Introduction to Alchemists of the Gods, by Derrick Gaskin

First Word - more of a dust jacket than a synopsis

First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me. - Martin Niemoller

This book is an oblique look at the cosmos, the aim being to fathom out this child of the universe, the animal called Man. The current view of Creation is the Big Bang, which we are told was a violent event as was the formation and development of Earth, our memories and actions shaped by chaotic eruptions.  Within these pages Israelites become one of many tribes surviving by fighting, killing and occupying land where other people lived - Hebrews and Jews a chronological river on which many ideas are floated; the Fertile Crescent and especially Palestine merely backdrops before which humans swarm over the rest of the world. Abraham and his Old Testament ancestors lived in a region where cities, towns and villages were already established, Judaism evolving from ancient social, religious and economic patterns. Hebrews became part of these elements, having little effect on the growth or formation of human society as Israelite traditions and Jewish culture grew from Egyptian, Sumerian, Babylonian and a host of other civilisations. From Moses receiving the Decalogue to rabbis compiling the Talmud, all were merely spin doctors, alchemists transmuting pagan gods and ancient beliefs into the one untarnishable deity of Yahweh.

After Bar Kokhba's (Simeon ben Kosevah's) revolt (132-135AD) Jews lost control over Judaea (Palestine) for nearly 2000 years but even before that Israelites and Jews were only sojourners in Canaan where the indigenous population had existed for a hundred thousand years. In the mythical world of the Bible King Solomon was a murderer who not only killed enemies but also friends, colleagues and relatives. Solomon's kingdom survived by selling Israelites into virtual slavery and when he died his nation fell apart - arguably, this is when history began. The northern territory became Israel, which lasted for just two centuries until Assyria abolished this first state of Israel, giving birth to the legend of the "ten lost tribes." All that remained of Solomon's empire was Judah, which fell to the Babylonians in 587BC. Israel was not reinvented until 1948 when Zionists drove Arabs from their homeland as Israelites had done before in the folklore of Joshua, Saul and David.

Using mythical and historical events and following the diaspora it has been possible to suggest, assert and record not only how history has shaped Judaism but the manner in which Jews have contributed to the literature and culture of Europe and the New World; without Judaism Christianity would not exist and Islam could not have evolved into its present form. For a hundred generations Jews have been harassed, persecuted and massacred by both State and Church. Many individual gentiles also stand accused of anti-Semitism. Consequently these horrendous experiences and unforgiveable memories have evolved into a continual holocaustum involving innocent Palestinians and other Arab nations. Palestinians may be innocent but that does not mean that some Israelis are necessarily guilty. Like the rest of us Arabs and Jews are beholden to primitive laws. We all belong to the same savage tribe.

  DJG 2002