Posted by Gunnar on March 27, 1999 at 23:58:35:
In Reply to: Velikovsky posted by D J Lancaster on March 27, 1999 at 15:54:37:
: Velikovsky put credence in the various historical records and mythical depictions of cultures from around the world of a huge comet crossing the sky with attendant calamities and came up with the rather half baked idea that the 'comet' was in fact Venus having a near miss of the Earth. Okay, so his comet theory was unplausible. That doesn't mean that those historical writings were
: were not describing a cataclysmic impact event.
: In fact, Duncan Steel, author of Roge Asteroids and Doomsday Comets pointed out in a scientific publication "that Austrailian Aboringines and New Zealand Maoris have oral traditions of strange rocks falling from the sky, causing awful fires and many deaths, and this scenario is common to the the myths of other peoples."
I have little doubt that past castrophic events, such as large meteor or comet strikes, could have been and probably were the inspiration for many myths and legends, its just that I think Velikovski may have stretched some these analogies and connections beyond the breaking point. I have resolved, however, to read his book again again see if it really seems as unreasonable to me now as it first seemed.
: Its too bad his name is such a taboo, that they can't even admit to a run in with his work.
I agree that it is unfortunate that some have tried to make his name and his book subject to some kind of taboo. He has as much right to publish his views as anyone else.
Gunnar