Calling Out the Colombian Genetic Disk as a Fraud

Book of Jasher, Chronicles of Gad the Seer

by drmsheiser | Sep 14, 2017 | Inscriptions, dubious

I am frequently asked for my opinion on the Book of Jasher and the Book of Gad the Seer (more properly called the Chronicles of Gad the Seer, per 1 Chron 29:29). There are books by both titles floating around (typically on the internet) that purport to be these...

Rumored Fragment of the Gospel of Mark in the News

by drmsheiser | Jan 21, 2015 | Inscriptions, dubious

A few days ago it was reported that a fragment of the Gospel of Mark, reportedly dated to the first century, is being studied and prepared for publication. This would be significant, as (to my recollection), the oldest fragment of the NT is P52 (“Papyrus...

Jason Colavito on “The Emerald Tablets of Thoth”

by drmsheiser | May 12, 2014 | Inscriptions, dubious

The emerald tablets of the Egyptian god Thoth have an honored place in paleobabble about ancient Egypt. Purported to be secret wisdom from Egypt (i.e., the kind of think Graham Hancock substitutes for real historical records), they’re just occult (theosophy)...

Modern Forged Manuscripts on Actual Ancient Papyrus

by drmsheiser | May 6, 2014 | Inscriptions, dubious

Just wanted to pass this along from Jim Davila’s PaleoJudaica blog. Very interesting. Specific examples where someone took ancient papyrus and forged a document to pass off as an ancient text. (This of course pertains to the “Jesus’ wife”...

Margaret Barker and the Jordan Codices

by drmsheiser | Jul 11, 2013 | Inscriptions, dubious

This past June Dr. Margaret Barker was on Coast to Coast AM talking about the infamous Jordan Codices. Barker is a legitimate scholar in the fields of biblical studies and Second Temple Judaism. She’s a favorite author of mine, not because I always (or even...

Los Lunas Lunacy

by drmsheiser | Mar 13, 2013 | Inscriptions, dubious

At times I am asked about the evidence for ancient (Jewish) visitation to the Americas. Part of what prompts the question is inscriptional “evidence” like the Los Lunas stone. (Other parts are British Israelite and Mormon apologetic leanings). While...

The Columbian “Genetic Disk” Fraud