A different kind of history book, one reject by many because it does not suit their wishes. One problem scientists and historians carry with them is their distain for anything that upsets what they wish to believe, this book does just that. By investigating ancient documents, most reject by modern scholars as not worth researching, the author takes us back, he says down the genealogical lines to Noah.
This is where people begin to object. If this actually brings us to the biblical Noah then possibly the bible is correct and all we are taught is wrong. Naturally this brings out the worst fears of many.
I recall in the early 80s many magazines written by Palaeontologists disputing established facts concerning evolution. They were not popular. One speaking on 'Science in Action on the BBC World Service around this time was asked by the interviewer, "If your facts are correct, then it changes the time period from 300 million to 3 million years. Isn't this one in the eye for the theory of evolution?" "Er, I suppose it is," muttered the scientist, and the programme ended. It s a shame it ended there.
When the Natural History Museum commemorated the hundredth year of Darwin's birth, (or was it death? a 'creation Stand' was erected at the exhibition in the museum. This caused much controversy with the BBC Radio 4 offering a programme on the trouble. This featured people from both sides of the argument (the BBC used to do this in the old days) including a near screaming individual who was second in command at the museum. He was adamant that there was no reason for this creation stand, and was violently opposed to it. Others were more thoughtful. Was he afraid it may be correct I wonder? Who knows what happened to him, or indeed those who offered a different view. These were no God fearers of any sort as far as I know, merely palaeontologists who reported their conclusions. Where are they now?
Anyway, that is what this book concerns. I wonder abut the dates on offer, I can see some mistakes here, and have not found any reviews that indicate opposition to the findings. Findings based on ancient genealogies and ancient official records, much of which have been ignored by historians so far. An interesting read, with many questions, and not one you will see propagated by the BBC today.
