New PBS series exposes Old Testament fairy tales

A visually stunning two-hour special edition of "Nova" examines decades of archaeological studies that contradict much of what is in the Bible. The entire Exodus story is debunked, as is the idea that the Israelites were monotheistic following the contract made between God and Abraham. It turns out idol worship was common through the reign of King David and right up to the Babylonian exile.

MORE: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081117/tv_nm/us_television_bible

I've said this before: there were three or four categories of things going in in OT times
which are totally outside of our own experience
and it is too easy to believe that something is impossible simply
because it hasn't been seen in 2500 years.

...JOS 10:11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were
in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from
heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with
hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword...

Seen any meteorite storms recently?

What does "JOS" mean ?

A visually stunning two-hour special edition of "Nova" examines decades of archaeological studies that contradict much of what is in the Bible. The entire Exodus story is debunked, as is the idea that the Israelites were monotheistic following the contract made between God and Abraham. It turns out idol worship was common through the reign of King David and right up to the Babylonian exile.

MORE: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081117/tv_nm/us_television_bible

on some hieroglyphics where an Egyptian Pharoh claims
to have killed all Israelites

Quote:

on some hieroglyphics where an Egyptian Pharoh claims
to have killed all Israelites

U believe that claims of Egyptian Pharos were all historically true ?





David

OmSigDAVID wrote:

Quote:

on some hieroglyphics where an Egyptian Pharoh claims
to have killed all Israelites

U believe that claims of Egyptian Pharos were all historically true ?






David

These Israelites (possibly actually Caananites from western city states) were not great Roman Legions, in that anyone would want to falsely boast about defeating, in my opinion. If it was not true, in the mind of the Pharaoh, I believe it would have appeared as boasting about something of little consequence. I tend to think the Pharaoh killed most, even though it was stated in the stone on the PBS special that all were killed. The question is then, who became the Israelites of the ongoing story? Again, I think local tribes just adopted the Israelite moniker to give credence and legitimacy to their taking over "the neighborhood" that was the scene of the Pharaoh's victory.

It is possible that the Israelites had already made a connection in the minds of the known world there that they had an invisible God. Perhaps, to adopt this God, the locals felt they must assume the identity of Israelites? Let us not forget that in early Christianity, to become a follower of Jesus, one had to be, or become, a Jew. In effect, the early Israelites (nee Caanites) had no one to function like St. Paul (proselytize to the nomads). The thought may have been that new territory came with a respective God for that territory, so if one moved into the neighborhood, one had to accept the local God also?

I wonder though why so few European men get circumcised,
but so many Americans do? Is the U.S., as an originally Protestant
country, more the followers of Old Testament shtick?

Foofie wrote:

I wonder though why so few European men get circumcised,
but so many Americans do? Is the U.S., as an originally Protestant
country, more the followers of Old Testament shtick?

I am under the impression that it is for reasons of personal hygiene;
better cleanliness, to avoid infections.

That was my own physician 's idea,
when I was several months old.
I m glad for that.





David

OmSigDAVID wrote:

Foofie wrote:

I wonder though why so few European men get circumcised,
but so many Americans do? Is the U.S., as an originally Protestant
country, more the followers of Old Testament shtick?

I am under the impression that it is for reasons of personal hygiene;
better cleanliness, to avoid infections.

That was my own physician 's idea,
when I was several months old.
I m glad for that.





David

Quote:

I understand. So why do Europeans,
with their longer tradition of western medicine, not do the same?

I have no way of knowing.
I 'm just glad that I don 't look like that.

Quote:

Could there be some concern about making sure the men do not
become Jewish or Moslem, perhaps?

That is not plausible.





David