Jan 21 2010

Scholar counters attacks on existence of Solomon’s kingdom

Category: Criticism — Polycarp @ 11:25 pm

“Tonight, I want to talk about the age of Solomon, but before I do that, I want to set it up by telling you something about a school of European biblical scholarship,” Dever said. “These people call themselves revisionists because they are rewriting the history of ancient Israel, but when they finish, there is no history. They call themselves revisionists. I call them nihilists.”

You should read the rest, really, here.

Proving the existence of Solomon doesn’t prove the bible anymore than the Pantheon proves the existence of the Greek gods or thousands of clay soldiers prove that an ancient Chinese emperor will return to the earth. It is interesting for several reasons, but don’t look for these things to ‘prove’ your faith, as the Lord told Thomas – happy are those who have never seen, but believe. (John 20.29)

Tags:

Jan 07 2010

Etching hints Bible is older than thought – Earliest Hebrew Inscription Found

Category: Criticism — Polycarp @ 9:00 pm

Interesting…

Continue reading “Etching hints Bible is older than thought – Earliest Hebrew Inscription Found”

Tags: ,

Sep 24 2009

Does Biblical Archeology Create Antisemitism?

Category: Religious News — Polycarp @ 8:46 pm

I fully intend to leave all questions on biblical archeology to Fr. Stephen, but this story is interesting for several reasons:

Jews have no history in the city of Jerusalem: They have never lived there, the Temple never existed, and Israeli archaeologists have admitted as much. Those who deny this are simply liars. Or so says Sheik Tayseer Rajab Tamimi, chief Islamic judge of the Palestinian Authority.

His claims, made last month, would be laughable if they weren’t so common among Palestinians. Sheik Tamimi is only the latest to insist that, in his words, Jerusalem is solely “an Arab and Islamic city and it has always been so.” His comments come on the heels of those by Shamekh Alawneh, a lecturer in modern history at Al Quds University. On an Aug. 11 PA television program, “Jerusalem—History and Culture,” Mr. Alawneh argued that the Jews invented their connection to Jerusalem. “It has no historical roots,” he said, adding that the Jews are engaging in “an attack on history, theft of culture, falsification of facts, erasure of the truth, and Judaization of the place.” (read the rest at the link above)

And no, I do not believe the honest biblical archeology creates antisemitism.

Tags: , , , , ,

Jan 14 2009

Smyrna speaks – Greek Scriptures found in Izmir

Category: Church Fathers, Religious News — Polycarp @ 9:40 am

Dr. West notes that during the recent digs at Agora, Greek Scriptures were found – Agora is in the Izmir region of Turkey – Izmir is the biblical city of Smyrna – home of Polycarp. (Although  much prefer the mountains of West Virginia these days)

The article barely mentions such an historical find.

Some scriptures written in Greek as well as some drawings pertaining to the Roman and Hellenistic times are expected to give clues about the daily life at the time. The mosaic work found in the area also has great importance for İzmir’s history and the city will take the work under protection.

Could there be more? Perhaps some actual writings of Polycarp? Why won’t they tell us more! My speculation is that they have found proof that Polycarp was a greater saint than we have been led to believe and that their is an international, interdenominational, Baptist led conspiracy to keep the man down.

HT, Dr. West.


Tags: , , , , ,

Dec 20 2008

National Geographic Hates the Bible – King Herod innocent of the Innocents

Category: Religious News — Polycarp @ 2:21 pm

Eight miles south of Jerusalem, where the last stunted olive trees and stony cornfields fade into the naked badlands of the Judaean desert, a hill rises abruptly, a steep cone sliced off at the top like a small volcano. This is Herodium, one of the grand architectural creations of Herod the Great, King of Judaea, who raised a low knoll into a towering memorial of snowy stonework and surrounded it with pleasure palaces, splashing pools, and terraced gardens. An astute and generous ruler, a brilliant general, and one of the most imaginative and energetic builders of the ancient world, Herod guided his kingdom to new prosperity and power. Yet today he is best known as the sly and murderous monarch of Matthew’s Gospel, who slaughtered every male infant in Bethlehem in an unsuccessful attempt to kill the newborn Jesus, the prophesied King of the Jews. During the Middle Ages he became an image of the Antichrist: Illuminated manuscripts and Gothic gargoyles show him tearing his beard in mad fury and brandishing his sword at the luckless infants, with Satan whispering in his ear. Herod is almost certainly innocent of this crime, of which there is no report apart from Matthew’s account. But children he certainly slew, including three of his own sons, along with his wife, his mother-in-law, and numerous other members of his court. Throughout his life, he blended creativity and cruelty, harmony and chaos, in ways that challenge the modern imagination.

That’s right, Herod is a misunderstood monarch, a kindly ole soul really, much like Santa Claus. Every holiday season – whether you believe that this is an actual holiday or not – National Geographic and other institutes of higher learner, such as the Discovery Channel, barrage us with anti-biblical accounts and understanding. I am waiting the big one – detailing that there never was a certain Jesus. This one portrays Herod as somewhat misunderstood and wrongfully attacked by the Jews and Christians.

Continue reading “National Geographic Hates the Bible – King Herod innocent of the Innocents”

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Dec 11 2008

Perfume vials from Christ's era unearthed in Israel

Category: Religious News — Polycarp @ 8:50 am

ROME Reuters – A team of Franciscan archaeologists digging in the biblical town of Magdala in what is now Israel say they have unearthed vials of perfume similar to those that may have been used by the woman said to have washed Jesus’ feet.

The perfumed ointments were found intact at the bottom of a mud-filled swimming pool, alongside hair and make-up objects, the director of the dig conducted by the group Studium Biblicum Franciscanum told the Terrasanta.net religious website.

“If chemical analyses confirm it, these could be perfumes and creams similar to those that Mary Magdalene or the sinner cited in the Gospel used to anoint Christ’s feet,” Father Stefano de Luca, the lead archaeologist, told the website.

Continue reading “Perfume vials from Christ's era unearthed in Israel”

Tags: , , , , ,

Nov 19 2008

MSNBC's take on PBS's sideshow – Bible gets a reality check

Category: Other Posts — Polycarp @ 12:44 am

Well, looks like they got the talking points right…

Most of these sites reporting the news of the documentary rarely report the other side of the debate, but MSNBC doesn’t do to bad of a job. One of the many issues I have is that they will take archeology and attempt to disprove the Bible, yet when archeology actually supports biblical claims, then it is roundly ignored.

via Bible gets a reality check – Cosmic Log – msnbc.com

“The Bible’s Buried Secrets,” premiering tonight on PBS, presents archaeological findings that will annoy believers as well as skeptics – which suggests the TV documentary just might be on the right track.

At least that’s the view of William Dever, a world-renowned archaeologist who worked on the show and calls it “the first honest film that’s been made” about the first books of the Bible. For Jews, those books make up the Torah and other early scriptures, while Christians would call them the early part of the Old Testament.

The two-hour show has already stirred up a backlash among some believers. For example, the program airs archaeologists’ assertions that:

  • The Bible’s first books have been traced back to multiple authors writing over a span of centuries.
  • There’s no evidence for the actual existence of patriarchs such as the biblical Abraham.
  • Some ancient adherents of Yahweh also worshiped his “wife,” a fertility goddess named Asherah.
  • The Exodus appears to have involved just a small segment of the Jewish population rather than all Jews.
  • The Land of Canaan was not taken over by conquest – rather, the Israelites actually might have been Canaanites who migrated into the highlands and created a new identity for themselves. “Joshua really didn’t fight the Battle of Jericho,” Dever said.

Continue reading “MSNBC's take on PBS's sideshow – Bible gets a reality check”

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Nov 19 2008

Isn't PBS publicly funded? PBS to Air 'Bible's Buried Secrets'

Category: Religious News — Polycarp @ 12:31 am

Well, it’s about that season again… Anyway, I am sure they will label it the same way they did the last one…you know, that it will not change your faith. The fact is, is that every holiday season, entertainment like this is produced, and with very little evidence except conjecture.

I didn’t watch, but I am sure that it Netflix will have it soon enough.

via PBS to Air ‘Bible’s Buried Secrets’| Christianpost.com

A two-hour program set to air Tuesday night claims to have “new discoveries that shake the foundation of biblical archaeology,” echoing claims by other contested documentaries such as “The Lost Tomb of Jesus,” which aired last year on The Discovery Channel.

“The Bible’s Buried Secrets,” produced by Rhode Island-based Providence Pictures for PBS’s science series Nova, attempts to uncover who wrote the Hebrew Bible and whether it’s history or parable, delving into the origins of the Israelites to explore their gradual transformation into a monotheistic people.

Continue reading “Isn't PBS publicly funded? PBS to Air 'Bible's Buried Secrets'”

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Nov 14 2008

1,200-year-old church uncovered in Syria

Category: Religious News — Polycarp @ 8:02 am

via Washington Times – 1,200-year-old church uncovered in Syria

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (AP) – Archaeologists in central Syria have unearthed the remnants of a 1,200-year-old church believed to be the largest ever discovered in this Mideast country, an antiquities official said Thursday.

Walid al-Assaad, the head of the Palmyra Antiquities and Museums Department said the church, dating back to the 8th century, was discovered recently by a joint Syrian-Polish archaeological team.

The discovery took place at an excavation site in the ancient town of Palmyra, some 153 miles northeast of the capital Damascus, the official said but did not provide a more specific timing.

The church is the fourth to be discovered in Palmyra _ once a regional trade center and now an archaeological treasure trove that even contains oldest layers from the prehistoric era in Syria.

However, al-Assaad said the church was the biggest of its kind to be found so far _ it’s base measuring an impressive 51 by 30 yards. The church columns were estimated to be 20 feet tall, with the height of the wooden ceiling more than 49 feet. A small amphitheater was found in the church’s courtyard where the experts believe some Christian rituals were practiced.

“In the northern and southern parts of the church there are two rooms that are believed to have been used for baptisms, religious ceremonies, prayers and other rituals,” added al-Assaad.

Palmyra, said to have been founded by King Solomon, was the center of an Arab servant state to the Roman empire and thrived on the caravan trades across the desert to Mesopotamia and Persia, especially after the decline of ancient Petra in Jordan.

The city emerged to become a powerful trade center after the Romans took control of it, serving as a link between the ancient Orient and Mediterranean countries. Under Queen Zenobia, the city rebelled against Roman rule and briefly carved out an independent desert Arab kingdom before being re-conquered and razed by the Romans.

The Polish team has been working in Palmyra since 1958. It has made many significant historical discoveries.

Tags: , ,

Oct 31 2008

Is Jerusalem discovery King David's waterway?

Category: Religious News — Polycarp @ 8:37 am

via Is Jerusalem discovery King David’s waterway? – Haaretz – Israel News

The “gutter,” or water system mentioned in the Bible as the way King David’s men conquered Jerusalem may have been found. Dr. Eilat Mazar, an archaeologist excavating the City of David, the most ancient part of Jerusalem, believes it has, and is to present her findings this evening at a seminar at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The excavations, carried out under the auspices of the Hebrew University’s Institute of Archaeology, are funded by the Shalem Center and the Elad organization that also purchases buildings in the Silwan neighborhood, where the City of David is located, to populate the area with Jews.

Continue reading “Is Jerusalem discovery King David's waterway?”

Tags: , , , , , ,

Next Page »