Book Review - The Genesis Race

The Genesis Race: Our Extraterrestrial DNA and the True Origins of the Species
by Will Hart
Inner Traditions International, 2004
Reviewed by William I. Lengeman III
(First published in Fortean Times)

One of the most telling statements Will Hart makes in The Genesis Race is that “it is possible to make a case for almost anything and evidence can be found to support what we wish to prove.” This stands as one of the most well-reasoned arguments in a book filled with mostly well-reasoned arguments and an admission that ultimately, unless some staggering bit of “proof” is uncovered to support Hart’s theory of intelligent extraterrestrial intervention, or any other theory of evolution of humankind, we will each have to pick and choose among the theories that seem most viable and more or less take the rest on faith.

The theory of intelligent extraterrestrial intervention, briefly stated, posits a Genesis Race of advanced beings who imparted key pieces of knowledge to primitive humans, enabling them to rise up from their grubby hunter-gather existence and advance to sophisticated heights of civilization more rapidly than their peers. The Genesis Race, alternatively known as Elohim, or gods, among other things, chose six primary civilizations as recipients of their benevolence – those of early Mexico, Peru, Egypt, Sumeria, the Indus Valley and China.

Hart does not tread a lot of new ground here, but he really doesn’t make any pretence of doing so. He seems to be more interested in tying together existing theories and adding his own flourishes, than with forging into untrodden territory.

The theory of intelligent extraterrestrial intervention draws on earlier theories put forth by the likes of Erich von Daniken and linguistic scholar, Zecharia Sitchin. Other influences include the work of Nobel laureate and DNA research pioneer, Francis Crick; noted astronomer Fred Hoyle; and Swedish physicist Svante Arrhenius, all of whom were proponents of the theory of panspermia, or the notion that life on Earth was “seeded” by microorganisms that arrived from space.

Hart opens by dissecting various theories of evolution and taking a more thorough look at the work of Crick, Hoyle and Arrhenius. He devotes several chapters to reinterpreting the book of Genesis - particularly chapters one and two - which he reads as evidence for the notion that there were not one, but two creation sequences. The first sequence, described in chapter one, is the creation of the universe and everything in it – including Neanderthals and their predecessors – by God, Yahweh or whatever you prefer to call the supreme deity. The second sequence, outlined in Genesis Two, is the creation of Homo sapiens by the advanced beings of the so-called Genesis Race.

Hart argues that many of the incidents described in Genesis, among them the Great Flood, the accounts of the Tower Of Babel and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, were actually engineered by the Genesis Race, and compares and contrasts many of the accounts in Genesis with similar tales recorded in the lore of other cultures.

Hart’s own succinct overview of his theory is rolled out early on: “Whenever we find civilizations with pyramids and the beginnings of agriculture, we find accounts of ‘gods’ descending to Earth to teach humans how to live a civilized life.”

He looks at each of the six civilizations that meet these criteria in greater detail, examining how each share, for the most part, the “elements in the emerging pattern: stories of gods descending from the heavens to create humans, the rise of agriculture and civilization, the building of immense monuments, the development of arts and sciences, the institution of laws, and the reorganization of society, with a king to rule over all.”

Hart also spends a considerable amount of time detailing the concurrences between creation stories and various other myths of each civilization, including the accounts that show up in the lore of many peoples around the world about a great flood that destroyed most life on Earth. He argues that many of these myths should be read as history and reminds readers that much of what is now accepted as history – such as the existence of Sumeria – was once regarded as myth.

The Genesis Race is a thought-provoking book. While it doesn’t really present a great deal of new information – as noted – it is worthwhile for its succinct, but reasonably wide ranging overview of its topic. Hart’s website indicates that this is the first in a series of books on similar topic, but gives no hard and fast details on upcoming volumes.

Copyright 2007 – William I. Lengeman III