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| − | '''Immanuel Velikovsky''' (1895-1979) was a Russian-born American trained [[psychiatrist]] and writer,<ref>[http://diglib.princeton.edu/ead/getEad?id=ark:/88435/v692t621n Immanuel Velikovsky Papers], 1920-1996. At Princeton University</ref> who in the 1950s proposed a radical new interpretation of [[ancient history]] and the evolution of the [[solar system]], based on mythological accounts, ancient traditions and histories, including the [[Bible]] and other religious and sacred texts.<ref>"[http://www.velikovsky.info/Immanuel_Velikovsky Immanuel Velikovsky]" at The Velikovsky Encyclopedia</ref> His books were runaway best sellers and helped shape public perceptions of ancient history.
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| − | In particular, he hypothesised that the planet [[Venus]] was ejected from [[Jupiter]] around 1450 BC, and in a comet-like form, careered around the solar system disrupting the orbits of both [[Mars]] and [[Earth]] before settling into its present orbit.<ref>"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worlds_in_Collision Worlds in Collision]" at Wikipedia</ref> The resulting cosmic catastrophes, he believed, were described in various ancient and biblical texts, including for example, the parting of the [[Red Sea]] and the Sun standing still. He described these ideas in his best-selling book, ''Worlds in Collision'' (1950)<ref>Velikovsky, Immanuel (1950). ''Worlds in Collision'', Macmillan. ISBN 1-199-84874-3.</ref> To accompany his astronomical theories he devised a new chronology for [[Ancient Egypt]], moving the end of the Middle Kingdom to 1450 BC and making it coincide with the [[Exodus]]. This he described in his book, ''Ages in Chaos'' (1952).<ref> Immanuel Velikovsky, ''Ages in Chaos'', (1952) Doubleday</ref>
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| − | Velikovsky's ideas were met with vigorous criticism, arguing that the science contradicted Velikovsky's findings, re-enforced by the conclusions of a 1974 conference by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, "Velikovsky's Challenge to Science".<ref>Donald W. Goldsmith (Editor), ''Scientists Confront Velikovsky'' (1977), Cornell University Press, ISBN 0801409616, ISBN-13 978-0801409615.</ref> Velikovsky and his supporters disagreed, and the resulting controversy became known as "The Velikovsky Affair", after a book of the same name.<ref>Alfred de Grazia, (Editor) ''[http://www.grazian-archive.com/quantavolution/QUANTAVOL/va_docs/va_1.pdf The Velikovsky Affair]'', 1st ed. 1966, 2nd ed. 1978, with contributions by Ralph Juergens, Livio C. Stecchini, Alfred de Grazia and Immanuel Velikovsky. At the author's Website.</ref>
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| − | Religious Creationists looked at Velikovsky's ideas and rejected them as incompatible with the Bible. For example, Don DeYoung concluded in 2000 that:
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| − | :"Velikovsky's ideas are a mixture of truth and error. His proposal of a recent Ice Age is shared with creationists, as are his challenges to "the doctrine of uniformity" (that rates of formation and erosion have always been constant). However, Velikovsky is hardly a friend of creationists or Christians in general since he fully accepted evolutionary theory. Velikovsky denied the Genesis flood and attempted to explain away the Old Testament miracles as natural catastrophes."<ref>Donald DeYoung, ''Astronomy and the Bible: Questions and Answers,'' (2nd ed 2000) p. 52</ref>
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| − | A well-reviewed book on Velikovsky's impact on scientists and laymen is ''Beyond Velikovsky: The History of a Public Controversy'' ([[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign|University of Illinois]] Press, 1999) by [[Henry H. Bauer]]<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=6miMYvJU29QC Google books preview]</ref>.
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| − | ==References==
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| − | {{reflist|2}}
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| − | ==Bibliography==
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| − | By Velikovsky
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| − | * Worlds in Collision (1950)
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| − | * Ages in Chaos (1952)
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| − | * Earth In Upheaval (1955)
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| − | * Oedipus and Akhnaton (1960)
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| − | * Peoples of the Sea (1977)
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| − | * Rameses II and His Times (1978)
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| − | * Mankind in Amnesia (1982)
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| − | * Stargazers and Gravediggers (1983)
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| − | |}
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| − | Other authors
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| − | *1966: Alfred de Grazia, (Editor) ''[http://www.grazian-archive.com/quantavolution/QUANTAVOL/va_docs/va_1.pdf The Velikovsky Affair]'', 1st ed. 1966, 2nd ed. 1978, with contributions by Ralph Juergens, Livio C. Stecchini, Alfred de Grazia and Immanuel Velikovsky. At the author's Website.
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| − | *"[http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/gould_velikovsky.html Velikovsky in Collision]", an essay published in ''Ever since Darwin'' (1977), by Stephen Jay Gould
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| − | *1977: Donald W. Goldsmith (Editor), ''Scientists Confront Velikovsky'' (1977), Cornell University Press, ISBN 0801409616, ISBN-13 978-0801409615.
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| − | *1978: "Scientists Confront Scientists Who Confront Velikovsky", ''Kronos'' Vol. IV, No. 2 Winter 1978. ISBN 0-917994-06-X
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| − | *1984: Henry H. Bauer, ''[http://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/76rrd8qy9780252068454.html Beyond Velikovsky: The History of a Public Controversy]'', 1984, University of Illinois Press, ISBN: 978-0-252-06845-4
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| − | *Ellenberger, Leroy (1995), "[http://abob.libs.uga.edu/bobk/velidelu.html An Antidote to Velikovskian Delusions]", ''Skeptic'' 3 (4). Online with revisions.
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| − | ==Other resources==
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| − | *[http://diglib.princeton.edu/ead/getEad?id=ark:/88435/v692t621n Immanuel Velikovsky Papers, 1920-1996 (bulk 1930-1979)] at Princeton University
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| − | *[http://varchive.org/ The Velikovsky Archive]. Published and unpublished writings, documentary
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| − | *[http://www.velikovsky.info The Velikovsky Encyclopedia]
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| − | [[Category:Jewish People]]
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| − | [[Category:Mythology]]
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| − | [[Category:Psychiatrists]]
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| − | [[category:Scientific controversies]]
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| − | {{DEFAULTSORT:Velikovsky, Immanuel}}
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| − | [[Category: Creationism]]
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