On "Scholarly Consensus"

[LastPoet]

Very well, the most relevant would be geological evidence, I know, because some 10000 years there was a volcano nearby. Go find Igneous rock in that area, perhaps then, some merit may come from your hypothesis.

[Zone]

There is geological evidence of a large scale volcanic eruption in the Mediterranean region around this time period.

[Faith No More]

Considering the whole premise of Exodus is bullshit in the first place, you're begging the question by trying to answer what could have been interpreted as god's wrath.

[DeistPaladin]

We'd also need to establish that there was, in fact, a large Jewish slave population in Egypt or that the subsequent trek through the Sinai happened followed by the blood path to the promised land. As far as I can tell, it all seems to be as fake as the grand Davidic Empire.

[John V]

On the other hand, we need to rely on experts in our life because it's just not feasible for us to try to learn everything. We need a mechanic to tell us what's wrong with our car. We need a doctor to tell us what's wrong with our health. Generally, when there is a consensus, I tend to accept it unless I find reasons to have doubts.

Good in theory, but the problem is frequently determining the scholarly consensus. People frequently claim to have it on their side. But do they?

One problem is defining "scholar." There are a lot of really smart people, both believers and non-, with advanced degrees in Biblical studies. Are these all scholars? If so, are they being polled on every question for which scholarly consensus is claimed? I don't see such polls presented as backup for such claims.

IMO when people speak of scholarly consensus, they frequently mean consensus of people who've published books on the subject for general consumption in the last ten years or so. Is that a reasonable requirement to be considered a scholar?

[Lemonvariable72]

Most of the history in the old testament is propaganda. There no large scale slavery in egypt, and no bloody massacre in taking the holy land. The reason these things are written in the Pentateuch is because Josiah wanted to raise his people up and make sure they had a seperate identity from those around them and to make them hate the rivals nation in egypt.

[Zone]

The Egyptian Empire used to cover the whole the area so the ancestors of the Jews may have lived under Jewish rule as second class citizens but not necessarily as slaves. They may have dramatized/romanticized their status. Another interesting point is that Moses is an Egyptian name.

[LastPoet]

There is geological evidence of a large scale volcanic eruption in the Mediterranean region around this time period.

Very well, present them.

[Zone]

Very well, present them.

I have a book about it but you can use Google.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Very well, present them.

I have a book about it but you can use Google.

You've made the claim...