Debunking the Ancient Aliens Conspiracy Theory with Dr. Michael Heiser

In week’s show we discuss the ancient astronaut craze, our guest is Dr. Michael Heiser. He has a PHD from the Department of Hebrew and Semitic Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also earned an M.A. in Ancient History from the University of Pennsylvania (his major fields of study were Ancient Israel and Egyptology). He also earned another M.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Hebrew Studies and attended Dallas Theological Seminary. Dr. Heiser is featured on the Debunking Ancient Aliens documentary, which can be found on YouTube.In 1968 Erich von Däniken wrote Chariots of the Gods and Zecharia Sitchin followed that trend in 1976 with the book The 12th Planet. Dr. Heiser discussed their lack of credentials and the way they reach their conclusions. The most problematic of their claims is Sitchin’s interpretation of the Anunnaki. These group of Mesopotamian deities are considered by him to have impregnated human beings or genetically changed our original dna.We also addressed the way that Hollywood, including the Ancient Aliens program on The History Channel, exploits history, archeology and religious texts. According to Dr. Heiser, Ancient Astronaut speculators often rehash new age and occult ideas. However, it is hard to deny that ancient civilizations were obsessed with beings coming from the sky to share revelations with them. I asked Dr. Heiser how is it that religious people often dismiss extraterrestrial life, but consider supernatural phenomena a possible explanation.Chris White who runs the Debunking Ancient Aliens website and Jason Colbito often describe Von Daniken unethical past and Sitchin’s misreading of ancient texts. They also characterize the followers of this theory as members of the cult of Ancient Aliens, which is inspired by 19th Century horror literature, including the book Morning of the Magicians by Louis Pauwels and Jacques Bergier.Dr. Heiser mentioned the Panspermia hypothesis, which proposes that a spacecraft brought about life on earth through microorganisms. He also addressed the supremacist ideas of some ancient astronaut speculators which believe in the inferiority of some races. This is an interesting revelation as some Nazi figures as Heinrich Himmler had a great interest in aliens. This is described in the book Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism, and the Politics of Identity by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke.Mystic-Skeptic Radio produces programs such as Uncensored & Raiders of the Unknown. Some of the ongoing series are: Anti-Semitism Rising & Jesus The Israelite (all available on our YouTube channels). In the past 10 seasons we have featured academics (Amy Jill Levine) , presidential candidates( Howie Hawkins), Commentators (Jay Michaelson) , Advocates (Vanessa Guillen), Scholars(John Dominic Crossan) and Holistic Healers (Rosemary Gladstar). We have taken deep dives on the topics of human trafficking, ancient civilizations, demonology and the occult, social movements, controversial topics and many of the current affairs affecting our society. Join us as as we explore the mystic-skeptic mind space…