William Branham and the mother eagle: Difference between revisions

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This is the first in a series we are calling -  “Bad Research.”  These videos are responses to statements made by message ministers who simply take WMB’s word for something… but have never bothered to check for themselves to see if what William Branham said was true.
This is the first in a series we are calling -  “Bad Research.”  These videos are responses to statements made by message ministers who simply take WMB’s word for something… but have never bothered to check for themselves to see if what William Branham said was true.


William Branham told several stories about a mother eagle flying with her babies on her wings.  Here is the story as related by Donny Reagan of Johnson City, Tennessee.
William Branham told several stories about a mother eagle flying with her babies on her wings.  Here is the story as related by Donny Reagan of Johnson City, Tennessee:
 
:''…You remember how that mama eagle would let them little eaglets down there and they'd turn around in them green valleys and boy they'd turn over one more one or after another after another. And that mama would look back to there and see a great storm coming up and she would let out a scream and them little eagles would come and climb right up on her wings.  And each one of them would grab a feather in its mouth.  Oh, they were not able to face the storm.  They didn't have to.  They was on mama's back.  They're each one of them holding onto the wings and here would go mama… and mama would head right up through there and take them babies out of the tribulation period


I went to 3 ornithologists, scientists who study birds, to determine whether such behaviour had ever been seen.  All of the scientists that I contacted specialize in the study of eagles and other birds of preyt.  I will refer to the scientists by their initials rather than their full names… I don’t want them inundated by message followers telling them that the prophet couldn’t possibly be wrong.  
I went to 3 ornithologists, scientists who study birds, to determine whether such behaviour had ever been seen.  All of the scientists that I contacted specialize in the study of eagles and other birds of preyt.  I will refer to the scientists by their initials rather than their full names… I don’t want them inundated by message followers telling them that the prophet couldn’t possibly be wrong.  
   
   
First, Dr. JD
First, Dr. JD:


''I have never heard of this happening in any raptor or bird of prey.''
:''I have never heard of this happening in any raptor or bird of prey.''


Now please appreciate that these are scientists who have studied raptors and birds of prey for their entire lives.
Now please appreciate that these are scientists who have studied raptors and birds of prey for their entire lives.
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Here is the response from Dr. SS
Here is the response from Dr. SS


''That is a first, and a very, interesting story.  Although I hate to say anything is impossible, I can state with utmost confidence that nothing like this has ever been observed or reported by the scientific or professional birding community.  There are a few angles one could take to rebuff this story: First, the point of a raptor nest is to provide a safe environment until the young are able to leave safely on their own, and there are many instances when young have ended up out of the nest accidentally, and the adults have no way to really help them if they are too young to fly on their own.  Some young have been fed on the ground for this reason.''
:''That is a first, and a very, interesting story.  Although I hate to say anything is impossible, I can state with utmost confidence that nothing like this has ever been observed or reported by the scientific or professional birding community.  There are a few angles one could take to rebuff this story: First, the point of a raptor nest is to provide a safe environment until the young are able to leave safely on their own, and there are many instances when young have ended up out of the nest accidentally, and the adults have no way to really help them if they are too young to fly on their own.  Some young have been fed on the ground for this reason.''
   
   
''Rehab centers deal with grounded nestlings all the time, and if raptors could safely get their young back to the nest they surely would.  Second, an eagle's wings could not support the weight of a nestling that is old enough to play, nor would the nestling be able to stay on the wings while the adult was trying to flap or maneuver without damaging the adult's wings with their talons.''
:''Rehab centers deal with grounded nestlings all the time, and if raptors could safely get their young back to the nest they surely would.  Second, an eagle's wings could not support the weight of a nestling that is old enough to play, nor would the nestling be able to stay on the wings while the adult was trying to flap or maneuver without damaging the adult's wings with their talons.''
   
   
''Third, the aerodynamics of the wing would be compromised even if #2  wasn't an issue.  For example, you can't fly an airplane with a large object on the wing because it would interfere with the airflow above the curved wing which creates lift in both eagles and planes. ''   
:''Third, the aerodynamics of the wing would be compromised even if #2  wasn't an issue.  For example, you can't fly an airplane with a large object on the wing because it would interfere with the airflow above the curved wing which creates lift in both eagles and planes. ''   


''These are just a few responses that come to mind.  Thanks for reaching out, and I do appreciate hearing the types of stories that sometimes are being told, whatever the motivation may be for the teller. ''
''These are just a few responses that come to mind.  Thanks for reaching out, and I do appreciate hearing the types of stories that sometimes are being told, whatever the motivation may be for the teller. ''
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And finally, from Dr. DB
And finally, from Dr. DB


''I have never heard of such a thing and it is wrong for so many reasons.  
:''I have never heard of such a thing and it is wrong for so many reasons.  
   
   
''First, there is no way an eagle’s wing is built to carry anything.  Second, the whole reason that eagles build their nests high is to keep predators from killing their young.   
:''First, there is no way an eagle’s wing is built to carry anything.  Second, the whole reason that eagles build their nests high is to keep predators from killing their young.   


''Why would they want to jeopardize the lives of their young by bringing them to the ground?   
:''Why would they want to jeopardize the lives of their young by bringing them to the ground?   
   
   
''This ‘story’ ranks right up there with those claiming that eagles can carry off babies.   
:''This ‘story’ ranks right up there with those claiming that eagles can carry off babies.   


I would not waste your time on it any further.
:''I would not waste your time on it any further.


3 scientists who specialize in the study of eagles confirmed that William Branham could not have seen what he said he saw.  This behaviour has never been observed by anyone studying eagles… ever.
3 scientists who specialize in the study of eagles confirmed that William Branham could not have seen what he said he saw.  This behaviour has never been observed by anyone studying eagles… ever.