The Goddess, the Grail and the Lodge [Paperback]

Alan Butler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 4, 2004

We're only just beginning to realize that Bronze Age people knew far more about astronomy and engineering than we have given them credit for. Reading like a thriller, The Goddess, the Grail and the Lodge shows what Grail Knowledge really was and is.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alan Butler is a qualified engineer and an expert on Megalithic cultures, ancient Crete, the Knights Templar and the Cistercians. He edits and writes the Old Moore's Almanac and Astral Diary series with many millions in print. He has also written The Templar Continuum, Templar Books, 09683567611999, and The Bronze Age Computer Disc, Foulsham, 05720221741999. He lives in Bath, England.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Axis Mundi Books (May 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1903816696
• ISBN-13: 978-1903816691
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,507,954 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Historical Fiction or Historical Fact?, June 13, 2004

By 

Briar - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Goddess, the Grail and the Lodge (Paperback)

The author has written a very entertaining read but I believe putting it in the category of "non-fiction" is questionable. He doesn't get his "facts" from any legitimate source which would allow for further research by anyone else. He does paint a convincing picture of a possible scenario, and most people with any sense these days know that history is subjective and based on many factors, one of which is the agenda of the author. While I don't believe it is a requirement to obtain a string of degrees to write a non-fiction book on history, as a historian I can't help but be curious as to just where he obtained some of his information. This book is more a good detective mystery novel rather than a work of non-fiction. The bibliography in the book in no way resembles anything that could be considered of scholary quality. No self-respecting historian or researcher would use the types of sources Butler does to back up his statements of "fact." The sources he used would not even be acceptable for an undergraduate research paper! Butler makes some pretty outrageous claims that he states as facts but gives nothing for the reader to latch on to if they wanted to do further research. And one thing throughout the book that was very annoying was his repeated use of a few phrases that make him appear as not having much of a command of English. This may be the way he writes, but a good editor would have caught this immediately. As far as I can tell, his theory, while interesting and something to think about, is more of a conspiracy theory derived out of a controversial theory from decades ago. I'm all about Goddess worship, and I am certain that "history" as we know it is only a small part of what actually occurred, but Butler needs to show us something to back up his outrageous claims so we can do our own detective work. Otherwise, his work remains purely a work of fiction.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating at parts, nauseating at others, May 26, 2006

By 

D. Maxwell - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Goddess, the Grail and the Lodge (Paperback)

First, I bought the book because the foreword was written by Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince (two very good authors), but as I read, I began to wonder why they would endorse this work.

If you care about proper spelling and grammar or repetitious cliche, you might have a hard time sifting through these publication troubles before taking on Butler's real issues. Unfortunately, the language he employs prevents him from actually having to state what it is that he's trying to explain, and also why his arguments are valid.

His theory on "salt lines" is fascinating. The theory is potentially based on solid evidence which very strongly changes our perception of Neolithic religion and technology, but Butler leaves out enormous amounts of evidence to support his claims. In order to compel the reader he must provide detailed maps to prove the accuracy of his general statements on geography, and he must also provide strong statistical evidence to back up the accuracy of the locations he highlights. Without providing these suggestions, he often makes enormous jumps in his arguments.

Moreover, Butler openly admits that he cannot reveal some of his sources: "I have personally seen enough and learned enough (some of which I cannot presently divulge) to know for certain that [conspiracy] is not the case" (334). While this might keep the pleasure reader on the edge of his seat, passages like this take away from the strength of any and all of Butler's arguments.

If you enjoy sheer wonder over fact, you'll love the final chapter (I admit, I did as well). But the last line regarding Dan Brown simply made me embarassed for Butler and I felt a little bit insulted (a terrible way to finish). But all-in-all the book is great in that it sets the imaginative mind in a new direction (too bad the index and sources are so lacking). It's a good book with many interesting points of knowledge - but as far as fact vs. fiction goes, well, who knows?

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Goddess, The Grail and The Lodge, May 23, 2004

By 

Don Barnaby (Marion, IL.,USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Goddess, the Grail and the Lodge (Paperback)

Wow!! That's my short opinion regarding "The Goddess, The Grail, and The Lodge". If the reader enjoys a good detective novel containing a solid plot and a block buster conclusion, this is the book. The author, like any good detective, assembles his evidence, both physical and circumstantial (physical about 90 %), in a careful and methodical manner before he closes in on the prize, and that is exactly what Mr. Butler does here. He uses very solid archelogical and other evidence from the megalithic period in Britain and Ireland and into Egypt, Crete, Malta, et al to prove there is a thread in the fabric of history regarding goddess worship and its ultimate connections thereof to modern religious practice. But, this is NO novel. It is REALITY that spans across thousands of years with a clear thread running through the fabric of history which Mr. Butler refers to as "The Golden Thread". The reader will learn of a select group of indivduals who have perpetuated this practice throughout the ages. What I found fascinating was the LOCATIONS of many pagan religious sites, what is located there now and where they are located latitudinally and logitudinally. In the process you will learn all about what Mr. Butler refers to as "salt lines" and from whence they are derived. I will not give away any more of the plot. Concerning the religious element mentioned above, it should be emphasized that this book is not anti-religious!

Concerning the style: I found the book to be a quick read as one is not tied in knots every other sentence with footnotes and references. The material the author discusses is available in any library and is common knowledge in many instances. He does provide "notes" at the end regarding books and references. Also, the prose is such, along with the plot, that one feels he is reading a novel because the pages turn quite fast. I will read it again, however, for fear that I missed something the first time around.

If you like Knight, Lomas, Pinknett, Prince, Baigent, Leigh, Lincoln and those early pioneers in new theories regarding history, you'll love Alan Butler's book. His book presents premises and conclusions that I have never before come in contact with regard to other writers. As Mr. Butler would say, it is "time out of mind". I suspect he is working on a new book that will add even more to our reservoir of new theories and I can't wait for that moment. Somehow I think it will involve a thread that just happens to be very, very gold!

Don Barnaby
Marion, IL

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