Ben Carson’s crazy theory about the pyramids has nothing to do with aliens, but it’s just as dumb

For a supposedly brilliant doctor, Ben Carson has a bizarre way of processing science and history.

In a recently uncovered speech from 1998, Carson rejected the idea that the Egyptians built the pyramid. Instead, he says, Joseph from the Bible built them to store grains. The remarks were made at an address given to graduates of Andrews University, which, unsurprisingly, is heavily Seventh Day Adventist, which is the version of Christianity that Carson himself adheres to. Carson said of the his own ideas about where the pyramids came from:

“My own personal theory is that Joseph built the pyramids to store grain. Now all the archeologists think that they were made for the pharaohs’ graves. But, you know, it would have to be something awfully big if you stop and think about it. And I don’t think it’d just disappear over the course of time to store that much grain.

[…]

And when you look at the way that the pyramids are made, with many chambers that are hermetically sealed, they’d have to be that way for various reasons. And various of scientists have said, ‘well, you know there were alien beings that came down and they have special knowledge and that’s how-’ you know, it doesn’t require an alien being when God is with you.”

This much sheer, willful ignorance is downright dangerous. Ben Carson is clearly crazy. I really do have to wonder how someone with such insane beliefs ever made it through medical school at all.

Watch Carson’s crazy theories below:

[Talking Points Memo] Featured image via Flickr