Origins of the Judeo-Christian god and religion

Archaeology has disproven many biblical events, whether you acknowledge it or not. Not only has archaeology disproven major biblical events, it has also shown some relatively minor points inaccurate. For example, since we are really at the patriarchal period, Joseph didn't interpret any pharaoh's dream because archaeology has proven that there was no such thing as a pharaoh until Thutmosis III (c.1490). A small point but there was no such thing as a pharaoh in Joseph's time, by Bible chronology of course.Regarding major events, Joshua couldnt have attacked Jericho (uninhabited from 1560-1200), Ai (uninhabited from 2400-1200), Hazor (destroyed 1250), and Lachish (destroyed 1150).The 'nothing has disproven the Bible as history' is a lovely sound bite, and one that many fundy christian websites promote, but it is untrue. Surely this should make you suspicious about the accuracy of the 'historical' biblical events, I mean it is not as if we are talking about tiny little incidents here, some of the events would have impacted on neighbouring countries. If pharaoh's armies did die in the reed sea I find difficult to imagine no one noticing. Also, 2.5 million people staying at Kadesh-Barnea for 38 years would have left some evidence, but there is none.But, think about it, from Adam right through to Omri (which I would say is the first unambiguous contact point with known non biblical history), or even if we concede that it is David in the Tel dan stele, think about a preiod pf about 1000 years, all the people mentioned in the bible, all the incidents that were said to have occured, yet not a single person or event can be found in external records, it is a bit much to swallow.But, the Bible has been shown to be inaccurate on many occassions. No big del really when you take it in context.Brian.

where, not when.and actually, it's not. the first mention of "yehudi" is in the book of kings.

quote:

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2Ki 16:6 At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.

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i'm just saying that it was probably used differently pre-exile, and that it would almost certainly only appear after the kingdom is divided with the death of solomon (1 kings 11 or so)

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It is SO amusing when science purports to prove negatives, which is ALL you are pointing to, against its own dogma that you can't do that.

That entry in Second Kings is the same TIMING I'm talking about as I recall from having checked it out some time ago. Late in Kings about the time of the beginning of the exile, in Jeremiah, about the time of the beginning of the exile. AS I SAID.OF COURSE it is associated with the divided kingdoms. But it's interesting that it doesn't appear until LATE -- suggesting that the foreign presences of their conquerors started the practice.This message has been edited by Faith, 05-04-2006 05:59 PM

So you are saying that Joseph did address a pharaoh?

Yeah, Brian, archaeological dating doesn't impress me all that much.

no, i don't. i don't think it's an observation at all, since i haven't read anything in the texts that suggests one way or the other. i was asking a question: was yahweh one of the (multiple) other gods the fathers of the hebrews worshipped in egypt, or before the flood? i didn't dispute it. i questioned it -- because i was looking for a reference that would say one way or the other. and even this does not say "starting with the fall." it doesn't give a clear-cut beginning. see that word "question" up there? it's a question. do you think that yahweh was worshipped as part of a pantheon (however inaccurately and contrary to his wishes)? was he worshipped as an idol before formal judaism was formed? (i don't know. it's a question.) and any other religion claims the same thing. you doubt it when it comes to islam, but accept it without a second thought when it comes to christianity. that's because you believe christianity, not islam.if you did not believe in god at all, you'd look at this differently. there is little or no evidence for any of this, either way. if you could find some more, it would be nice. the first job mentioned is a son of israel. the job of the book of job may be a different person, not listed as a descendent of anyone in genesis. again, little to no evidence. can you find any?

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i'd make an argument about where the reference appears in the text in relation to jeremiah's appearance, but it would be stupid. kings was written after those events, evidently just prior to exile (with a few additions after exile). possibly, because the babylonians did conquer the kingdom of judah -- so they might have been the first to lump the two tribes there together and call them "jews." but if that's true, the appearence of "jews" in the earlier part of kings is a mysterious anachronism, and it would push the date of the book to after the exile. which i'm not sure is accurate.

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Your arguments against archaeology and history impress me evenless.But don't let small things like facts get in the way.That is all, carry on.Brian.

I don't think so. I think mostly they simply added some other gods to their worship of Yahweh.

I'm glad that it's so easy for you to dismiss decades of hard work by very intelligent and dedicated researchers.

Actually Arach, this is not true. Show me where the Koran makes such a claim. There is nothing at all in any other religion like the calling of Abraham by God.

then that's a yes. yahweh was worshipped (inaccuratly and contrary to his wishes) as part of a pantheon.all i'm looking for is if yahweh was worshipped alongside other gods.

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Just as easy as it is for you to dismiss millennia of dedicated great great men of deep faith and immense scholarship.

I already just SAID that I thought they added the worship of other gods to Yahweh. What is your problem with that way of putting it?The term "pantheon" by the way, started with the thread about Islam. There truly WAS a pantheon at Mecca, of over 300 gods. I haven't seen that such a situation is described anywhere else.This message has been edited by Faith, 05-04-2006 06:13 PM