The Science of the Dogon: Decoding the African Mystery Tradition

  Author:    Laird Scranton
  ISBN:    1594771332
  Sales Rank:    36849
  Published:    2006-09-15
  Publisher:    Inner Traditions
  # Pages:    224
  Binding:    Paperback
  Avg. Rating:    4.0 based on 5 reviews
  Used Offers:    9 from $9.89
  Amazon Price:    $11.53
  (Data above last updated:  2008-10-11 06:50:53 EST)
  
  
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The Science of the Dogon: Decoding the African Mystery Tradition
  
A look at the close resemblance between the creation and structure of matter in both Dogon mythology and modern science

Reveals striking similarities between Dogon symbols and those used in both the Egyptian and Hebrew religions

Demonstrates the parallels between Dogon mythical narratives and scientific concepts from atomic theory to quantum theory and string theory

The Dogon people of Mali, West Africa, are famous for their unique art and advanced cosmology. The Dogons creation story describes how the one true god, Amma, created all the matter of the universe. Interestingly, the myths that depict his creative efforts bear a striking resemblance to the modern scientific definitions of matter, beginning with the atom and continuing all the way to the vibrating threads of string theory. Furthermore, many of the Dogon words, symbols, and rituals used to describe the structure of matter are quite similar to those found in the myths of ancient Egypt and in the daily rituals of Judaism. For example, the modern scientific depiction of the informed universe as a black hole is identical to Ammas Egg of the Dogon and the Egyptian Benben Stone.

The Science of the Dogon offers a case-by-case comparison of Dogon descriptions and drawings to corresponding scientific definitions and diagrams from authors like Stephen Hawking and Brian Greene, then extends this analysis to the counterparts of these symbols in both the ancient Egyptian and Hebrew religions. What is ultimately revealed is the scientific basis for the language of the Egyptian hieroglyphs, which was deliberately encoded to prevent the knowledge of these concepts from falling into the hands of all but the highest members of the Egyptian priesthood. The Science of the Dogon also offers compelling new interpretations for many of the most familiar Egyptian symbols, such as the pyramid and the scarab, and presents new explanations for the origins of religiously charged words such as Jehovah and Satan.
                  Reader Reviews 1 - 5 of 5                 
  
  
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04-05-08 2 2\3
(Hide Review...)  A Bit of a Stretch
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This was a tough little book for me to read. If one were a student of linguistics or ancient religions I expect they would love this book. I, being neither, had difficulty getting through the 194 pages. I don't know what I expected when I purchased the book; maybe another "Sirius Mystery" or "Orion Mystery", but whatever it was, I was disappointed.

Mr. Scranton attempts to correlate many of the central words and symbols of the Dogon with those of Judaism and the peoples of ancient Egypt, and to demonstrate that cosmological traditions of the Dogon define an apparent system of mythological symbols and stories whose patterns can be seen repeated again and again in the myths and symbols of ancient cultures from other regions throughout the world. While Mr. Scranton does present some rather convincing correlations, his theory that 3,400 years ago the Dogon knew all about the atom, atomic energy, quarks, string theory, quantum forces and quantum spin, the big bang, cells, genes, chromosomes, and DNA, I think is a case of finding and presenting only the data that supports the hypothesis.

The text that is written Mr. Scranton is straightforward and easy to comprehend, but the author reproduces excerpts of tests from other authors and other publications verbatim, many of which I found tedious and distracting, if not at times unnecessary.

I can't say I'm sorry I took the time to read Mr. Scranton's book, but I think I'll pass on his second work, "Sacred Symbols of the Dogon: The Key to Advanced Science in the Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs."
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-10-11 06:53:13 EST)
10-28-07 4 6\6
(Hide Review...)  Mysteries Magazine review
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The Dogon of Mali, West Africa, a civilization that existed from 10th to 13th centuries, gained prominence in recent times, primarily through Robert Temple's The Sirius Mystery, which describes their advanced knowledge of the peculiar workings of the Sirius star system. Author Laird Scranton takes Temple's research even further by showing how these people also possess advanced knowledge of everything from quantum physics to string theory.

In order to sustain the illusion of the technological and intellectual superiority of modern man, the crucial elements which make up the Dogon's world view are usually overlooked--or deliberately ignored--by mainstream anthropologists and archaeologists. The implications that are posited in Scranton's book are nothing short of earthshaking, considering that the Dogon appear to have gained these sophisticated insights through some sort of sixth sense.

Along with Jeremy Naylor's work The Cosmic Serpent, which describes indigenous peoples of South America and Australia as having direct knowledge of the workings of DNA through their visionary experiences, The Science of the Dogon should prove to be a revolutionary force, especially with regard to integrating the Dogon cosmological vision into our own lives.
Mysteries Magazine
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-04-06 02:30:33 EST)
09-05-07 5 1\1
(Hide Review...)  The Science of the Nogod; Decoding the African Mystery Tradition
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The implications of this book are very interesting. While no one seems to mention it in the book, the Dogon tribe in Africa is simply the words No god spelled backwards. What's even more interesting is that the mythology of the Dogon is basically a model for modern science. It would seem as if someone had made up this African tribe in order to express science as being the foundation of all modern religions today. But, the Dogon really do exist. You can easily find information online about these people. So, this correspondence is actually more mysterious than people realize. It's as if the original 'teachers' set this tribe up to be discovered at some point in future, when science had advanced to a level of understanding the metaphors of the storylines. It's basically showing that the idea of a personified god figure breaks down to the simple structure of matter and of existence in general. It's suggesting that there is no God other than existence itself, in it's various forms and images. So the term Nogod is fitting for the native people that hold this key to understanding the worlds mythologies. Very interesting.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-10-29 02:36:30 EST)
01-09-07 5 7\8
(Hide Review...)  A must read !!
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Very refreshing. This author has really done a great job in researching the FACTS! He asks all the right questions and gives alternate theories on this very unusual tribe and their beliefs and ancestory. Really makes you wonder where mankinds origins really started.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-09-06 02:37:59 EST)
11-01-06 5 6\7
(Hide Review...)  Astounding and Intriguing
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Science of the Dogon may take a central place in the libraries of ancient knowledge buffs. With tremendous clarity and humility, Laird Scranton unveils an elegant notion. It seems too deep to be fully appreciated in our time, and yet it seems crucial.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-01-28 03:02:57 EST)
  
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