PREFACE BY AUTHOR:  This re-evaluation of the time and status of the historical Moses and the special inspirations behind his work - is based on interdisciplinary scientific- and cultural historical research, connecting archaeological findings, textual research, and astronomical dating - all being evaluated in relation to the Bible, the Rabbinical Writings, and various important authors of Antiquity.
          Many handed-down sources and findings have, for the first time, been put into a greater context all of which should be judged in its entirety. The book is not based on single sources or solitary decisions - rather,the focus is on the presentation of a long string of clues and indications; these may be considered a "special offer" to further research.
          The book can be read without previous scientific qualifications. It is not an attempt to present Moses' "curriculum vitae", nor is it "documentary fiction", or a historical account distributed in trendy reading form.
          Annotations at the bottom of pages or at special places have been left out in favour of coherence and legibility. Instead, annotations have been continuously included in the reading-matter. References of sources are given directly on the spot and may, as you like, be passed over or used in further documentation just like summaries and appendices. The intentional lack of other current annotation is compensated for by a comprehensive bibliography with further substantiation of the information given in the book. The bibliography has been divided into various fields of subject matter in order to facilitate verification.
          The British Egyptologist Alan H. Gardiner's transcription of Egyptian names has been preferred. Supplementary astronomical data are presented at the end of the book.

          A number of researchers and experts have from their separate fields of science most kindly contributed with guidance, criticism, argumentation, and encouragement. Naturally, these experts are not responsible for the way in which their information has been used.

Special thanks are offered to:
          Historical Astronomy:  Kristian Peder Moesgaard, D.Sc., Department of History of Science, Aarhus University, and Director of the Steno Museum, Danish National Museum for the History of the Exact Sciences.
          Egyptology: Erik Iversen, Ph.D.,h.c., Assistant Professor, formerly Department of Egyptology, University of Copenhagen;  - Eva Richter Aeroe, M.A., Assistant Professor, Carsten Niebuhr Institute, University of Copenhagen.
          Hebrew Philology/Bible- and Talmud Texts:  Egon K. Keck, M.A. in Semitic Languages, subject adviser, Dep. of Judaism, The Royal Library, Copenhagen; -  Rabbi S. Heimann, formerly Dep. of Judaism, The Royal Library, Copenhagen;  - Jens-André P. Herbener, M.A. in Semitic Philology and Comparative Religion, Project leader at The Royal Library.
          Biblical Research:  Jes P. Asmussen, Ph.D. et Theology, Professor, the Carsten Niebuhr Department of Near Eastern Studies, University of Copenhagen;  - Bent Melchior, former Chief Rabbi of Denmark;  - Jakob H. Groenbaek, B.D., Subject Adviser, Royal Library, Copenhagen.
          Josephus Research:  Per Bilde, D.D., Study of Religion, Professor, Aarhus University.
          Greek Philology and Mythology:  Leo Hjortsoe, Assistant Professor, Department of Greek and Latin, University of Copenhagen.
          Latin Philology:  Peter Zeeberg, Ph.d. Latin Language and Literature,  Professor, Copenhagen University,& The Society for Danish Language and Literature.
          Arabian Philology and History:  Philippe Provencal, M.A., Semitic Philology,  Assistant Professor, Aarhus University.
          History:  Jens Jörgensen, MA in History, former Headmaster, officiately app. examiner in history at the Universities of Copenhagen, Aarhus and Odense.
          Renaissance History:  Alex Wittendorff, Ph.D., Professor, Departement of History, University of Copenhagen.
          History of Law:  Stig Jorgensen, LLD, Professor, Institute of Jurisprudence, University of Aarhus
          Military Strategy History:  Michael H. Clemmesen, Cand.Phil., Brigade General, formerly the Academy of Defence.
          Glaciochronologi:  Claus Hammer, Ph.D., Professor, Geophysical Dep., The Niels Bohr Institute, Copenhagen.
          Alchemy History:  Johannes Fabricius, Ph.D., Professor, Blaagaard National College for Teachers.
          Principles of the Jewish/Mosaic Calendar:  Bent Lexner, Chief Rabbi of Denmark, Copenhagen.
          Astronomical Calculation:  Leif Kahl Kristensen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of History of Science, Aarhus University;  - K.A. Ternoe, M.A., formerly Department of Physics, Danish Post-Graduate Training College for Teachers, Copenhagen;  - Kyril Fabrin, Assist. Professor, Mathematics & Astronomy, formerly Aalborg University;  - H. Quade Rasmusen, Astronomer, Kalundborg, DK;  - F.R. Stephenson, D.C., Astronomer, University of Durham, England;  - David Dunham, DC, Astronomer, US Naval Observatory, Washington DC, USA.
          Further thanks to:  Rune Engelbreth Larsen, M.A. in History of Ideas and History of Religion;  - Erik Dal, Ph.D., Chief librarian, The Royal National Library of Denmark;  - Eva Björnböl, Research-librarian, Cairo;  - Jannie Fursund, LLD, Assistant Professor;  - Asmus Koefoed, Bach.Phys.;  - Christoffer Gertz Bech, M.A. in Philosophy and Greek Philology;  - Erling Haagensen, Writer, and Film Director;  - Karine Smidth, Journalist;  - Bodil Eeg Neumann, Techn.A.;  - Sidney Maage, Principal, Ministry of Defence; - Raymond Bildstedfelt, Inf.Director, DI;  - Sven Tito Achen, Symbology Historian, and Council Secretary, formerly The Danish Research Council for the Humanities ;  - Anny Höegh, superv., DI;  - Guni Martin, Teacher, Writer, Publisher;  - Marianne Illum, proofreader;  - Evan Bogan, Publ. Director;  - The staff of The Royal National Library of Denmark, and of Dep. II of the Copenhagen University Library;  - Construction of Computer Programs: Laurids Pedersen, Nysted, DK;  - Astronomical Computer Calculations: Jarl Hansen, Macro Systems Internet, Coín, Spain.
          Special thanks to the readers, who, by their great interest, have been contributing so that publication of the long-term work of research came into being - all volumes produced without any financial support from public or private means or foundations, which normally is necessary for this kind of publication work for the very small population of Denmark. Therefore, many thanks and admiration to C.A. Reitzel's Publishing Director, Svend Olufsen, who - courageous and far-sighted - has published the book-series with greatest commitment.
          OvS.

Synopsis  -  ABSTRACTS  - summary and some guiding clues regarding:

OVE VON SPAETH:  The Secret Religion
                             - Moses and the Egyptian Heritage in the Past and Present

Volume 4 of the series "Assassinating Moses",

- Moses is the first known founder of a religion - and his teachings have inspired several world religions. Ancient sources reveal that the religion originally included the 'mystery gold' from Egypt and the secret of the name of God ...
          Moses is the first known founder of a religion - and he has inspired several world religions. Ancient sources reveal that his teachings originally included the 'mystery gold' from Egypt and the secret of the god-name.
          Exclusive, cultic knowledge from a mystical and cosmological superstructure of Moses' religion is still evident in the Bible - and with connections to Egypt and coherences which were not possible to demonstrate until now. Through the ages, initiated individuals upheld these secret teachings which were passed through Moses to the Israelites.
          The Bible was also used a mystery text by initiates and a special language was encoded 'within' the biblical texts. This was later forgotten - but were there others besides the traditional priests who knew the 'Bible codes'?
          The 'Egyptian factor' has been underemphasized in Biblical research, but now it can be widely established as one of the most important prerequisites for understanding the vital circumstances behind the oldest contents of the Bible.
          Through later centuries, lay-people were prohibited of reading the Bible which was placed at the top of the "black list" (the 'Index...Prohibitorum') by the Catholic Church. Prior to that, hidden teachings had reappeared in Egypt among Gnostics and in the Hermetic doctrines which later contributed to the Renaissance.

Key Phrases : Moses the religion founder,  ancient Egypt,   archaeology,  anthropology,  history of astronomy,  chronology,  cultural history,  the initiation mysteries,  mystery play,  mythology,  the burning thorn bush,  the Yahweh name secret,  the Golden Calf,  prophets,  Urim,  Tummim,  the Book of Job,  the Exodus,  the Torah,  the Pentateuch,  the Temple of Jerusalem,  Ezra,  theology,  religious history,  the Moses-mysteries,  the Aaron-mysteries,  the Talmud,  the Tree of knowledge,  Logos,  Sephirot,  The Paradise codes,  Rabbinical Writings,  Pharaoh Akhenaton,  Thebes,  Egyptology,  Ove von Spaeth, Philo,  Josephus,  Homer,  celestial geometry,  the Easel Bridge, the Cosmos keys,  star myths,  Sirius,  St. Paul's Journey,  neoplatonic  philosophy,  Hermetic tradition,  reincarnation,  Corpus Hermeticum,  the Old Testament, the Gnostics.

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The Volume 4  of the series on the historical Moses presents a wide-ranging and controversial tracking down of some vital components of our culture - with their origin in the history of ancient Egypt and its mark on Moses' religion. But what truths can we draw from the text that goes back to events that have taken place 3,500 years ago?
          From his residence, the original basis in Egypt (ca. 1500 BC) Moses had knowledge about Egyptian mystery religion - as well as the idea of selecting only one god was known to him. This knowledge he incorporated into the new religion which he established and passed on to Israelites at their exodus from Egypt. However, his teachings eventually inspired several world religions - in which to this day it is possible to find traces of Moses' influence.
          Moses is the first (known) founder of a religion and the present book, "The Secret Religion", demonstrates, through its enlightening and thorough investigations that Moses has included much of "the mystery gold" from Egypt.
          The author is our guide on this knowledge-journey to our cultural-religious point of departure - and he synthesizes great many religious, historical, and archaeological lines of thought. The reader is given insight on historical causalities and further information on the background for the origin of intellectual and spiritual sciences - and hence the religion that was the result of Moses' new thinking.
         Exciting lines are drawn between the in many ways forgotten or even repressed parts of handed down knowledge about the mystery cults' role of ancient Egyptian religion and also in later times - otherwise difficult to understand - with its relics in both Judaism and Christianity. '

The legacy of Egypt in the past and present
          New data reveals Moses' Unknown Egyptian Background:

-   How  widespread was monotheism originally?
-   What  did the speech from "the burning bush" mean?
-   How  is the information about the cult of the golden calf explored?
-   Can  influences of ancient astrological teachings be found in the Bible?
-   Where  are the traces of mystery teachings found in Moses' religion?

          The influence of the ancient mystery cults continuously emerges in ancient information about Moses and the old religions. The book takes a different approach to reveal important clues of an early spiritual culture. Recognizable features are still found in modern everyday language, customs and laws. An unceasing, living heritage that also hands down unusual material that in itself must perturb conventional circles.
          Moses took an important treasure of knowledge when he left Egypt. Just before the exodus, he and his people pillaged the temples and their archives. Meticulous research now shows that this unusual knowledge can be traced to Jews, Gnostics, Christian cults, and later on to the Knights Templar and other historical groups. It appears that certain elements of this knowledge contained cosmology and teachings about afterlife also recognized in other great ancient religions.

Ancient world with connections to our own time
          From the points of reference in the ancient world of the Egyptians to the universe of the Old Testament - and continuing via Antiquity, the Middle Ages and particularly the Renaissance up to our time - the reader will experience a fascinating and captivating journey through the unique themes of the book. The book's line of reasoning - new orientation, thought-provoking and challenging to predominant fixed conceptions - is refreshing and absolutely necessary.
          Exceptional source material exposes several important, and previously overlooked, Egyptian norms underlying Moses' religious project. Almost every chapter of the book is like a minor treatise deserving an entire book for itself, but which here provides an overall, larger context - comprising several stimulating layers for reading and study.
          The dramatic impression left by the first volumes in this series of books about Moses already made it clear that the work itself "... represents one of the most potentially explosive theses in the history of research on the Old Testament and that it is the result of many years of serious, acute and unprejudiced research...". Using impressive analytical inquisitiveness and captivating commitment, Ove von Spaeth additionally enhances his competent reassessment.

From 'the great teachings' to science
          Moses serves as a distinct catalyst behind western culture's inspiration from the Egyptian heritage. This inspiration is revealed in a surprisingly new light through the book's constantly turning prism of history. A highly fascinating account that presents information which is so rare and abundant that you will go back to the book time after time.
          A basis for the whole operation is Moses and his Egyptian adolescence and knowledge - all that Moses passed on to the Israelites and their descendants - with the Egyptian clues in the rear, including the ancient science, medicine, and astronomy but also Egyptian mysticism, magic, and spell. Also interesting views are offered concerning the very Semite language, the roots of the words, and their possible 'hidden' messages - all that in particular is keeping the reader on track.
          The book opens to the biblical mysteries, entirely reaching the background of the origin, leaving the raw essence clearly and distinctly. Through times many have considered Moses and Jesus as being the exalted mentors in "the great teachings" - the author draws thread through centuries of issues and ideas. Each chapter is a blueprint for a lifetime of study. His knowledge is summarized and attentive - he is a historian who dares to use also the astronomy-related and mythological concepts and follow them through based on exciting new tracks.

The secret of the god-name
          The enigmatic god-name with the four mysterious letters jhwh (= Yahweh) has been given an entire chapter in the book. Exciting lines to other Middle Eastern religions are drawn, and the book refers to the few sources from antiquity suggesting how the name has been pronounced. Normally, ordinary people were not allowed to pronounce the name.
          Also, according to the Law of Moses it was prohibited to produce images of the Israelite god. This prohibition may have been based on deep experiences on other religions from which there was known the risk of having idols at all. When the god was 'living' in the picture, the picture was simply the god for that moment. And if a god was to be eliminated it could be done by destroying its image. In Egyptian religion genuine examples of this are known, (likewise, e.g. also in the European accounts on the Vendic god, Svantevit). But a non-depicted god might be considered as being of the more eternal kind. The eternal Israelite god cannot and must not be depicted - by which it may also be avoided that people honour the image instead of what it represents.
          The later account about Moses was that he, during his exile in Sinai, was the shepherd by his later father-in-law, Jethro, the priest, is a familiar story. But so far, it has been ignored that the term "shepherd" in this context could mean something more than to take care of sheep and goats. Was "shepherd" a religious title - to this day kept in the priestly title pastor (= shepherd) and the crosier which was originally a shepherd crook?

Mystery plays
          A chapter is illuminating an exiting conflict in the Bible's section with the Book of Job, where Satan plays a significant role as God's opponent (one of the few times in the Bible). From this rather special scripture parallels are being drawn with other contemporary religions, and the ancient-source-related explanation of many allusions to stars and constellations in this scripture is suggested for its high relevance.
          The certain kind of monotheism - the teachings of focusing on only one god - which also was briefly introduced in Egypt by Pharaoh Akhenaton (Amenhotep IV) with the failed reformation, shows some interesting similarities with the early Israelite monotheism that there must be an impact in one direction or the other. From the sources from antiquity it is deducted that Moses lived ca. 150 years prior to Pharaoh Akhenaton.
. . .
          According to the book's extensive material, it is strongly indicated that the Bible, i.e. the Old Testament, is based on Moses' text and - even though the priest Ezra later made some significant corrections in it - it is still the base of belief to millions worldwide. Also this background relates to the assumption that Moses existed as an important historical person in a very specific period of Egyptian history; but historical evidence to this effect have, so far, been understood to be so scarce that few researchers conferred solid value on them.
          However, a reality about Moses being much more than the academics' claim reducing him to: "a myth created to give Jewish traditions a pseudo-historical authority" - is now meticulously illuminated by Ove von Spaeth with a classical scientific approach in the analytical research. Thus, one of the main discoveries in his large-scale work on Moses is that the commonly assumed dating of Moses has been created via wrong premises.
          Based on more ancient sources than previously seen, the author dates the death of Pharaoh Tuthmosis (III) to have occured in 1455 BC and, hereby, to coincide with the Israelite exodus from Egypt, - historically the central point of Moses' life.

From Moses to ancient Christianity
          The conventional notions of Moses and the contents of the Old Testament, of course, are what Ove von Spaeth first have to break with, while he calls attention to antiquity's view of the relationship between Judaism, Christianity, and the Egyptian world of ideas.
          Among the most famous Church Fathers, and ancient writers like Philo, Josephus, Augustine, etc., many of them have written about Moses and Egypt, as well as on Moses' influence on the contemporary Egyptian religious thinking, and about the Old Testament's many parallels with this and similar tracks in the New Testament: - fantastic testimonies of relevance.
          The book illustrates also that in the ancient Church the Christian faith was almost seen as a culmination and synthesis of a number of other religious-philosophical movements, and that it was only in later centuries the Church sought to expose Jesus as a completely new and isolated figure. Prior to this there was a tendency to see some of the pre-Christians as a kind of great spiritual and philosophical figures like Plato and Aristotle in rolls as being truly foreshadowing the Christ.
          Also, the book highlights several features in the development of Christianity through the first Christianity, then its decay and, concerning some parts, its ability to stay alive by secretly returning to its Egyptian roots and seeking nourishment from these, and how this hidden side of Christianity suddenly flourished by contributing to the Renaissance humanist movement: - "The Egyptian factor", according to the author, was originally clearly present also as a fundamental element in the living Christianity.
. . .
          Through its immensely collected and often brilliant material the book contributes to an essentially better view at the Bible's content of the often weird cultic rituals, which otherwise could have made it harder to see through the many exciting relations between the Egyptian, Jewish and Christian world.
          There are also shown a number of issues within cultic practice and spiritual background that prevailed in antiquity and a long time to come - from ancient Egypt to Greece and Rome, with a break in the Middle Ages but revival during the Renaissance, having permeated the whole period by cultic and mystery characterized thinking and also including alchemistic and astrological ideas.
          Among the causes of the mystery cults' continued secrecy was that the preparations for the mystical initiation often included  rites which also could contribute to liberation from conventional social ties, including Church's dogma. Now, the present work with its name, "The Secret Religion" opens a fascinating world for us.

Synthesis
          Moses' writings became not only the main line of the Bible but led also to that his doctrines became the world's first "literary religion." The Bible was for several thousand years, and still is, the world's most widespread and well-known book - and still, for innumerable people it is the most significant and important book.
          Although part of the legacy of Moses seems intact, there are both in the past and present committed several "attacks" on Moses and his texts precisely in areas where his doctrines have lines back to the spiritual sciences’ traditions of Egypt's past. However, in the extant texts in and outside of the Bible, as demonstrated, several parts of a vital historical course will still be possible to some extent to reconstruct and make "resurrected" - for inspiration to present day man. Circumstantial evidence for the existence of an original mystery cult superstructure of Moses' religion are being presented by the book - to be further researched.
. . .
          Moses was, evident everywhere, the earliest "personal" bridge from Egypt's culture and spirit - to the West Semitic culture image: a synthesis that characterized the later ancient Greek and Judeo-Christian ideas. Both directions were also included in the basis of European culture (with its Celtic-Roman influence) and thus continually Western history of ideas.
          Also from hitherto unheeded, but historically valuable sources and angles, the book has also been able to demonstrate a very close connection between ancient Egyptian world view and a modern perceived realistic psychologically inauguration that breathes new life and meaning in our religious perception. Thus, Moses from 3,500 years ago can also through the author of this book contribute with a life-giving source of modern humans ...
          Among the reasons for the mystery cults had continued secrecy was the fact that preparation for the mystical inauguration often included rituals which also could contribute to the liberation from conventional social ties and in particular Church dogma. But now, a deeply fascinating world opens to us in this work with its name "The Secret Religion".
          The book's approaches have - often through hitherto mostly ignored but historical valuable sources and perspectives - also been demonstrating a very close connection between the ancient Egyptian spiritual world and a modern perceived realistic psychology of inauguration breathing new life and meaning into our religious views. Therefore, Moses from 3,500 years ago can also through the author of this book contribute to a life-giving source for modern man ...

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- More about the contents: Information points concerning this Volume 4 of the series "Assassinating Moses"

- More about the contents of Volume 4:  Murdering history

- Credentials, - about the author, statements from a number of scientific experts and professionals can be found e.g. on these pages:  authordata-4: Reflecting views - and  Zenith IC Project .

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