphinx
        • Vestiges of the Mayas
        • Ragnarok: The Age of Fire and Gravel
        • Origins of the Egyptian People
        • The Secret Doctrine >
          • Volume 1: Cosmogenesis
          • Volume 2: Anthropogenesis
        • Phoenicians in America
        • The Electric Ark
        • Traces of European Influence
        • Prince Henry Sinclair
        • Pyramid Prophecies
        • Templars of Ancient Mexico
        • Chronology and the "Riddle of the Sphinx"
        • The Faith of Ancient Egypt
        • Spirit of the Hour in Archaeology
        • Book of the Damned
        • Great Pyramid As Noah's Ark
        • Richard Shaver's Proofs
    • Alien Encounters >
      • US Government Ancient Astronaut Files >
        • Fortean Society and Columbus
        • Inquiry into Shaver and Palmer
        • The Skyfort Document
        • Whirling Wheels
        • Denver Ancient Astronaut Lecture
        • Soviet Search for Lemuria
        • Visitors from Outer Space
        • Unidentified Flying Objects (Abstract)
        • "Flying Saucers"? They're a Myth
        • UFO Hypothesis Survival Questions
        • Air Force Academy UFO Textbook
        • The Condon Report on Ancient Astronauts
        • Atlantis Discovery Telegrams
        • Ancient Astronaut Society Telegram
        • Noah's Ark Cables
        • The Von Daniken Letter
        • CIA Psychic Probe of Ancient Mars
        • Scott Wolter Lawsuit
        • UFOs in Ancient China
        • CIA Report on Noah's Ark
        • CIA Noah's Ark Memos
        • Congressional Ancient Aliens Testimony
        • Ancient Astronaut and Nibiru Email
        • Congressional Ancient Mars Hearing
        • House UFO Hearing
      • Ancient Extraterrestrials >
        • Premodern UFO Sightings
        • The Moon Hoax
        • Inhabitants of Other Planets
        • Blavatsky on Ancient Astronauts
        • The Stanzas of Dzyan (Hoax)
        • Aerolites and Religion
        • What Is Theosophy?
        • Plane of Ether
        • The Adepts from Venus
      • A Message from Mars
      • Saucer Mystery Solved?
      • Orville Wright on UFOs
      • Interdimensional Flying Saucers
      • Flying Saucers Are Real
      • Report on UFOs
    • The Supernatural >
      • The Devils of Loudun
      • Sublime and Beautiful
      • Voltaire on Vampires
      • Demonology and Witchcraft
      • Thaumaturgia
      • Bulgarian Vampires
      • Religion and Evolution
      • Transylvanian Superstitions
      • Defining a Zombie
      • Dread of the Supernatural
      • Vampires
      • Werewolves and Vampires and Ghouls
      • Science and Fairy Stories
      • The Cursed Car
    • Classic Fiction >
      • Lucian's True History
      • Some Words with a Mummy
      • The Coming Race
      • King Solomon's Mines
      • An Inhabitant of Carcosa
      • The Xipéhuz
      • Lot No. 249
      • The Novel of the Black Seal
      • The Island of Doctor Moreau
      • Pharaoh's Curse
      • Edison's Conquest of Mars
      • The Lost Continent
      • Count Magnus
      • The Mysterious Stranger
      • The Wendigo
      • Sredni Vashtar
      • The Lost World
      • The Red One
      • H. P. Lovecraft >
        • Dagon
        • The Call of Cthulhu
        • History of the Necronomicon
        • At the Mountains of Madness
        • Lovecraft's Library in 1932
      • The Skeptical Poltergeist
      • The Corpse on the Grating
      • The Second Satellite
      • Queen of the Black Coast
      • A Martian Odyssey
    • Classic Genre Movies
    • Miscellaneous Documents >
      • The Balloon-Hoax
      • A Problem in Greek Ethics
      • The Migration of Symbols
      • The Gospel of Intensity
      • De Profundis
      • The Life and Death of Crown Prince Rudolf
      • The Bathtub Hoax
      • Crown Prince Rudolf's Letters
      • Position of Viking Women
      • Employment of Homosexuals
      • James Dean's Love Letters
      • The Amazing James Dean Hoax!
    • Free Classic Pseudohistory eBooks
  • About Jason
    • Biography
    • Jason in the Media
    • Contact Jason
    • About JasonColavito.com
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Search

British Magazine Profiles Erich von Däniken, Interviews Me as Counterpoint

1/26/2017

42 Comments

 
​A British history magazine ran an article this week profiling Erich von Däniken and discussing the Swiss author’s longstanding belief that space aliens are the force animating human history. For an opposing view, the magazine turned to me, and I am quoted extensively in deconstructing von Däniken’s carefully crafted image as a nice old man who is just asking questions. He is, after all, the man who once said that Black Africans were a mistake that space aliens rectified by creating whites.
​The article presents many of my conclusions about von Däniken’s accidental influence from H. P. Lovecraft, whose space gods were given a nonfiction sheen by von Däniken’s direct source, The Morning of the Magicians, written by Lovecraft super-fans Louis Pauwels and Jacques Bergier.
 
We find in this most recent interview (which I had not seen prior to my own interview for the article) that the elderly author of Chariots of the Gods? is still offering the same old lines that we find in Chariots, nearly 50 years ago. His argument, however, for why he believes that the Old Testament God is not a divinity has modern resonance because so-called “alt-right” pseudo-intellectual Jason Reza Jorjani lifted the exact same ideas in order to condemn Yahweh as a malign alien in Prometheus and Atlas (2016), a book meant to be an intellectual foundation for the political groups that everyone but Jorjani admits to be a white nationalist movement.
 
According to von Däniken, speaking last month, “My God had to have some minimum clarities. Such as ‘God can never make a mistake’ or ‘God cannot use a vehicle to travel from point A to point B’. Making these translations, I realised God in the Bible uses vehicles to move around.” Compare this to his Chariots from 1968, where he first claims that Yahweh is a plural set of multiple beings: “They were certainly not ‘gods’ in the traditional sense of the word, or they would not have needed a vehicle to move from one place to another. This kind of locomotion seems to me to be quite incompatible with the idea of an almighty God.”
 
Now in the twilight of his life, von Däniken has become more insistent on the spiritual nature of his message. This has always been part of his work—he wrote a book on Christian miracles three decades ago—but now it is becoming more insistent. He told writer Martyn Conterio that he believes that God is the first cause of the universe, inspiring the first aliens, who influenced other aliens, who influenced still more aliens, until the divine wave, traveling from species to species, reached us. Thus can he reconcile a seemingly non-theistic ancient astronaut theory with the lingering love of God leftover from his lapsed Catholicism.
 
But I was most interested in the braggadocios way that von Däniken paints himself as embracing criticism: 
I love the critics. Sometimes they are absolutely right and I am wrong. But I always learn. When I get scientific critics, mostly they have never read the book or never speak with me. When we sit together correctly – not blindly, not lying, not trying to convince someone with false arguments – after an hour or two I always learn something from the critic. The other side [of the debate] is a critic says to me: ‘Erich, I did not know about these ancient texts,’ and both sides learn. [That is] how it should be in an organised society.
​In other words, von Däniken claims that critics are ignorant and will come around as soon as they are confronted with ancient texts. This seemingly happy accident is a far cry from how he presents himself in his books, where he frequently lashes out at critics and claims any number of unfair conspiracies are being waged against him and his ideas. For example, in 2015 he said that “the television professors and debunkers want to make Erich von Däniken look like an idiot.” Even though I have read nearly all of his books, and he alleges to be open to speaking with his critics, he has refused to speak to me.
 
He isn’t alone in that: Last year Alien Con offered me interviews with ancient astronaut theorists from Ancient Aliens and then reneged, lest I ask challenging questions. Last week National Geographic offered me an interview with Simcha Jacobovici and Richard Freund about their claim to have discovered Atlantis. I accepted, and as of this writing NatGeo’s PR team stopped all communication with me three days ago and have not scheduled the interview or provided the promised screener of the documentary. Reading between the lines about the availability of a screener, the network also isn’t letting the people they are allowing to speak with the filmmakers actually see the documentary before it airs. Could it be because they don’t want any challenging questions? Without a screener, interviewers can only guess at the show’s content and report uncritically what the claimants have to say. That is not reporting so much as stenography.
 
Anyway, I will leave it to you to read the remainder of the profile of Erich von Däniken and my comments on the grand old man of kooky claims.
42 Comments
A Buddhist
1/26/2017 10:58:38 am

The First Cause argument is contrary to the Tipitaka and illogical. Easier to posit infinite regression of causes than to posit an infinitely existing first cause God. Both scenarios involve the invocation of infinity as an origin, but only the God theory involves creating something not perceived in life. But causes and effects are easy to recognize.

A pity, truly, that von Daniken, so willing to challenge so many other widely held beliefs, did not challenge the belief in God. Such a challenge would have been less difficult to make without surrendering intellectual honesty, unlike the lies that he makes to justify the Ancient Astronauts theory. But it would be less profitable.

Reply
Uncle Ron
1/26/2017 12:14:21 pm

A day or two ago you said that Buddhism was superior to every religion; yet Buddhism has it's own metaphysical aspects so it is not entirely based is on what can be "perceived in life." Your smug condescension is as tiring as that of Christians, Muslims, and every other spiritual group. "Infinite regression of causes" is no more an explanation of a first cause than God is. The question "what was before that?" can never be answered.

Real intellectual honesty requires admitting that one believes in one's chosen spiritual explanation not because it is logical or true but because it makes one feel good.

Reply
A Buddhist
1/26/2017 12:46:45 pm

Uncle Ron

I am not saying that Buddhism is based solely upon what is perceived in life. I say that the infinite regression of causes is justifiable based upon what is perceived in life; such an explanation is also supported by the Tipitaka. My over all point, which you seem to have missed, is that there is a sound argument to be made that there is no first cause that can be created from either of two angles: the Tipitaka of Buddhism and the affairs that we perceive every day.

I am aware that Buddhism is easy for me to believe because it makes me feel good, but it is also easy for me to believe in Buddhism because it is logically sound. For example, in the Tipitaka there are listed the six senses, and I find from life that there are six senses. In the Tipitaka there is taughten the nature of unsatisfactoriness, the origin of unsatisfactoriness, and the way to eliminate unsatisfactoriness. In the Tipitaka there is taughten the nature of violence, the origin of violence, and the way to eliminate violence. And reading these through my senses of sight and mind, I realize these teachings to be true.

Buddhists, Christians, and Muslims are all convinced that their religions are true, otherwise they would not be Buddhists, Christians, and Muslims

TheBigMike
1/26/2017 04:48:32 pm

You said that in the Tipitaka there are listed six senses and you accept that there are solox senses. On reality, there are far more than six senses. Sight, hearing, and smell are usually simple enough to identify, but it could be argued that taste is multiple senses as each flavor that the tongue and olfactory organs are able to differentiate between could be described as individual senses. The sense of sweetness, the sense of sourness, etc.
The "sense of touch" is the one that is far from simple. There is a sense of temperature, a sense of hardness, an sense of texture, a sense of sharpness. Each of these aspects of physical objects is a unique and measurable dimension and thus our SENSES of touch must be differentiated accordingly. Not to mention there is the sense of pain, which can occur internally away from the organs (skin) that we usually refer to when using the "sense of touch" that'd not going into the meta-senses, sense of self, sense of outrage, sense of shame, etc.

Also, "taughten" means to make tight, to increase in intensity, or to become taught. You were using it to mean "taught" as in the past tense of the word "teach"

Reply
A Buddhist
1/26/2017 06:18:01 pm

The six senses are
taste
touch
smell
hearing
sight
and mind

The six sense bases are
tongue
body
nose
ears
eyes
and consciousness

All of the things that you list can be slotted into one of the six senses.

flavours, arising due to contact with the tongue, are tastes.

the aspects of physical objects, arising as they do through contact with the generic body, are senses of touch.

emotions, arising due to changes in the mind, are sensed by and creations of the mind.

Considering the numerous people who cannot distinguish its and it's or there and they're, taughten is hardly a gross error on the internet.

Scott Hamilton
1/26/2017 06:42:13 pm

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! A Buddhist is just as lame when he has to defend his irrational, non-scientific beliefs as all the Christian apologists he's constantly complaining about! Too bad his "six senses" omits the sense of shame, or he might realize what a hypocrite he his. No need to listen to that troll ever again.

V
1/26/2017 07:46:02 pm

A Buddhist, "mind" is not a sense. "Mind" is its own category--"MIND." It cannot be a sense in and of itself because "mind" interprets "taste, touch, smell, hearing, and sight."

There is also kinesthetic sense--ie, the sense of body in space--which is none of the other five physical senses, nor is it "mind" as it interprets nothing. Sense of balance is separate from kinesthetic sense, and also separate from hearing--both provable from the fact that someone who has no sense of body below the neck can still tell when they are in or out of balance, and by the fact that deaf people have a sense of balance.

That makes seven hard-core, mapped by science, physical receptors known, known for more than a century senses that do NOT include "mind."

Furthermore, I challenge that "logically sound" means "true." As a computer programmer and as a teacher, I am familiar with the GIGO principle--garbage in, garbage out. It refers to any situation wherein the data conforms to the rules of logic--ie, appears to be logically sound--but the foundational premise is untrue. Many of the concepts in Buddhism--reincarnation, for example, and chakras--hinge on the existence of "soul." Yet we have no proof nor even any real evidence for "soul." If you accept "soul" as genuine, then yes, both reincarnation and chakras are capable of passing basic tests of logic. The problem is that "soul" is a "garbage" principle, because there is no reason whatever to accept "soul" as truth. "Soul" is outside of current scientific definition. Maybe it exists, maybe it doesn't. But right now, it does NOT in and of itself pass the test of logic, so anything based on it, whether it passes logic tests or not, is "garbage".

A Buddhist
1/26/2017 09:44:52 pm

V,

If you were knowing even a hair's tip of Buddhist wisdom, you would know that Buddhism teaches that there is no soul. I am not a Pudgalavadadin, which means that I do not even belief in the ultimate reality of a person. Conventionally, the person exists, but not ultimately. Souls are as real as rabbits with horns; pretty to imagine, but unable to be found outside the imagination.

To deny that mind is a sense is to assert that what we perceive in dreams is really happening. Do you assert that?

the kinesthetic sense and sense of balance are both, as understand, the interaction of the sense of touch and the mind. The body moves in a way, triggering the sense of touch, which in turn triggers the mind. From these interactions, you get the illusion of independent kinesthetic sense and sense of balance.

The so-called soul forms through similar illusions. There are five aggregates (distinct from the six senses):
"form"
"feeling"
"perception"
"mental formations"
"consciousness"

These five aggregates interact in such a way as to create the illusion of a soul, self, or person, but it is an illusion. Any criticism of Buddhism that insists that it teaches about a soul is as misguided as a criticism of Christianity that accuses it of atheism.

Americanegro
1/26/2017 09:56:29 pm

A Buddhitst, please stop trying to hit people with your head and please consider using the more standard "Tripiṭaka" and while you're at it, use it less. I will now correct your work.

In the Buddhist analysis, there are six consciousnesses (strike the word "sense" for now):

sight
hearing
smell
taste
touch
mind

Five of these are sense consciousnesses, the sixth is a mental conscious. The sense consciousnesses perceive objects directly, that is non-conceptually; the mental consciousness generally but not exclusively perceives objects conceptually, i.e through the use of images.

"Touch" includes everything other commenters have listed, kinesthetic, heat, proprieception, etc. It is not limited to simple contact.

The senses are dependent for their operation upon their respective sense powers, which in the Buddhist view is clear matter in each sense organ. In the modern view it would be the body machinery: retina, eardrum, etc. The sense power of the mental consciousness is a previous moment of consciousness (as opposed to a continuum of consciousness or the brain).

Off the top of my head, but there, handled. You're welcome. Please for the love of Cthulhu, stop banging on and on about Buddhism and the "Tipitaka"!

p.s. in tipitaka/tripitaka the second t should have a dot under it to indicate retroflex pronunciation, this site is not set up to handle that; not the end of the world.

Americanegro
1/26/2017 10:11:15 pm

p.p.s. I was wrong about the ṭ. I blame my lying eyes.

Americanegro
1/27/2017 08:04:56 am

I use the term Tipitaka because that is the term used by the Pali language, which is the language of Theravada Buddhism, which is the school of Buddhism that I mostly follow. Tripitaka is the Sanskrit equivalent term (and I am sorry for not putting in diacritics).

See, as evidence, the website Access to Insight, which opens: The Tipitaka (Pali ti, "three," + pitaka, "baskets"), or Pali canon, is the collection of primary Pali language texts which form the doctrinal foundation of Theravada Buddhism. The Tipitaka and the paracanonical Pali texts (commentaries, chronicles, etc.) together constitute the complete body of classical Theravada texts. The Pali canon is a vast body of literature: in English translation the texts add up to thousands of printed pages. Most (but not all) of the Canon has already been published in English over the years. Although only a small fraction of these texts are available on this website, this collection can be a good place to start.

http://www.religionfacts.com also says similar: In Buddhism, the Tripitaka (Tipitaka in Pali) is the earliest collection of Buddhist teachings and the only text recognized as canonical by Theravada Buddhists. Many commentaries have been added over the centuries, however. Tripitaka means "three baskets," from the way in which it was originally recorded: the text was written on long, narrow leaves, which were sewn at the edges then grouped into bunches and stored in baskets.

Americanegro
1/27/2017 10:00:13 am

FIRST AND GD MF'ING FOREMOST: DO NOT POST UNDER MY NAME. I'm the guy who knows what you're talking about and you're the guy who doesn't know what you're talking about.

You failed to properly present grade school level information so I had to clean up for you.

You in America now, boy. Talk English so folks can understand you.

I read Pali, you don't. You need to stop whatever it is you think you're doing, because you're not doing it. The cold hard reality is no one's interested in what you say except when it's wrong. I'm trying ot coach you in a better direction. Accept the coaching. Stop, stop, stop.

A Buddhist
1/27/2017 10:33:05 am

Americanegro: Please accept my apologies about using your name. I got confused when typing in the names field and forgot to enter my name, rather entering yours. I meant to enter your name at the beginning as I did in this message, but forgot. I am so sorry.

I am not in America. I can count on one hand the number of times I have been to America.

If you know Pali, then why do you not know the term Tipitaka?

As far as coaching, I love it when I receive useful coaching, and you give me some good coaching, such as the help with the six senses. But other coaching that you give me is useless, such as wen you criticize me for using the Pali term Tipitaka under the wrong impression that it is a misspelling of the Sanskrit term Tripitaka.

Still, I accept words of criticism, however misguided, much better than mere vituperation. To be told "you are a fool" is much less helpful for me than being told "you are a fool for reasons X, Y, and Z."

I write this while bicycling; please be tolerant of any spelling errors.

Americanegro
1/27/2017 12:32:33 pm

If you get confused to the point where you mix up your own name and someone else's, that's a problem.

"If you know Pali, then why do you not know the term Tipitaka?

As far as coaching, I love it when I receive useful coaching, and you give me some good coaching, such as the help with the six senses. [no, fuck you, not six senses!] But other coaching that you give me is useless, such as wen you criticize me for using the Pali term Tipitaka under the wrong impression that it is a misspelling of the Sanskrit term Tripitaka."

Pali is nothing more than Sanskrit misspelled. I was under no wrong impression. You can say "Tipitaka" all day long as far as I'm concerned. THE POINT WAS IT MAKES YOU SOUND SILLY.

"Still, I accept words of criticism, however misguided, much better than mere vituperation. To be told "you are a fool" is much less helpful for me than being told "you are a fool for reasons X, Y, and Z."

I've already told you to stop posting. I've already told you to stop saying "Tipitaka". You don't take that advice. That's fine. I strongly urge you to accept the fact that you are not a salesman, and certainly not a salesman of Buddhism. Any attempts by you to "sell" Buddhism are undercut by the fact that you are often wrong and even more often refuse to admit you are wrong.

My suggestion, coaching, is that you use a different name and stop trying to hit people over the head with Buddhism WHICH YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND AT A GRADE SCHOOL LEVEL.

To sum up: Stop. Stop. Stop.



"I write this while bicycling; please be tolerant of any spelling errors."

A Buddhist
1/27/2017 01:24:06 pm

Americanegro,

I have many problems in my life. For example, I have to do all of my typing with only one finger out of the ten that I possess. Yet I try to go beyond my problems and improve the world.

You say a thing that I have never heard before: That Pali and Sanskrit are one language with different pronounciations. This in contradicted by many sources, such as:

http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/culture-miscellaneous/difference-between-sanskrit-and-pali/

http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?t=3215.

Even if I be wrong in saying that Pali is a language in its own right, by acknowledging Pali as a valid register of Sanskrit but criticizing it for making me sound silly, you reveal your own bias. Do you criticize British people for using the term Aluminium v American Aluminum? Because according to your model of the difference between Pali and Sanskrit, the difference between Tipitaka and Tripitaka is that way.

I am aware that I am no Nagarjuna, Fotudeng, An Shigao, Bodhidharma, etc., in expounding upon the Buddhadharma/Buddhadhamma. But I am a Buddhist. I have the Three Jewels as my refuge, am bound by the Five Precepts, study the Tipitaka/Tripitaka when I have time, and also enjoy reading Buddhist scholarship such as that by Jan Nuttier. Buddhism infuses what non-Buddhists might call my soul. And so I identify as Buddhist, and when people make unjustified criticisms of Buddhism, I feel bound to correct them as best as I am able. I wonder where these grade school errors that I make are, and hope that they may be identified and corrected.

No less a sage than Nagarjuna said "Although these words of mine be poor, do not feel scorn; they teach the holy way." I am much inferior to Nagarjuna, but I try to teach the Buddhist way.

An Over-Educated Grunt
1/27/2017 09:12:37 am

Now, I'm just a dumb grunt, and raised Catholic to boot, which means according to you I'm a priori wrong and under the sway of demons, but where in your Eightfold Path is it specified that you have to beat those around you over the head with your beliefs while also non-stop criticizing theirs as, as I said, under the sway of demons? You want us to care about your religion beyond being at this point flat-out offensive? Set the example. You want to show how much better your religion is? Quit proselytizing. According to your own belief system my salvation is inevitable on a long enough timeline anyway so quit trying to sell something that you have made unattractive by your sales technique.

Reply
A Buddhist
1/27/2017 10:21:30 am

You assume that I adhere to the Lotus Sutra when you say "According to your own belief system my salvation is inevitable on a long enough timeline anyway". But I am Theravada; I reject the Lotus Sutra. All must put in effort in order to achieve nirvana/nibanna.

There is more to Buddhism than the 8 fold path. The Tripitaka/Tipitaka includes many debates between the Buddha and followers of other religions who are presented as wrong. The Buddha even provides instruction to his followers about how to correct others in their false views.

How am I offending? I do not mean to offend.

An Over-Educated Grunt
1/27/2017 11:57:14 am

You really want a list?

Stop forcing your religion on me and anyone else who reads this blog.

Stop going on about how all faiths but yours are wrong but yours is right. Even yours can't be right because as you yourself keep bringing up, sectarian division is a thing even in Buddhism. If there are sects there's room for division of opinion, therefore no one right answer.

Stop telling people how their gods are demons but your guy is the way. What, you think nobody thought of asceticism and moderation before him?

Stop prattling about religious texts that exactly nobody here but you cares about enough to drag into a conversation.

Display some humility. Your response to my post was to correct me.

Stop assuming that we give a damn about Buddhism, that we want to know more, or that you're a credit to your faith. We don't automatically, we don't automatically, and you're so far from right action in your constant overweening belief that you need to proselytize to us that from where you stand it's red-shifting.

I honestly do not give a damn about your religion, I give a damn that you're making it look bad in public because all you are, as far as comments here show, is a Buddhist, and as a Buddhist you believe that we should all know you're a Buddhist, did we know you're a Buddhist, because you totally are a Buddhist, like, a serious Buddhist, did you mention you're a Buddhist? If I preceded every single comment with "from a military standpoint," "as an engineer," or "based on St. Thomas Aquinas," you would assume that's my entire personality. You've reached that point, that you've turned into Buddhist Gunn.

A Buddhist
1/27/2017 01:42:10 pm

An Over-Educated Grunt,

I am aware that there are sects, yet the modern Buddhist view, to which I largely subscribe, is that the sects of Buddhism all teach different ways to achieve the same goal: nirvana/nibbana. The teachings are adjusted to differing levels and temperaments of audiences in order to help guide them upon the path.

I correct your errors about Buddhism because my Buddhist scriptures tell me to do so. In the same way, Christians will not offer homage to the Buddha Amitabha because of their scriptures.

You make 3 more errors that I feel bound to correct: Firstly, that I say that all theistic religions aside from Buddhism worship demons is not as insulting as it may seem. There is little, if any, distinction, within Buddhism between Gods and demons; there are even some traditions in English that use the term God-Demon to refer to the collective. One side's god is another side's demon. See, for example, the Asura/Ahura spirits of Indo-Iranian tradition. But all gods are bound within Samsara and cannot offer true escape from suffering.

Secondly, Buddhas are not gods. They transcend humanity, becoming teachers of gods and men. They are thus superior to gods.

Thirdly, there is more to Buddhism than moderation, etc. There is the teaching about the nature of suffering, there is the teaching about the origin of suffering. There is the teaching of how to end suffering. There are also Buddhist metaphysics, Buddhist phenomenology, etc. All of these things are united in helping all people to go beyond all bliss.

I use the name A Buddhist because I am A Buddhist. Creating another name might be lying or it might reveal personal information. Yet by choosing the name A Buddhist, I am honest in my naming and honest in my biases. In this way I differ from, e.g., At Risk the Fundamentalist Christian who does not reveal in his screen-name his biases.

An Over-Educated Grunt
1/27/2017 02:00:42 pm

You know, instead of depleted uranium, they could make anti-tank rounds out of you. You are THAT dense. Even when asking what exactly you've done that pissed people in general, and me specifically, off, rather than read it and ask whether any of it is accurate, you feel the need to correct. It's a wonder if you can see McCoy in the opening scene of Star Trek 2, because you're incapable of seeing DeForrest for the trees.

A Buddhist
1/27/2017 02:21:12 pm

Over-Educated Gent:

I am aware that I am quite pedantic. I could not abide the Game of Thrones Adaptation because they cut a non-speaking role. But that is my Aspergers, I guess.

I am not denying the accuracy of your justifications for your anger; I am merely correcting errors that you make about Buddhism. I am actually very grateful for your feedback; it helps me to understand more about how other people think in the world. If more people were giving the type of feedback that you give me, then I would be having fewer times when I break down in tears because I do not understand why people do not respond in friendly ways to me. And I would be less afraid of trying to meet people.

Americanegro
1/28/2017 07:11:35 am

As someone else said to you specifically: "quit trying to sell something that you have made unattractive by your sales technique."

And once again you've played the Asperger's card. There is no syndrome, there is no spectrum, you have a behavior problem. I know more about everything than you do. You do not accept corrections. You need to stop, stop, stop. I'm not giving you special treatment just because you claim to be an Ass pie. Just shut the fuck up about Buddhism and behave like a normal human being.

"I try to teach the Buddhist way." Yet almost all of your posts are WRONG. You're not teaching ANYONE. Stop, stop, stop.

Tom
1/26/2017 11:48:13 am

Since every bizzare historical claim by Von Daniken has been refuted by those with the true expertise to judge sources his move into the wonderland of theology was not unexpected.
If he thinks he will find welcome there he is undoubtedly wrong as he will find it has its sharp toothed experts as well.

Reply
A Buddhist
1/26/2017 12:52:29 pm

Those who write theological claims may find it easier to get their claims accepted. See, for example, the anti-evolutionist creation "science", or the willingness of Christians to publish long tomes defending the historicity of every aspect of Jesus's resurrection (except for the zombies in Jerusalem, but that attracted controversy).

Consider: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/november/interpretation-sparks-theology-debate.html

Reply
Jonathan
1/26/2017 12:43:55 pm

That was very well said, Jason, and well done to the magazine for including your perspectives.

Reply
Americanegro
1/26/2017 10:07:05 pm

Let me add my congratulations for getting some physical ink, sadly not enough.

Reply
DaveR
1/26/2017 01:07:24 pm

Jason,
I find it interesting that you're offered to interview fringe personalities and then not given the opportunity. It makes me wonder if the promoters are reaching out to critics/debunkers in the hopes nobody agrees to attend. This certainly gives the appearance that the promoters don't want any differing opinions presented, or as you put it, difficult questions being asked. It seams the promoters understand much of what the fringe personalities claim is not supported by facts and evidence and know that if given the opportunity people with education, experience, and expertise in the fields of history, archeology, anthropology, etc. would rip these guys apart in an interview. It would be great to actually have an open debate between fringe personalities and academic professionals.

Reply
Weatherwax
1/26/2017 02:47:48 pm

That's possible, but I suspect the producers are trying to drum up publicity without discussing it with the fringe personalities involved first. Once they tell von Däniken (or whoever) "we've arranged for you to debate Jason Colavito for some extra publicity", it quickly gets shot down.

Reply
Jason Colavito link
1/26/2017 03:01:02 pm

To be fair, they send out press releases to every journalist on their list with the same offer to arrange an interview. 90% of recipients ignore such releases, but I say yes to them. Then, typically, "talent" refuses to agree to an interview because they don't want to talk to me. It's usually not the PR firm's fault.

Reply
Mike Morgan
1/26/2017 04:40:30 pm

Or sometimes, the <cough> "talent" <cough>, is so fearful of you, that one refused to honor a commitment to speak before a college class, not because he didn't want to talk to you, but simply because you were going to appear before the same class a month or more later speaking on a completely different subject ala Scott Wolter. Now that's power!

DaveR
1/27/2017 08:17:15 am

Jason,
So what I'm inferring by your experiences is when the fringe personalities claim nobody in academia will debate them, they're, meaning the fringe personalities, outright lying.

Only Me
1/26/2017 06:17:32 pm

Why is anyone still giving this fossil the time of day? I refuse to believe he still has relevance when so much of his "legacy" has been clearly debunked as the garbage it is.

Now, in regards to the interviews, I find it hilarious Jason is so threatening to the champions of the fringe. Truth really is their Kryptonite, isn't it?

Reply
Kilbuck
1/26/2017 09:10:48 pm

Jason- I have the episode of Codes and Conspiracies saved on my DVR about E Von D where you contributed. Whenever I need a little protection from the purveyors of sham and woo, i kick back, put it on and enjoy some critical thinking.

Reply
An Over-Educated Grunt
1/27/2017 09:33:45 am

Given how frustrated I know you get with the process, I would call this an overdue win.

Reply
Pop Goes The Reason
1/27/2017 12:08:50 pm

Good one Jason. It won't work, though, the world has decided to make do without reason and there's nowt we can do about it.

Bloody buddhists and that lot: (1) You can have non- repeating infinities, either single ended or double ended. The infinities you are most familiar with are of that sort. Hence there doesn't have to be a before, but there can be. (2) Buddhism is shite, just look at Sri Lanka and Burma, and Indonesia back in the 60s. Kill you as soon as look at you. And I know what the bugger is going to say: they aren't buddhists because they do that. No true buddhist- there's probably only one in the world, his truly. That of course isn't to say that individual buddhists are shite, but when they are decent it's not because they are buddhists, it's despite- just like all other people.

Reply
An Over-Educated Grunt
1/27/2017 12:23:14 pm

... The Ikko sect in Japan... hell, the popularity of Zen among the military class in Japan from the Sengoku period onward...

... Asoka and his campaigns to spread Buddhism at spearpoint...

... The commercialization of the Shaolin monastery...

Yep. Perfect nonviolence and renunciation of material things.

Reply
A Buddhist
1/27/2017 02:12:47 pm

I am not claiming to be the only true Buddhist. Others who meditate are better at Buddhism than I am. I am indeed tormented by the knowledge that I cannot be a better Buddhist through meditation, missionary work (such as that done by Fotudeng in China), etc.

Nor do I deny that there are Buddhists who do horrible things. Yet their actions are in contradiction to the Buddhist Scriptures, which discourage violence. Finally, utter renunciation of material things in only for Buddhist monastics. Or should I be criticizing you as a Catholic for not having given up all of your wealth as Jesus told the rich man? Would you like citations for these?

Indonesia is over 80% Muslim, and Buddhists are a minority.
Would you like citation?

Ashoka gave up violence according to multiple sources, some of which he commissioned, others coming from other sources. He converted to Buddhism after being sickened by the violence of his war against the Kalingas. Would you like citation?

Finally, are you aware of the homophobic meaning of the insult "bugger?" Do you mean to insult me by claiming that I am homosexual/a sodomite?

Pop Goes The Reason
1/27/2017 02:30:32 pm

"ndonesia is over 80% Muslim, and Buddhists are a minority. ". But buddhists joined in the massacres of communists in 1965. It's irrelevant that others did.

"their actions are in contradiction to the Buddhist Scriptures, which discourage violence" Like all the other religions. But when push comes to shove, out come the knives.

"should I be criticizing you as a Catholic " Criticise me as a catholic, a jew, a surrealist, a wart on Boris johnson's bum, whatever. I'm none of those.

"are you aware of the homophobic meaning of the insult "bugger?"" Yes. It's a legal term from some hundreds of years ago. It's now used generally as a term of mild disparagement, or an expleteive you can utter in the presence of your maiden aunt. Think yourself lucky I didn't use less mild terms. I can't stand smug bastards. And before you launch off again, I neither know nor care if your mother was married.

And smug seems to be your forte.

"Do you mean to insult me by claiming that I am homosexual/a sodomite" I would certainly not try to insult anyone by suggesting that they had a perfectly ordinary sexual orientation.

Reply
A Buddhist
1/27/2017 06:26:20 pm

I am glad that you seem to be getting an understanding of how my mind works. I tend to be very literal in interpreting remarks. For example, I wonder why you call me smug, when I do not seem, as I see it, to be exuding an aura of satisfied superiority. Maybe such an aura is said to arise always in given circumstances.

I rather think that my forte is being a pedant. But that would not be an insult to me. Rather, to be pedantic is to be praiseworthy as I see it.

I am so glad that you are no longer a Catholic. That is a thing that we share in common :)

I have been so worried throughout all of these exchanges that I would lose my temper, but I have not. I must be doing something right. Maybe if I continue in whatever good I am doing, I can eliminate the aspects of my personality that others do not like.

I thank you very much for your advice to me. I wish that I could be more normal; if that were the case, I would not need such advice. But since I am not normal, the Buddha, Dharma/Dhamma, and Sangha are especially attractive to me.

If you will be so kind, I must cease this conversation in favour of studying.

Reply
Pop Goes The Reason
1/28/2017 04:50:35 am

Agreed. I'd much rather talk about dead skulls that theobollocks. Though note I didn't say I was "no longer a Catholic".

Shane Sullivan
1/28/2017 03:35:02 pm

I think he's mistaken you for Over-Educated Grunt, who said he was raised Catholic.

Americanegro
1/28/2017 07:44:57 pm

"If you will be so kind, I must cease this conversation in favour of studying."

Here's how to do it: stop, stop, stop.


Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Blog
    Picture

    Author

    I am an author and researcher focusing on pop culture, science, and history. Bylines: New Republic, Esquire, Slate, etc. There's more about me in the About Jason tab.

    Become a Patron!
    Tweets by JasonColavito
    Picture

    Newsletters

    Enter your email below to subscribe to my newsletter for updates on my latest projects, blog posts, and activities, and subscribe to Culture & Curiosities, my Substack newsletter.

    powered by TinyLetter

    Blog Roll

    Ancient Aliens Debunked
    Picture
    A Hot Cup of Joe
    ArchyFantasies
    Bad UFOs
    Mammoth Tales
    Matthew R. X. Dentith
    PaleoBabble
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Alternative Archaeology
    Alternative Archaeology
    Alternative History
    Alternative History
    America Unearthed
    Ancient Aliens
    Ancient Astronauts
    Ancient History
    Ancient Texts
    Ancient Texts
    Archaeology
    Atlantis
    Conspiracies
    Giants
    Habsburgs
    Horror
    King Arthur
    Knights Templar
    Lovecraft
    Mythology
    Occult
    Popular Culture
    Popular Culture
    Projects
    Pyramids
    Racism
    Science
    Skepticism
    Ufos
    Weird Old Art
    Weird Things
    White Nationalism

    Terms & Conditions

    Please read all applicable terms and conditions before posting a comment on this blog. Posting a comment constitutes your agreement to abide by the terms and conditions linked herein.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010

    RSS Feed

Picture
Home  |  Blog  |  Books  | Contact  |  About Jason | Terms & Conditions
© 2010-2023 Jason Colavito. All rights reserved.

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Books
    • Legends of the Pyramids
    • The Mound Builder Myth
    • Jason and the Argonauts
    • Cult of Alien Gods >
      • Contents
      • Excerpt
      • Image Gallery
    • Foundations of Atlantis
    • Knowing Fear >
      • Contents
      • Excerpt
      • Image Gallery
    • Hideous Bit of Morbidity >
      • Contents
      • Excerpt
      • Image Gallery
    • Cthulhu in World Mythology >
      • Excerpt
      • Image Gallery
      • Necronomicon Fragments
      • Oral Histories
    • Fiction >
      • Short Stories
      • Free Fiction
    • JasonColavito.com Books >
      • Faking History
      • Unearthing the Truth
      • Critical Companion to Ancient Aliens
      • Studies in Ancient Astronautics (Series) >
        • Theosophy on Ancient Astronauts
        • Pyramidiots!
        • Edison's Conquest of Mars
      • Fiction Anthologies >
        • Unseen Horror >
          • Contents
          • Excerpt
        • Moon Men! >
          • Contents
      • The Orphic Argonautica >
        • Contents
        • Excerpt
      • The Faust Book >
        • Contents
        • Excerpt
      • Classic Reprints
      • eBook Minis
    • Free eBooks >
      • Origin of the Space Gods
      • Ancient Atom Bombs
      • Golden Fleeced
      • Ancient America
      • Horror & Science
  • Articles
    • Skeptical Xenoarchaeologist Newsletter >
      • Volumes 1-10 Archive >
        • Volume 1 Archive
        • Volume 2 Archive
        • Volume 3 Archive
        • Volume 4 Archive
        • Volume 5 Archive
        • Volume 6 Archive
        • Volume 7 Archive
        • Volume 8 Archive
        • Volume 9 Archive
        • Volume 10 Archive
      • Volumes 11-20 Archive >
        • Volume 11 Archive
        • Volume 12 Archive
        • Volume 13 Archive
        • Volume 14 Archive
        • Volume 15 Archive
        • Volume 16 Archive
        • Volume 17 Archive
        • Volume 18 Archive
        • Volume 19 Archive
        • Volume 20 Archive
      • Volumes 21-30 Archive >
        • Volume 21 Archive
        • Volume 22 Archive
    • Television Reviews >
      • Ancient Aliens Reviews
      • In Search of Aliens Reviews
      • America Unearthed
      • Pirate Treasure of the Knights Templar
      • Search for the Lost Giants
      • Forbidden History Reviews
      • Expedition Unknown Reviews
      • Legends of the Lost
      • Unexplained + Unexplored
      • Rob Riggle: Global Investigator
    • Book Reviews
    • Galleries >
      • Bad Archaeology
      • Ancient Civilizations >
        • Ancient Egypt
        • Ancient Greece
        • Ancient Near East
        • Ancient Americas
      • Supernatural History
      • Book Image Galleries
    • Videos
    • Collection: Ancient Alien Fraud >
      • Chariots of the Gods at 50
      • Secret History of Ancient Astronauts
      • Of Atlantis and Aliens
      • Aliens and Ancient Texts
      • Profiles in Ancient Astronautics >
        • Erich von Däniken
        • Robert Temple
        • Giorgio Tsoukalos
        • David Childress
      • Blunders in the Sky
      • The Case of the False Quotes
      • Alternative Authors' Quote Fraud
      • David Childress & the Aliens
      • Faking Ancient Art in Uzbekistan
      • Intimations of Persecution
      • Zecharia Sitchin's World
      • Jesus' Alien Ancestors?
      • Extraterrestrial Evolution?
    • Collection: Skeptic Magazine >
      • America Before Review
      • Native American Discovery of Europe
      • Interview: Scott Sigler
      • Golden Fleeced
      • Oh the Horror
      • Discovery of America
      • Supernatural Television
      • Review of Civilization One
      • Who Lost the Middle Ages
      • Charioteer of the Gods
    • Collection: Ancient History >
      • Prehistoric Nuclear War
      • The China Syndrome
      • Atlantis, Mu, and the Maya
      • Easter Island Exposed
      • Who Built the Sphinx?
      • Who Built the Great Pyramid?
      • Archaeological Cover Up?
    • Collection: The Lovecraft Legacy >
      • Pauwels, Bergier, and Lovecraft
      • Lovecraft in Bergier
      • Lovecraft and Scientology
    • Collection: UFOs >
      • Alien Abduction at the Outer Limits
      • Aliens and Anal Probes
      • Ultra-Terrestrials and UFOs
      • Rebels, Queers, and Aliens
    • Scholomance: The Devil's School
    • Prehistory of Chupacabra
    • The Templars, the Holy Grail, & Henry Sinclair
    • Magicians of the Gods Review
    • The Curse of the Pharaohs
    • The Antediluvian Pyramid Myth
    • Whitewashing American Prehistory
    • James Dean's Cursed Porsche
  • The Library
    • Ancient Mysteries >
      • Ancient Texts >
        • Mesopotamian Texts >
          • Atrahasis Epic
          • Epic of Gilgamesh
          • Kutha Creation Legend
          • Babylonian Creation Myth
          • Descent of Ishtar
          • Berossus
          • Comparison of Antediluvian Histories
        • Egyptian Texts >
          • The Shipwrecked Sailor
          • Dream Stela of Thutmose IV
          • The Papyrus of Ani
          • Classical Accounts of the Pyramids
          • Inventory Stela
          • Manetho
          • Eratosthenes' King List
          • The Story of Setna
          • Leon of Pella
          • Diodorus on Egyptian History
          • On Isis and Osiris
          • Famine Stela
          • Old Egyptian Chronicle
          • The Book of Sothis
          • Horapollo
          • Al-Maqrizi's King List
        • Teshub and the Dragon
        • Hermetica >
          • The Three Hermeses
          • Kore Kosmou
          • Corpus Hermeticum
          • The Asclepius
          • The Emerald Tablet
          • Hermetic Fragments
          • Prologue to the Kyranides
          • The Secret of Creation
          • Ancient Alphabets Explained
          • Prologue to Ibn Umayl's Silvery Water
          • Book of the 24 Philosophers
          • Aurora of the Philosophers
        • Hesiod's Theogony
        • Periplus of Hanno
        • Ctesias' Indica
        • Sanchuniathon
        • Sima Qian
        • Syncellus's Enoch Fragments
        • The Book of Enoch
        • Slavonic Enoch
        • Sepher Yetzirah
        • Tacitus' Germania
        • De Dea Syria
        • Aelian's Various Histories
        • Julius Africanus' Chronography
        • Eusebius' Chronicle
        • Chinese Accounts of Rome
        • Ancient Chinese Automaton
        • The Orphic Argonautica
        • Fragments of Panodorus
        • Annianus on the Watchers
        • The Watchers and Antediluvian Wisdom
      • Medieval Texts >
        • Medieval Legends of Ancient Egypt >
          • Medieval Pyramid Lore
          • John Malalas on Ancient Egypt
          • Fragments of Abenephius
          • Akhbar al-zaman
          • Ibrahim ibn Wasif Shah
          • Murtada ibn al-‘Afif
          • Al-Maqrizi on the Pyramids
          • Al-Suyuti on the Pyramids
        • The Hunt for Noah's Ark
        • Isidore of Seville
        • Book of Liang: Fusang
        • Agobard on Magonia
        • Book of Thousands
        • Voyage of Saint Brendan
        • Power of Art and of Nature
        • Travels of Sir John Mandeville
        • Yazidi Revelation and Black Book
        • Al-Biruni on the Great Flood
        • Voyage of the Zeno Brothers
        • The Kensington Runestone (Hoax)
        • Islamic Discovery of America
        • The Aztec Creation Myth
      • Lost Civilizations >
        • Atlantis >
          • Plato's Atlantis Dialogues >
            • Timaeus
            • Critias
          • Fragments on Atlantis
          • Panchaea: The Other Atlantis
          • Eumalos on Atlantis (Hoax)
          • Gómara on Atlantis
          • Sardinia and Atlantis
          • Santorini and Atlantis
          • The Mound Builders and Atlantis
          • Donnelly's Atlantis
          • Atlantis in Morocco
          • Atlantis and the Sea Peoples
          • W. Scott-Elliot >
            • The Story of Atlantis
            • The Lost Lemuria
          • The Lost Atlantis
          • Atlantis in Africa
          • How I Found Atlantis (Hoax)
          • Termier on Atlantis
          • The Critias and Minoan Crete
          • Rebuttal to Termier
          • Further Responses to Termier
          • Flinders Petrie on Atlantis
        • Lost Cities >
          • Miscellaneous Lost Cities
          • The Seven Cities
          • The Lost City of Paititi
          • Manuscript 512
          • The Idolatrous City of Iximaya (Hoax)
          • The 1885 Moberly Lost City Hoax
          • The Elephants of Paredon (Hoax)
        • OOPARTs
        • Oronteus Finaeus Antarctica Map
        • Caucasians in Panama
        • Jefferson's Excavation
        • Fictitious Discoveries in America
        • Against Diffusionism
        • Tunnels Under Peru
        • The Parahyba Inscription (Hoax)
        • Mound Builders
        • Gunung Padang
        • Tales of Enchanted Islands
        • The 1907 Ancient World Map Hoax
        • The 1909 Grand Canyon Hoax
        • The Interglacial Period
        • Solving Oak Island
      • Religious Conspiracies >
        • Pantera, Father of Jesus?
        • Toledot Yeshu
        • Peter of les Vaux-de-Cernay on Cathars
        • Testimony of Jean de Châlons
        • Rosslyn Chapel and the 'Prentice's Pillar
        • The Many Wives of Jesus
        • Templar Infiltration of Labor
        • Louis Martin & the Holy Bloodline
        • The Life of St. Issa (Hoax)
        • On the Person of Jesus Christ
      • Giants in the Earth >
        • Fossil Origins of Myths >
          • Fossil Teeth and Bones of Elephants
          • Fossil Elephants
          • Fossil Bones of Teutobochus
          • Fossil Mammoths and Giants
          • Giants' Bones Dug Out of the Earth
          • Fossils and the Supernatural
          • Fossils, Myth, and Pseudo-History
          • Man During the Stone Age
          • Fossil Bones and Giants
          • American Elephant Myths
          • The Mammoth and the Flood
          • Fossils and Myth
          • Fossil Origin of the Cyclops
          • Mastodon, Mammoth, and Man
        • Fragments on Giants
        • Manichaean Book of Giants
        • Geoffrey on British Giants
        • Alfonso X's Hermetic History of Giants
        • Boccaccio and the Fossil 'Giant'
        • Book of Howth
        • Purchas His Pilgrimage
        • Edmond Temple's 1827 Giant Investigation
        • The Giants of Sardinia
        • Giants and the Sons of God
        • The Magnetism of Evil
        • Tertiary Giants
        • Smithsonian Giant Reports
        • Early American Giants
        • The Giant of Coahuila
        • Jewish Encyclopedia on Giants
        • Index of Giants
        • Newspaper Accounts of Giants
        • Lanier's A Book of Giants
      • Science and History >
        • Halley on Noah's Comet
        • The Newport Tower
        • Iron: The Stone from Heaven
        • Ararat and the Ark
        • Pyramid Facts and Fancies
        • Argonauts before Homer
        • The Deluge
        • Crown Prince Rudolf on the Pyramids
        • Old Mythology in New Apparel
        • Blavatsky on Dinosaurs
        • Teddy Roosevelt on Bigfoot
        • Devil Worship in France
        • Maspero's Review of Akhbar al-zaman
        • The Holy Grail as Lucifer's Crown Jewel
        • The Mutinous Sea
        • The Rock Wall of Rockwall
        • Fabulous Zoology
        • The Origins of Talos
        • Mexican Mythology
        • Chinese Pyramids
        • Maqrizi's Names of the Pharaohs
      • Extreme History >
        • Roman Empire Hoax
        • American Antiquities
        • American Cataclysms
        • England, the Remnant of Judah
        • Historical Chronology of the Mexicans
        • Maspero on the Predynastic Sphinx
        • Vestiges of the Mayas
        • Ragnarok: The Age of Fire and Gravel
        • Origins of the Egyptian People
        • The Secret Doctrine >
          • Volume 1: Cosmogenesis
          • Volume 2: Anthropogenesis
        • Phoenicians in America
        • The Electric Ark
        • Traces of European Influence
        • Prince Henry Sinclair
        • Pyramid Prophecies
        • Templars of Ancient Mexico
        • Chronology and the "Riddle of the Sphinx"
        • The Faith of Ancient Egypt
        • Spirit of the Hour in Archaeology
        • Book of the Damned
        • Great Pyramid As Noah's Ark
        • Richard Shaver's Proofs
    • Alien Encounters >
      • US Government Ancient Astronaut Files >
        • Fortean Society and Columbus
        • Inquiry into Shaver and Palmer
        • The Skyfort Document
        • Whirling Wheels
        • Denver Ancient Astronaut Lecture
        • Soviet Search for Lemuria
        • Visitors from Outer Space
        • Unidentified Flying Objects (Abstract)
        • "Flying Saucers"? They're a Myth
        • UFO Hypothesis Survival Questions
        • Air Force Academy UFO Textbook
        • The Condon Report on Ancient Astronauts
        • Atlantis Discovery Telegrams
        • Ancient Astronaut Society Telegram
        • Noah's Ark Cables
        • The Von Daniken Letter
        • CIA Psychic Probe of Ancient Mars
        • Scott Wolter Lawsuit
        • UFOs in Ancient China
        • CIA Report on Noah's Ark
        • CIA Noah's Ark Memos
        • Congressional Ancient Aliens Testimony
        • Ancient Astronaut and Nibiru Email
        • Congressional Ancient Mars Hearing
        • House UFO Hearing
      • Ancient Extraterrestrials >
        • Premodern UFO Sightings
        • The Moon Hoax
        • Inhabitants of Other Planets
        • Blavatsky on Ancient Astronauts
        • The Stanzas of Dzyan (Hoax)
        • Aerolites and Religion
        • What Is Theosophy?
        • Plane of Ether
        • The Adepts from Venus
      • A Message from Mars
      • Saucer Mystery Solved?
      • Orville Wright on UFOs
      • Interdimensional Flying Saucers
      • Flying Saucers Are Real
      • Report on UFOs
    • The Supernatural >
      • The Devils of Loudun
      • Sublime and Beautiful
      • Voltaire on Vampires
      • Demonology and Witchcraft
      • Thaumaturgia
      • Bulgarian Vampires
      • Religion and Evolution
      • Transylvanian Superstitions
      • Defining a Zombie
      • Dread of the Supernatural
      • Vampires
      • Werewolves and Vampires and Ghouls
      • Science and Fairy Stories
      • The Cursed Car
    • Classic Fiction >
      • Lucian's True History
      • Some Words with a Mummy
      • The Coming Race
      • King Solomon's Mines
      • An Inhabitant of Carcosa
      • The Xipéhuz
      • Lot No. 249
      • The Novel of the Black Seal
      • The Island of Doctor Moreau
      • Pharaoh's Curse
      • Edison's Conquest of Mars
      • The Lost Continent
      • Count Magnus
      • The Mysterious Stranger
      • The Wendigo
      • Sredni Vashtar
      • The Lost World
      • The Red One
      • H. P. Lovecraft >
        • Dagon
        • The Call of Cthulhu
        • History of the Necronomicon
        • At the Mountains of Madness
        • Lovecraft's Library in 1932
      • The Skeptical Poltergeist
      • The Corpse on the Grating
      • The Second Satellite
      • Queen of the Black Coast
      • A Martian Odyssey
    • Classic Genre Movies
    • Miscellaneous Documents >
      • The Balloon-Hoax
      • A Problem in Greek Ethics
      • The Migration of Symbols
      • The Gospel of Intensity
      • De Profundis
      • The Life and Death of Crown Prince Rudolf
      • The Bathtub Hoax
      • Crown Prince Rudolf's Letters
      • Position of Viking Women
      • Employment of Homosexuals
      • James Dean's Love Letters
      • The Amazing James Dean Hoax!
    • Free Classic Pseudohistory eBooks
  • About Jason
    • Biography
    • Jason in the Media
    • Contact Jason
    • About JasonColavito.com
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Search