"Zeitgeist" Online Movie: Part One

Refuted©

Posted: August 23, 2007

Mises, Minos, and Manou—Is the Jewish Lawgiver,

Moses Predicated on these Mythical Characters?

The narrator claims that Moses, the Jewish lawgiver, was similar to lawgivers in other cultures. These lawgivers include: Minos, Manou, and Mises. However, the narrator does not cite any primary sources in support of the notion that the character of Moses was based on these figures from different cultures.

Interestingly, however, Acharya S also notes the “similarities” between Moses, Manou, Minos, and Mises. She writes:

“The legend of Moses, rather than being that of a historical Hebrew lawgiver, is found from the Mediterranean to India, with the character having different names and races, depending on the locale: ‘Manou’ is the Indian legislator… ‘Mises’ is found in Syria, where he was pulled out of a basket floating in a river. Mises also had tablets of stone upon which laws were written, and a rod with which he did miracles, including parting waters and leading his army across the sea… ‘Minos’ was the Cretan reformer.” 1

Yet, Acharya S does not cite any primary sources either! What is her source? Her source is Deceptions and Myths of the Bible (Citadel, 1991), by Lloyd Graham . 2 J.P. Holding has written an evaluation of Lloyd Graham’s book Deceptions and Myths of the Bible here. Even the skeptic, Michael Ledo, concedes that this is not a credible source and that Mises is not a good example of a parallel for Moses. J.P. Holding mentions these concessions on his web page titled “Evidence That Demands a Victim Or, Don't Play Follow the Ledo.”

J.P. Holding records Michael Ledo stating:

Regarding Deceptions and Myths of the Bible (Citadel, 1991), by Lloyd Graham:

“The first one, Graham's Deceptions and Myths of the Bible I will concede is a terrible source. Once I discovered how bad the source was I had to edit the book prior to publishing.”

Regarding Mises:

“I will not argue the Mises story. I do not like it myself”; “Holding glosses over this point, but never address it, opting to take the easy Mises hit” (bold emphasis is mine).

Holding responded:

“I can hardly "gloss over" what isn't brought up. And isn't it Ledo's fault for including an "easy" hit?”

Thus, even a skeptic who initially used Graham’s book admitted that it was a “terrible source”—a “terrible source” that draws parallels between Moses and “lawgivers” from other cultures.

Endnotes:

1. Acharya S, The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold (Kempton, IL: Adventures Unlimited, 1999), 241.

2. Acharya S, The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold (Kempton, IL: Adventures Unlimited, 1999), 241; 253.

Continue to: The 10 Commandments and the Egyptian Book of the Dead