God Yahweh Allah was a volcano.

[Minimalist]

HOW COME IT'S OK FOR YOU TO MAKE UNFOUNDED STATEMENTS

What is "unfounded?" That it is regarded as literature by many Egyptologists?
Several such statements are made in the Wiki article which YOU posted yourself.

YOU SEEM EQUALLY HIGHLY MOTIVATED IN A PERSONAL WAY. I AM HIGHLY MOTIVATED TO SEEK OUT THE TRUTH.

Bullshit. All you want to do is cherry-pick from the fucking bible and support your original claim. I do have nothing better to do at the moment that point out that the bible is not a useful source of historical events.

NOW YOU'RE CALLING ME A CONMAN? GOOD GRIEF!

Only because I'm still in the "polite" phase.

[Hannah]

I'm just trying to establish whether or not there were natural disasters that could match the Exodus vein of truth and could explain the arrival of and unshakeable faith in Yahweh. You have such an obvious problem with that because it threatens your long held beliefs and you clearly care more about those than you do about assessing all possibilities. If the truth was your priority then you would not be so blatantly objectionable. The same can be said of several people in this thread. There has not been one bit of assistance and absolutely zero enthusiasm. The truth is, you hate the idea.

[Minimalist]

The idea is stupid.

You know there have been plenty of tech-savvy xtians who have set out to recreate these miracles on a scientific basis. Really, one asshole used a giant leaf blower to show that wind could move water! Another set up a propane BBQ under an acacia tree to show that a bush could burn and not be consumed.....( it look consumed as all hell to me!)

All of them come up hard against the 10th plague because there is no scientific way to demonstrate a plague with that degree of specificity. They miss the point, which a lot of fundies would make to them. This is not about "science." You either believe that the sky-daddy did this shit or not.
Trying to come up with a scientific mechanism for miracles degrades science and miracles...although miracles deserve it.

No matter how many times you are told when Santorini erupted. No matter how many times you are told that Egypt escaped the most serious effects. No matter how many times you are told that there were no Hebrews anywhere in the 17th century BCE. No matter how many times you are told that we can trace, archaeologically, the formation of these people to c 1200 BC in the highlands of Canaan, you just cling to that stupid ass bible and say...BUT LOOK....THIS IS WHAT THEY SAY.

You got ripped a new asshole over at AF.com for this nonsense, too. With good reason.

[Hannah]

No matter how many times you are told when Santorini erupted. No matter how many times you are told that Egypt escaped the most serious effects. No matter how many times you are told that there were no Hebrews anywhere in the 17th century BCE. No matter how many times you are told that we can trace, archaeologically, the formation of these people to c 1200 BC in the highlands of Canaan, you just cling to that stupid ass bible and say...BUT LOOK....THIS IS WHAT THEY SAY.

Gosh, so you have all the answers? Wow....you know everything with absolute certainly. Phew!

I've posted a poem written by an Egyptian that could have been written in the middle of the second century BC that portrays absolute chaos, natural disasters, darkness, rain, starvation and servitude causing trouble and stealing and you just dismiss it? Ancient history is assessed differently to modern history. Any scraps of information are included in the assessment because beggers cannot be choosers.

Can you please provide evidence that Egypt was not affected much by Santorini? Bare in mind it would need to be more convincing than the poem.

You know my thoughts on the existance of the Hebrews prior to Exodus. They weren't called Habrews but Habiru. So please stop going on about how I'm ignoring people who say there's no evidence of them. I don't care what you think. I think they were Habiru and have posted an article that explains why, written by a Jew.

You can prove the Hebrews were formed in 1200BCin Canaan?

I don't go by what other people say. That is why I am neither a Christian nor an atheist who believes the Bible is entirely fabricated. How many people do you know who think as I do? Who's telling me what to think?

---

Been wrong all the time about what??? Seriously, if you can tell me I've been wrong all the time after reading that poem then.....

...you must expect more than creative writing as proof.

Yes, I know but it's enough to warrant further investigation. It's a good indication.

Thanks! I used a ':' instead of a '=' I think.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Only because I'm still in the "polite" phase.

Min I don't think she she believed you.That was silly

I'm almost convinced Hannah is a troll.Argument from incredulity I know,but I find it hard to believe anyone outside of formal care could possibly be as stupid or willfully ignorant as Hanhah seems to be.

That we are still arguing with her after 36 pages indicates she is very skilled at pushing our buttons and reinforces my perception.

Bored now, can't be bothered with her any longer.

[Hannah]

Is the 'New Scientist' an acceptable non-Christian source for you? They use historical, archaeological and bibilical records though. Willfully stupid idiots should be locked up in mental institutions!

Bible's Foundations Shaken....

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=8-EEA...CCgQ6AEwAg#

Little by little.....

[thesummerqueen]

Hannah -

You were sitting thinking in church and had a sudden thought and it made you doubt. That's to your credit - you should ask questions. However, instead of taking that question and parsing it out and doing as much research as possible and keeping an absolutely open mind, you did JUST ENOUGH research to validate your hypothesis (in your mind) and you're now excluding any other information. A Christian friend of mine calls this "The Sin of a Little Knowledge." You know just enough to be slightly dangerous.

It's not enough to find pieces of data that seem to fit what you're thinking - you have to lay that data out on a time line and come up with an acceptable conclusion that bears up under the scrutiny of your peers and your betters - something you seem to have a problem with. You don't trust expert opinion on the assumption that people can't change their ideas. You think you're so much better than most of humanity that it was easier for you to do this than anyone else?

I'm not against you delving into the psychology behind people coming up with the idea of a god. This sort of thing interests me too. However, I don't think you've displayed a deep enough knowledge about religion itself to be able to branch out into other areas looking for corroborating evidence. You've done this, but it feels scattered - not a tight hypothesis at all. Which is also fine - you're seeking knowledge but you become hostile when people correct you (even gently) because you're proud that you came up with something different from what all of the people at your church believed and it seems to me you don't want that taken away from you. It's okay. Really. You've said this is a work-in-progress, but you refuse any sort of help when it's actually offered simply because we're putting the wrong colored balls in your ball pit.

I hope you eventually make peace with whatever you find. Religion is far more interesting than relegating Yahweh to a volcano. Also, while I've been trying to skim through everything and catch all the points made, it's quite frankly been an extremely rough weekend on top of a rough week for me, so forgive me if someone's already suggested this: you should contact Dr. Bob Price. He's on Facebook under Robert M Price. He's written several books on Jesus, but his knowledge of theology and religion is breath-taking. He'll be able to give you some insights, and he's a very open and easy to reach man. He does a podcast as well where he answers questions from listeners. He's kind, and quite funny, and also an expert on HP Lovecraft, in case that sort of thing interests you. I can't recommend a better person for you to talk to about all your questions concerning the Judeo-Christian traditions. If he can't answer your questions, he can certainly put you in touch with people who can or give you reading suggestions. If you're open to learning and keeping your hypotheses flexible, of course.

[Hannah]

Thanks for the first bit of contructive assistance so far. The 'advice' I have received in this thread has not been constructive but incredibly hostile. How many people have said, 'Ok, that looks interesting. Is there anything we can do to help with your research?' Not one. It's taken nearly forty pages for someone to give some real help. I started off with no evidence other than a hunch based on my own experience. Now it seems I'm opening up a whole new possibility. I've presented some good evidence (for ancient history anyway!) and am sure I'll find more. It's sad that not one person has shown any enthusiam for anything I've found out. You're saying I refuse to listen to everyone else's opinions but how many of you have been remotely interested in mine? This thread was not about everyone else's theories. You've all mocked me and I don't believe any of you have wanted me to find anything to back up my theory. And that is very very sad.

[Gawdzilla]

Thanks for the first bit of contructive assistance so far. The 'advice' I have received in this thread has not been constructive but incredibly hostile. How many people have said, 'Ok, that looks interesting. Is there anything we can do to help with your research?' Not one. It's taken nearly forty pages for someone to give some real help. I started off with no evidence other than a hunch based on my own experience. Now it seems I'm opening up a whole new possibility. I've presented some good evidence (for ancient history anyway!) and am sure I'll find more. It's sad that not one person has shown any enthusiam for anything I've found out. You're saying I refuse to listen to everyone else's opinions but how many of you have been remotely interested in mine? This thread was not about everyone else's theories. You've all mocked me and I don't believe any of you have wanted me to find anything to back up my theory. And that is very very sad.

You started with your conclusion and you're working backwards. Ta Da!

[Shell B]

The 'advice' I have received in this thread has not been constructive but incredibly hostile.

You have copped a petulant attitude with most of the people in this thread. Are you really surprised that your bitchiness is met with hostility, though I refute that claim?

How many people have said, 'Ok, that looks interesting.

Actually, one of your rep points is from Void. He said that very thing.

Is there anything we can do to help with your research?

Hannah, this isn't a research farm. If you are here to get people to help with your pet theory, that is bullshit. Do you have any idea how much research I have to do in one day? Why the hell would I help you with yours? You made the claim. You are expected to back it up. I am starting to get the feeling you came here in the hopes that all would agree with you and come up with everything you need so you can be lazy. I'm actually pretty put off by your sense of entitlement. We are not here to do your work for you.

It's sad that not one person has shown any enthusiam for anything I've found out.

You have given us a toilet load of conjecture. Are you surprised?

You're saying I refuse to listen to everyone else's opinions

That is absolute fact. You are not here to listen to opposing opinions. You get unbelievably upset at the slightest opposition. It is starting to get annoying. Half of this thread is complaints from you about your "unfair" treatment.

but how many of you have been remotely interested in mine?

They have all been interested enough to talk to you about it.

This thread was not about everyone else's theories.

Your point? No one has set forth any theories. They have refuted yours.

You've all mocked me

Actually, that is incorrect. This is semantics, but mockery is quite different than opposition.

and I don't believe any of you have wanted me to find anything to back up my theory. And that is very very sad.

We would love for you to find something. I would love for you to stop being so emotionally involved in the very first thread you came into. You have barely touched the rest of the forum and have managed to concoct offense every time someone posts anything. It is absolutely no wonder that people are taking tones with you. In a scholarly environment, you would be ignored solely on the basis of your attitude. No one wants to work with someone who is so dead set on being heard that she doesn't bother to listen. If I were doing a research project with you, I would quit. If you were doing research for me, I would fire you. I'm sorry, but that is the truth. You have to look at all perspectives and be objective when researching history.