----- Original Message ----- From: "Damon Agretto" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2004 12:00 PM Subject: Re: Holy Blood Holy Grail
> I never read the book, but ironically it came up as a > subject on Mediev-L list I'm subscribed to. It was > pretty heavily criticized as a crack-pot type > interpretation of history. The main complaints, > however, is that it did not follow standard historical > methodology, such as making conclusions from > unsupportable evidence, interpreting evidence out of > context, and more importantly, ignoring (or failing to > address) evidence that contradicts the main thesis of > the book. > > Although occasionally advances in historical knowledge > can occur by "outsiders" (i.e. non-professionals), > more often than not these people have little to add > (and therefore would be fine for "pop" or introductory > history), or rather, lack training in methodology so > that their conclusions are twisted or unsupportable. I > liken it akin to if I talked about astronomy. I might > have a lot of information about it, and generally > could possibly even teach it, but any real new > discoveries (beyond finding comets and other stellar > bodies...I'm thinking more in the line of astrophysics > or new theories) would be beyond me because I lack > training in formal methodology of science and > Astronomy research. > > Damon. <G> Even the cover blurbs likened the book to Chariots Of The Gods. Its really difficult to judge the veracity of such a book without a context in which to place it. The really weird thing about the book is that I was hearing the exact same story (In regards to descendents of Christ being royal bloodlines in Europe) back in '75 during my aborted stint in college. That's the reason why I am curious about the subject. xponent Dropout Maru rob _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
