New Research on Moses: Fascination research done by a Danish scholar into the historical Moses. While I may not necessarily concur with some of Ove von Spaeth's conclusions regarding the religion's aspects of Moses, I find his historical research into who Moses was to be fascinating and possible very accurate.
          In the very least, human flesh is put upon Moses by looking outside of biblical traditions to place him in a wide historical setting.

Ray L. Kaliss, www.thegenesisletters.com/Library.htm  -  (February 2002)

It is with a great pleasure I have read the first two books about Moses - and of course I find that there is too long time between the publications. I am a blacksmith, and for 30 years travelling to Egypt has been a dream of mine; I was fortunate enough to have read your first book prior to my trip.
          I have always thought that the Egyptian world of gods was difficult to access, but your book helped me to get the general idea.
          I believe that you answer your critics and all of us who write to you decently. And I find it "groovy" - to use a modern phrase - that you have been able to provoke - scare - the established theological elite so much. Thank you - they can only learn!

Ole Rask, Topperne 12, 1-13, DK-2680 Albertslund - (7.Apr.2001)

          ... a put-out of a small royal child on the river was most probably a cultic ritual or a mystic play, as the Danish researcher Ove von Spaeth very splendid describes it [Note 7]. According to the myth the kings as infants came sailing in reed-boat s... - granted by the god or gods.
          The kings themselves were partly or entirely divine. When their life ended they again left the world sailing in reed-boats, back to the gods. First after that their dead bodies were buried. Such cultic scenes went on in Mesopotamia and especially in Egypt, but also in a great part of the ancient world. - Note 7: Ove von Spaeth: Attentatet på Moses, vol. 1,  http://www.moses-egypt.net

Claus Fentz Krogh:  Paradise and the Flood. The origin of mankind, of the Flood and of Noah's ark, - www.genesispatriarchs.dk/flood/flood.htm  -  (summer 2004)

Let us look a little closer at this Moses, then. We know that in Christianity the "Christ" is the son of God. Despite Freud's inclination to see Moses as a father figure in the classical psychoanalytical manner, later replaced by the notion of God the son, we would be justified after reading the above to wonder whether Moses might be the son of someone significant himself.
          The answer to this question is positively astonishing, and one is amazed that even Higgins managed to miss it, as did Freud, who also managed to miss the affiliation of the family of Joseph with a certain religious organization in Egypt. I have created a small family tree to display the relationships among the main Hebrew and related characters in this analysis. As you can see immediately, the father of Moses is Amram.
          In all fairness, I see that a certain Ove von Spaeth, author of a Swedish work translated as Assassinating Moses, has made the following identification already, but it is rather obvious once one realizes the avataric nature of the original Moses. For Amram would appear to be an abbreviation of Amon-Re in the manner one finds, peculiarly enough, the names of the cities of Eastern Europe shortened in the language of Eastern Yiddish.
          And "Sir Flinders Petrie," as quoted by Robert Graves in The White Goddess, "holds that Moses is an Egyptian word meaning 'unfathered son of a princess.'" This story becomes more familiar by the moment.

Stephen E. Franklin, Alignment of Hebrew and Egyptian Chronologies, - http://neros.lordbalto.com - (autumn 2004)

It is exciting to witness the special shock you have caused. Your books are absorbing and brilliant, and I am one of your admirers. Apart from your actual message the very books are a joy - both graphically and how they are communicated - and rhetorically. They are very well put together - and so well composed in the presenting.
          Archaeology and Middle East history is occupying me very much and I feel quite convinced that you are right. What an impressive work - about logically correct coherences. It is very good, and I mean every word. And if you should like so you are welcome to use them. I do look forward to reading your next volume - will it soon be published?

Bjørn Andersen, Journalist MDJ (previously Danish National Broadcast, and at present the National Museum of Denmark, Department of Archaeology) Copenhagen  -  biorn@mail.dk  -  (21.Apr.2003)

Concerning Moses, Your new theory: Thank you for your research initiative to determine his time line. Your theory is very interesting and you are a very knowledgeable man.

Moses Tenne, Houston - mtenne@mail.esc4.com  -  (5 June 2002)

In particular two names may be the first thought to most people, when "the Bible" is mentioned, i.e. Moses and Jesus. Especially via the famous "Law of Moses" - Moses is the essence of the Old Testament (although many others should be mentioned), and Jesus is personifying the New Testament.
          Ove von Spaeth has done a remarkable world-class research work on Moses, the immensely strong archetype and cultural figure in the mind of the western world. His books deal with quite a number of very unorthodox questions, e.g. esoteric-religious insight in Egypt.

          With his detailed insight in a number of interdisciplinary lines and his rare ability to create syntheses, Ove von Spaeth is able to prove connections establishing a new comprehensive picture of Moses.
          With a firm base in existing facts "he writes the history" and extends conspicuously the perspective on the introduction to the religion and the cultural impulse which so thoroughly has formed us in these latitudes. This is a welcome and needed renewal of our ideas about central impulses as to our European cultural cradle.

          It is amazing that a number of critics have reacted quite violently without being able to produce a serious argumentation. It may be that this is a question about "sacred cows" simply required to be untouched and unspoken about. Perhaps even emphasised by the fact that Ove von Spaeth is an autodidact researcher, and thus not fitting into the row of recognised learned researchers.
          Considering what a new researcher will have to put up with, I am, in this connexion, frankly amazed that in 21st century this is where we stand. I can only say that the writer of book-series on Moses is acting exactly the way a real researcher should. Because Ove von Spaeth replies kindly to critics with factual and supporting comments, insisting on and appealing to substantiating action and counter-action instead of encouraging unproductive, emotional scolding.

          Irrespective of reactions from certain representatives of the research élite, which for some time may try to block for testing of the discoveries and for factual challenges to take new roads, Ove von Spaeth's works about Moses will no doubt be favoured by time. What a single example sets today will later encourage many - as is well known.

Soeren Hauge, Master of intellectual history and philosophy, teacher and writer -Holme Byvej 43, DK-8270 Hoejbjerg  -  (13.Mar.2002)

(With permission as per April 24, 2002, from Soeren Hauge)

It is a great pleasure for me to have the opportunity to recommend to the readers a close acquaintance with Ove von Spaeth, the Researcher and Writer. Ove von Spaeth belongs to a minor circle of persons, who have distinguished themselves through history by being able to make use of their eminent abilities and without being dependent of our society's established hierarchic structures and habitual thinking.
          Ove von Spaeth's research is inter-disciplinary and is being carried out in borderlands, for instance between Humanities (as spiritual studies) and natural science. This area represents an insatiable demand for comparative and cross-border research. However, the area is a total desert in respect of established researchers' research.
          Not only has Ove von Spaeth devoted his life to the research and communication of his discoveries in this field - he has also been able to handle the task to such a degree where his research is bound to result in occupying an important position in history.

Erling Haagensen, Writer and Film Director, Member of Danish Film Directors, - www.merling.dk  -  (17.Nov.2004)

- Ove von Spaeth:  "The Suppressed Record. - Moses' Unknown Egyptian Background" ... An evaluated analysis of re-discovered ancient tradition reveals that the Bible’s greatest prophet was born as a prospective heir to the Egyptian throne - but enemies at court and at the priesthood obstructed his chances of becoming pharao ... Concerning the person Moses and his era - and based on inter-disciplinary studies into history, archaeology, religious history, and ancient astronomy.

Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dept. of Development Aid, Danida, www.u-web.dk/udenrigsministeriet.htm  -  (Aug.1999 & Oct.2001), includes the book in official recording, by librarian Lise Klavsen.
          -  Also, The Educational Service Centre in Copenhagen,  www.u-web.dk/paedservicecenter.htm  - pointing out the book as recommended literature on Egypt for official use by the Basic School of Development Aid Experts. The description is selected from the Danbif database, thus presented: Moses, & Egypten, & Bible studies.
          -  Also, official recording of the work in the "Figures of Developing Countries for the Basic School, Market Profile of Egypt" from the Danish Ambassy, Cairo 1998/1999, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Publications, ISSN 1398-7887, 30 cm, illstr., annual publication.  -  (Aug.1999 & Oct.2001)

Investigating the historical Moses, this book contains a vast amount of information from a vide variety of sources, utilizing research into Hebrew, Egyptian and other contemporary languages ... www.moses-egypt.net/book1/moses1-reviews_en.asp

Egypt Media Information, Egyptware, - www.egyptware.com/clients/positions/egyptware/Detail-AltaVista-17.htm  -  (16.Oct.2002)

          "... This work is interdisciplinary to an exceptional degree, based on extensive and thorough studies within history, theology, archaeology, and history of religion as well as history of astronomy... with zeal and flair Ove von Spaeth has collected evidence from widely different sources to support his main thesis regarding Moses and his status and place in history ..."
          "... As a historian of astronomy I find the basic assumption of a certain planetary constellation in 1537 BC worth testing in relation to biblical research, Egyptology, archaeology as well as general history ... Ove von Spaeth has chosen a vivid style in order to reach a wider circle of readers than mere specialists ...".

Kristian Peder Moesgaard, D.Sc., Professor, History of Science Department, Aarhus University; - Director of the Steno Museum, Danish National Museum for the History of Science, Aarhus

In addition to the activities of writing books, Ove von Spaeth have made science-cultural journalistic work - from studios both in Denmark and through the many years of living abroad as well as study tours and other kinds of discovery journeys to all continents. Articles and features have especially been about astronomy, culture and religion history, myth research, and anthropology. - Text number: 10.  Moses - A genius of the highest order.  &:  5.  Tracing Moses' Heritage from Egypt.

Thirax, - www.thirax.dk/index.htm - (april 2003)

The Danish Ecclesiastical Internet, portal, - The Christian gathering place for church and Christianity: The ecclesiastical search engine 'Giraffen'. Look into 2474 Danish ecclesiastical websites and 77697 single web pages:  Science and Research:  Moses * Egypt * Spaeth  - website concerning a book-series about the historical Moses, by the unorthodox researcher on history, Ove von Spaeth. Read reviews, feature articles, and debate articles.
          You can also download von Spaeth's treatise on "Dating  Egypt's Oldest Star Map".

The Ecclesiastical Internet,The Ecclesiastical Search engine 'Giraffen', - www.giraffen.dk  -  (6.Oct.2003)

"... An independent researcher is a researcher placed outside the estabkished academical system and the research limitations coming from this connection. For example, certain Danish university scholars have expressed being annoyed because of the author and historian Ove von Spaeth - whith whom, by the way, Aton Culture Traveling cooperates in a very inspirering way - is by many occations seen presented as an "independent researcher".
          However, Ove von Spaeth points to the existence of the best possible precedents and to the fact that even Darwin was not an academic when he commenced his great researching. And although Einstein was academically educated, he was without connection to the universities but was only a clark in a patent agency when he developed the relativity theory - and he never tried to hide that he most often had to have assistance for his mathematical calculations. ..."

Thora Mollerup & Erik Ansvang, Aton Kulturrejser, chapter on independent research, - http://www.egyptenrejser.dk/indhold/3/  -  (April 2004)

          "... (Concerning vol. 1:) - Rarely has the dating been so clearly defined or the implications so fully underpinned in such meticulous detail. - A presentation of detailed arguments and painstaking analyses that contradict predominant theological trends. - An exceptional amount of prestige is at stake here, because if Ove von Spaeth is correct in the main, many years of dominant theological perceptions in this field will simple fall like dominoes. ... will encourage new breakthroughs and corrections for a long time to come ...".

Rune Engelbreth Larsen, M.A. of History of Ideas; & History of Religion, - Faklen Journal   -  (7.Jan.2000)
 

Can you please tell me the period in which Moses lived, according to the Gregorian Calendar.

Pam, ATPWA, pam.p@atpwa.com  -  (14.Mar.2003)

::   OvS's reply.    Calculations objectively performed by modern astronomical methods and based on data in the ancient text, can show that Moses was born February 8, 1534 BC. And that he died just before Easter, 1415 BC. All numbers here being transposed into Gregorian calendar style.
          NOTE: The Gregorian calendar includes new-years at January 1, a costum starting only 250-400 years ago (replacing old-style new-year at March 21); - and in my research the years are counted accordingly to normal tradition by historians: without "year 0" (contrary to an astronomical year-counting which includes a year zero, resulting e.g. the astronomival counted year 1534 BC to be 1533 BC).
          OvS.

A review of Ove von Spaeth's book 'The Suppressed Record' which I present here ... because of the interest it has been creating. (The review was made directly in English by the American professor who can read in Danish).

Carsten Agger, cand.scient. physics, - Newsgroups: - dk.culture.language.classic.science.history.theology  - Mon, Oct 25 1999, 9:56 am by Carsten Agger  -  (25.Oct.1999)
 

Assimilating a vast amount of information

"... What makes ... the tale believable is the extent to which von Spaeth has been able to assimilate a vast amount of information from a wide variety of sources, utilising research into Hebrew, Egyptian and other contemporary language documents ..."
          "... This handsome volume ... anyone with a non-specialist interest in these far-off times from a religious or historical perspective will enjoy having this volume at hand. - Deserves an English translation so that it can be appreciated and argued about by a broad international audience ...". 
(Cf. the entire text:  New Focus on the Life of Moses )

Richard M. Stern, Dr.rer.Nat., - Swedano Journal - (15.Oct.1999, re-published 1.Oct.2002)

Concerning your book "The Suppressed Record", - first I want to say thanks for a very enlightening book.
          As can be red at many places in the book much of the material and the way of thinking in Egypt 3,500 yeras ago are still to be found - for instance at the Freemasons. The book has contributed to my understanding to a higher degree of the ideas handed over... up to our time.
I wissh you continuing good luck with the great work. I am a devoted buyer of the book-series. Many greetings and respect from:

Bo Kristensen, Havevang 23, 4300 Roskilde - (21.Oct.2000)

::   OvS's reply.   How to trace Mystery Cults of Egypt - and Later Influence? As an introductory supplement the following books can be recommended - although they have no immediate sources about the beginning of the Masonic activities. Yet, the writer of the Moses series - with observed neutrality - suggesting the following books to be of recommendable quality:
          For instance, among older works of relevance is those by C.W. Leadbeater, the Theosophist. Related and connected information can be found in a book by Christopher McIntosh, i.e. "The Rosicrucians".
          Among English classics is "The Rosicrucian Enlightment" by the great researcher Frances A. Yates (Routhledge & Keagan Paul, London 1972); and "Who was Hiram Abiff" by J.S.M. Ward (Baskerville Press, London, no year)
          Among later books or reprints, Leadbeater's "Freemasonry and its Ancient Rites" (Gramercy Books, New York) was published in 1998. "The Hiram Key" by Christopher Knight & Robert Lomas (Barnes & Noble, New York, 1996) should also be mentioned. In addition, allow me in this respect also to point to Ove von Spaeth's "The Secret Religion" (the vol. 4 of the series "Assassinating Moses").

OvS.

What about the book. I'm intrested in the books of von Spaeth. Is there yet any editorial interested in the book? If there is, when and how can I contact for a copy?
          Thanks. Ramon from Puerto Rico, la isla del encanto.

Ramon Rivera, -  reshua7@msn.com] - (20.Mar.2006)

::   OvS's reply.    Thanks for your interest. Concerning Vol. 1: in the present months a translation into English is about being finished. A publisher then must take over. Technically the book could be published within this year. We may contact you when a publishing date is being more precisely known.
          OvS.

From the OmniKnow Site learn about:  Over seven hundred supercentenarians have been documented in history, and this is doubtless a fraction of the number who have really lived, but the majority of claims to this age one finds recorded do not have sufficient documentary support to be regarded as validated.  - This is slowly changing as those born after birth registration was standardized in more countries and parts of countries attain supercentenarian age.
          For supercentenarians known for anything other than their extreme age, see the centenarians article. Here are a list of other particularly aged individuals. - Timeline of oldest-recognized. Relevant Sites: Oldest person in the world:
          ... No. 141.  Moses & New Research / An interpretation of Moses as a historical person and of the chronology of his era, based on inter-scientifical research in history, egyptology, theology, archaeology, and historical astronomy ...
          - http://www.moses-egypt.net/  - http://omniknow.com/via.php?passing=www.moses-egypt.net/

          OmniKnow - the online encyclopedia - www.omniknow.com  - & -                     
          http://omniknow.com/essays/Oldest_person_in_the_world.html  - & -                               
          http://omniknow.com/scripts/wiki.php?term=Oldest_person_in_the_world  -  (Sep.2004)
_


Discussion:  Moses.  - Moses or Móshe (משה "Drawn", Standard Hebrew Móše, Tiberian Hebrew Mōšeh), son of Amram and his wife, Jochebed, a Levite. Legendary Hebrew liberator, leader, lawgiver, prophet, and historian. If he is a historical figure, he may have lived between the 18th century BCE and the 13th century BCE.
          To link to this page, please copy and paste this exact code:<strong><a http://omniknow.com/essays/Moses.html">Moses</a></strong> -- Relevant Sites:  Moses
          ... No. 84.  Moses & New Research / Mysteriet om Moses Revurderet - En tolkning af personen Moses og hans tidsalder. Udgangspunkt i tværvidenskabelige studier inden...
- http://www.moses-egypt.net/

OmniKnow - the online encyclopedia - www.omniknow.com  - & - 
http://omniknow.com/scripts/wiki.php?term=Moses  -  (Oct.2004)

I write to you to express my enthusiasm about your book "The Suppressed Record". I am a Freemason. It is an Order whith a quest - thus ongoing to find possble answers concerning the great questions of life.
          Your next books, not the least the "Assassinating Moses"-series' vol. 4:  "The Secret Religion", are mentioned back in the "The Suppressed Record" to contain exiting material also of interest for Freemasons - and I will very much look forward to read this.
           I should like to know, how long time back we can trace the Freemasonic kind of activity and what the background was in the historical view?
          Greatest thanks to you for your huge work all of which is really of profound inspiration for many persons. Best wishes,

Peter Rixen, Løgelandsvej 27, 3200 Helsinge  -  (28.Sep.2000)

::   OvS's reply.   Is the Masonic history rooted in the mystery cults of the Ancient Egypt? The ancient initiation cults mentioned in my book-series on Moses have brought about different questions from the readers, the questions about looking up relevant issues within this huge area, and even requests about possible, cult related guidance.
          Again, it can be said that such subjects are not in the focus of me as the writer, and I refrain from authoritative insight in the subject. Nevertheless, the many books on the history of Freemasons and e.g. about Rosicrusians may probably be of interest and some help for the readers to look deeper into the subject, for instance, with a new view on certain parts of the "spiritually" related geometry as mentioned here:
          Cf. also the presentation of certain excerpts, also published in Ove von Spaeth's web articles like "Pattern, Universe, and Ancient Knowledge" and "The Knights Templar’s Knowledge from Egypt - and Moses" - on present web-site's Zenith files or at http://www.thirax.dk.
          It may also be mentioned, that some of what an inquirer within the huge area in question possibly can add to his/her knowledge, may be what the inquirer can find out by himself/herself - as an individual task. In this field especially the Egyptian inspiration may be a supplement with a fine perspective to the subject. This to be an extension of what, for instance, the book-series on Moses have pointed out also about Egyptian ancient mystery plays, ritual traditions, and the spiritually based architecture.

OvS.

By  OVE VON SPAETH

In the new-orientating book-series, "Assassinating Moses", new and controversial material about the historical Moses is being presented by Ove von Spaeth.
          The publishing are contributing to new insights in an essential part of our history and cultural background. Nobody had ever before written five books about this, not even a two-volume work about Moses. Hereby, radical new-orientating historical connexions have been uncovered.

Basic conditions are sound - the reception of the books has been surrounded by a most positive interest - and also some pyres. From the latter, mostly academic, group the books have often been met with a peculiar attitude and even an actual stage of war - i.e. circumstances that have caused interested parts to put forward their objections against the methods of the attackers. Also based on the radical impact raised by the books it has been concluded that the importance of the books cannot be neglected. However, the unfounded warlike attitude has partly preventing research from knowing the important, rare material, sources, and findings.

          Critical opposition against new theses - and against old and tested theses as well - are science's vital guidelines. Critical resistance can give a recharging and also push forward our knowledge to increased recognition. And, concerning the unfortunate actions from the aforementioned group, this article are going to illustrate essential principles which have an effect on all of us when we are recipients of results from the sciences.


Pros and Cons

Initially, here a reply is presented to all the many kindly expressions about the books - on the Internet and in many letters: thank you for your kind interest and co-insight. Indeed, undeniably the material, which forms the background in the information of the books, has proved to be very inspiring. And now it appears that the many new facts presented in the book-series - which certain groups (within some university lines) chose to find provocative - eventually are giving even further support to the material's already strong foothold. Note, however: from the beginning and continuously, these books on Moses have not been aiming at being provocative. And the text of the books is not at all intentionally polemical.

          Definitely, it has been a positive experience that so many - especially also academic people - have taken the opportunity to contradict a special kind of academic behaviour (in a number of typical cases) towards the books. The following presents some interesting features.

          The question here is not, of course, whether the books have been positively reviewed or not; that is not essential in connection with the subject. What really matters, however, is the fact that the books contain an unusually amount of research material collected during 25 years - and also a bibliography on almost everything of 120 years' informative publications on Moses, now concentrated in one edition or collection. The books are thoroughly analyzing much material which was so far neglected, and are pointing out a number of new, expanded historical perspectives inevitably obtained by that.

          Whether or not the results can be agreed upon on this background is rather unimportant taking into consideration that now for the first time a major, coherent material is finally presented and available to be used for further research. In future no explaining may be acceptable for researching in Moses without focusing on these sources, being now generally accessible to such a broad extent. Being without could be scientifically unserious.


Neglecting Important Sources

A qualified opposition is an essential part of the scientific process. Nevertheless the priority of the material of the books has caused compulsive disturbance and inexplicable anger despite the fact that the official research so far had avoided to deal with the majority of the material. The frequently generalising accusations against the books, e.g. in reviews and on the Internet, make it difficult to know exactly which subjects may have caused some molestation of the academic representatives in question, and for that reason: a more professional way of expressing their disagreement with the books should have been possible to deliver.

          From Antiquity a comprehensive number of sources are known (for instance the ancient writers and the early Rabbinical text-collections), which in connection with the material arriving from especially modern archaeology have necessitated a new evaluation of Moses as a historical figure with a long-range influence on posterity. If we will open to this knowledge and new orientation we shall be able to better understand many circumstances in our history as being also a background for our present culture and standards.

          Sometimes we can experience, for instance, after a politician have been warned against unwanted consequences that he uses a certain cliché by saying, "I cannot imagine that"; this may reveal that this ability in fact is to be desired or alternatively he should have hold another job. It cannot be denied that similar situations also are observed within science, where solutions to problems there have no unambiguous interpretation can be experienced to be met with an automatic denial, if the solution is found not to be in accordance with "local" trends. For instance, one of these trends is the idea that "the Bible is a myth".

          This is in particular the case within Egyptology and Theology - if not in general then at present among dominant schools, where the mentioned trends' often less well-reflected, so-called reality images are meticulously maintained, and upheld although having been radically ill reputed for a long time due to an abundant, new material and its new perspectives.

          In this way a lot of new data from different scientific areas have been rejected, for instance more exact data about a better determination of time for one of the most important Egyptian periods (i.e. the 18th and 19th dynasties). Likewise, it is rejected that John Garstang's archaeological excavation of Jericho - published in 1940 - contains important indications, although these are corresponding in minute detail to the biblical narrative about the actions of the Israelites at this city. Poorly informed critics, in fact, should criticise their own steps, when they place themselves as targets for present day lack of history.

          The rejection of the biblical information is maintained by the influential academic schools, although Garstang's results are confirmed multiple, for instance by modern ceramic dating methods (e.g. by John J. Bimson), and have never been proved wrong, but have been hidden conveniently. The selection of this kind of material of the book-series on Moses has also been disputed for being too "one-sided", which is curious because so many of these important sources in particularly are not at all to be observed as forming a part of the same critics' own foundations and texts.


Competency or Diffuse Discontent

On the exact analysis methods to be used by the research in question a short overview can be given here for laymen. To the critical procedure when dealing with historical subjects, distinctions - although not completely - are made between especially three main groups of historical sources, i.e.  1)  written documentation (for instance inscriptions and archive items); and  2)  non-written documentation (normally called material sources, for instance archaeological artefacts and dating); and  3)  traditions (for instance still living traditions and anthropological traces).

          For extracting further knowledge from the factors, three indirect ways can be used:  4)  the negative argumentation (substantiated contradictive testing);  5)  the decision stemming from experience/suppositions; and  6)  the independent deduction by logics (a priori argumentation) based solely on facts. All the means could be included with the process of evaluation of sources. The methods were chosen and arranged into a concept by Ch. de Smedt in "Principes de la critique de historique" (Liège, Paris 1884) and are being used internationally, not the least in English speaking countries. Also they are often seen being in official use, even by the Catholic Church's academic biblical research and history research.

          In addition, an important condition (method) also being used in exact science is this: a theory actually has to be self-consistent (i.e. not self-contradictive). Also here, however, the "bible-myth" hypothesis is seen to be failing, because of its refusal of any Israelite invasion and their action of destroying Jericho, ca. 1400 BC. By the fact that the city remained a ruin in 1200 BC the schools in question are placing the dating thus 200 years later than 1400 BC, and hereby maintain that the "proof" of the myth-hypothesis is that the destruction of the city was not possible (obviously not) at this late.

          A more recently accepted discipline is the contra-factual history writing, a method originally used by Pascal for special hypotheses. However, this method is now seen "misunderstood" by certain reviewers, who produce unrecognizable accounts from the book-series about Moses - but professional peoplemaking reviews should abstain from misquoting to such a great extent.

          On these backgrounds it seems peculiar that documented counter-argumentations have not been existing in the critical resistance against the book-series' presentation of historic-factual relations. As a prior matter, of course, questions for instance about to the degree of success of the use of methods in the books, should have been asked, (whereas the very selection of method would generally have been approved within of today's recognised and defendable method of pluralism).

          Another important point is the fact that substantial founded questions have not been asked about the correctness (or plausibility) or incorrectness of data of the books. It should be evident that even in case of possible less avoidable incorrectness in the latter (data), this does not necessarily hit the first (the goals achieved). But it is inappropriate, for taking stand of any kind, only to criticise the books by mobilising diffuse discontent just the way this has happened. In short, the book-series on Moses have not been evaluated according to scientific criteria by opponents from certain theological schools and their from a scientific view non-defensible biblical myth-theories.


Unverified Hypothesis Used as an Indisputable Fact

Such a denial-of-problem (the myth-hypothesis) as being exposed here (see above) should be met with a certain indulgence; - also because the presented frustration of many of the critics in question should be understood by observing an often seen practise of limiting focus to only the information usable to maintain their own views - often done to satisfy alone what is expected.

          To them it may present a problem thus undesirable to find conditions not fitting into the previously accepted patterns. To know what you are looking for is being limited by what you know already. As pointed out by Karl Popper (1902-1994), the Scientific Philosopher, observations are depending on theories; and furthermore that probability is a poor target for the science. Also reality shows that openness and contact to controversial subjects (the less probably for the time being) can be strengthening to scientific capacity. Whereas "traps of conception" may easily appear, when somebody in fact believes to know more about their own subjects, if they know less about the fields of others.

          Of course the problem is more serious when information and arguments are being pretended to be over and above debate, - like the concept called antinomies, e.g. as the medieval clerical dogmas, which in principle should not be refuted. But science must not work as a religious authority or a totalitarian inquisition - if somebody should dare to commit 'the crime' of going against the established opinion. A closed system creates monopolies of lines of approach and the evaluations. The books with new research on Moses present controversial material - a fact that hardly can be non-existent, so instead the messenger can be punished.

          Typically, several theological-academic reviewers have based their rejection of the data and evidential material of the books by asserting that their maintaining that the Bible (the Old Testament) consists of a number of myths without special real-historical connections. This was a trendy hypothesis long ago, but through the last hundred years many relating hypotheses have been added, which have caused people involved to refer to this untenable construction's latest off-springs or issues, as if these were a full-proof fact.

          The unfortunate 'science myth' - which without arguments was promoted from hypothesis to 'fact' - shows an attitude of research policy almost favouring that past events never took place, but are existing as fiction only. From this stage of disrespecting the ancient reports, a number of important findings are also rejected despite that their very existence is in the strongest opposition to be subject for rejection - and they are destabilizing the researchers' own myths. The fact becomes even more evident on the background of the broad perspectives appearing when the number of professional lines are being combined, for instance when executed as by the book-series on Moses.

          When these books openly and meticulously state the sources and clearly refer about which capacities have been saying what, where, and how about exact findings and historical relations, it is far from professionally relevant to continue - without the least moderation - to refuse it all as myths, especially not when this myth-argumentation never in the specific cases is seen supported by exact sources.

          It has never been the intension that scientists should appear as bureaucratic commissioners defending themselves against perspectives of other kind. In that way they will never be able to live up to scientific integrity and objectivity - because when, for instance, two interpretations of a material seem to be possible, a serious and honest evaluation should be an obligation. Yet, the intension with these examples is not to refute a number of factual errors, but only to present a basic reason for their appearance: if some biblical texts may contain "myths" it is obvious a mistake to let this be automatically valid in general for text groups also of almost all the other periods of the Old Testament.


When Provisional Models Are Mistaken for Facts

The Bible is the most scrutinized book in the world - and yet something goes wrong. 400 years ago Steno (Niels Steensen) - although very religious - was able to present two new scientific lines about the history of the planet separated from the clerical edition of religion. He did it by the use of principles so logical that it contributed as a decisive element in the basis of modern scientific methods.
          Thus, all the now presented progresses through history of science  - including examples of what scientific views appropriately can be based on - have been known for a long time. So there is actually no excuse for having not comprehended this and used it in serious, scientific procedures - and also  in alternative research results of the biblical narratives on Moses.

          Two ideas of attitude seem to be preferred among research lines on the Bible: - either to be "over-careful" in interpreting the findings. Actually, these reactions can here be seen due to previous wrong tracks, where confidence to the biblical texts as real-history material was lost due to those researchers' own lack of knowledge. - Or, the findings are interpreted with such a narrow focus on the mini-area locally, historically, and text-wise that the influence of the surrounding world is systematically forgotten. Especially the majority of the comprehensive and so especially important Egyptian influence is "neglected".

          In science a critical opposition in their own camp has to watch out for the Pavlovian conditioned reflex deeply rooted in habitual opinion. Because - as for instance Jean-Paul Sartre said about the idea of history - almost nothing changes as often as the past: later generations are creating their own image of history. The related changing sets of assumptions - called paradigms by Thomas Kuhn, the Physicist and Science Historian - have for various generations been the operative basis for the scientific work, through times. In a historical analysis Kuhn shows that paradigms would typically cause a sort of collective blindness connected with irrational motives.

          However, by entire generations within bible-related research it is again and again forgotten the hypothetical background - e.g. the historical sequence, which covers the biblical period where Moses' Pentateuch should be placed, has no definite image but only provisional models. Considerations, whatever reasonable they may be, are not facts! Lack of knowledge has given rise to a vast number of opinions. Opinions are frequently mistaken for knowledge.

          To be tracing to the widest extent the exact sources and informing data is, of course, a necessity. When interpreting this material the disagreement will often arise - always so necessary for science. When at this basic level new sources and data are being dismissed or even not inspected, it is really regrettable.
          And it is not unusual that an expert-tyranny is sheltering themselves behind exorcise formula like "everybody knows" or "it is obvious that" - referring to their present prioritized trends. Actually, it requires quite some courage of one's conviction to go against this. Especially the book-series on Moses presents an unusually amount of sources, allowing the readers to get acquainted with many different points of views and research alternatives - including those they would not themselves have selected in advance. Simultaneously it can even be avoided that these possibilities beforehand will be subject to a sentence of being expelled when competing with the hitherto trends.

          The material's richness, possibilities, and presentation appears thus to have caused problematic reactions by certain university people. Written on the official letter paper of his Institute one of the academic teachers of the University of Copenhagen has sent a detest-letter to the personnel of the publishers of the book-series on Moses now presenting completely undocumented and defamatory accusations against the books and their writer.
          Also, by false disguising as reviewers from a magazine, and hiding that the magazine did not existed any longer, two other persons from the same (Carsten Niebuhr-) Institute tried - with no luck - to perform a negative pressure on a group of scientific people, who were supporting the book-series. Apparently, the considerable amount of sources structuring the books were too hard to produce an argumentation against. This ought to have suggested the unfortunate actors some humility by experiencing thus that several angles of history can still teach us something.


Perspectives By New Insights

If the trendsetters are always right, then how do we collect new knowledge? Non-agreement is what drive science forward, so that we can grow wiser. Staying one-eyed will limit, whereas two eyes present a stereo vision in several dimensions on things. Phobia and opinions against those perspectives which are going outside of the researchers' myths about Moses, prevent recognition and analysing of the right-under-our-eyes historical reality of many old and new findings.

          Thus, it is a fatal blunder to use also later offshoots of the aforementioned and from the beginning very insecure complex of hypothesis. Although the hypothesis was never able to deliver any significant proof of either history or the justification for its continuance, it is now seen used as a kind of verity parameter to evaluate the reliability of the book-series on Moses.

          This kind of "test" has thus been executed erroneously by being based on definite incompetent premises which, also, create considerable doubt as to whether the books at all have been read by the reviewers in question - e.g. because the book-series do not  maintain that the Bible in its present edition is always historically correct. Whereas the contents of the books instead are referring to the fact that several parts of the oldest biblical core  prove surprisingly plausible and well-founded - and thoroughly logically cohesive with a outstanding amount of findings and ancient sources.

          In 1942, Robert K. Merton, the American Science Sociologist, presented certain rules (the Cudos norm) - widely used internationally in connection with scientific integrity. So, according to these, for instance, "disinterestedness" must be adhered to as: research must be impartial. But the aforementioned, narrow, selective information has proved also to influence textbooks and examination requirements. Within humanities an irrational scenario is here to be seen, in which well-tested results from other lines of research may be rejected or ignored by trusting own discourses as being representative of reality. The unfortunate imbalance benefits judgemental ideas and arrogance of preferences, i.e. an unscholarly manner which can obstruct the possibility of a real debate. Nevertheless, reviews might be written without respect for special background knowledge. The result will reflect the method, however.

          And yet it can also be seen that representatives of the new generation of researchers may show the way to a break through the formerly often narrow, academic limits. The way is being prepared for constructive, scientific work and for turning disagreements into a positive tension, hopefully leading to improvements. As for the research on Moses is concerned, it is encouraging that also that many outsiders have proved a severe interest in this project.

Ove von Spaeth
Writer, Historian, Researcher  -  www.moses-egypt.net