People in bible never existed according to head of Theology at a university in UK!

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I just didn't expect to get this information from a professor of theology!

Just because she is a professor it doesn't mean she is a Christian, it's more like she wanted to do this for a job and doesn't care about the truth. I've seen many theological professors that do not accept what the Bible teaches and/or the truths of scripture. For many of them it's just a job and why they do it I have no idea, you would think they would find something they believe in. Guess it's more like a philosophy to them, who knows, what matters is what you know to be real and the truth, don't get upset because some people want to make a name for themselves instead of searching for the truth.

GC

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Not exactly, GC.  Aren Meir issued a correction that the sherd inscription was a name 'etymologically close to Goliath', which is hardly the same thing at all. It is sort of like finding a 12th century parchment in England containing the name 'Robert Wood' and calling it support for the Robin Hood legends.

Boru

We'll see where this leads, Gath is even referred to by the ancient Egyptian writings so there was no doubt it existed and two sherds  have inscriptions on them with names similar to Goliath.

GC

I don't doubt the existence of Gath. I also don't doubt the existence of Nottingham. Until better evidence is in, you'll excuse me for not accepting the tales about giant warriors or merry men in Lincoln green. 

Boru

[possibletarian]

I never got why Christians upon learning some place existed think that all the supernatural claims/the biblical account therefore must be true.

I don't do the same with Harry Potter every time a real place is mentioned.

[Minimalist]

Well, as a long time Christian, I am having that exact feeling from this news!

It is not "news" to us.  Shitheads like G-C being the obvious exception.  He would just die without his fucking fairy tales.

[Alexmahone]

People in bible never existed according to head of Theology at a university in UK!

So you're saying Adam and Eve never existed? Noah never existed? Lazarus never existed? Jonah never existed? Goliath never existed? Moses never existed? ...

NO WAY!

[vorlon13]

I never got why Christians upon learning some place existed think that all the supernatural claims/the biblical account therefore must be true.

I don't do the same with Harry Potter every time a real place is mentioned.

I've wondered that too. One jot or tittle gets endorsed and every other bloody bit is deemed true beyond a reasonable doubt, right down to the shoe polish Sister Agnes used on her clogs as being ESPECIALLY blessed.

[Minimalist]

No jesus, either!

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I never got why Christians upon learning some place existed think that all the supernatural claims/the biblical account therefore must be true.

I don't do the same with Harry Potter every time a real place is mentioned.

A lot of them are assholes.  That could explain it.

[Fireball]

I just didn't expect to get this information from a professor of theology!

Just because she is a professor it doesn't mean she is a Christian, it's more like she wanted to do this for a job and doesn't care about the truth. I've seen many theological professors that do not accept what the Bible teaches and/or the truths of scripture. For many of them it's just a job and why they do it I have no idea, you would think they would find something they believe in. Guess it's more like a philosophy to them, who knows, what matters is what you know to be real and the truth, don't get upset because some people want to make a name for themselves instead of searching for the truth.

GC

---

Not exactly, GC.  Aren Meir issued a correction that the sherd inscription was a name 'etymologically close to Goliath', which is hardly the same thing at all. It is sort of like finding a 12th century parchment in England containing the name 'Robert Wood' and calling it support for the Robin Hood legends.

Boru

We'll see where this leads, Gath is even referred to by the ancient Egyptian writings so there was no doubt it existed and two sherds  have inscriptions on them with names similar to Goliath.

GC

Bolding mine. My experience with the search for truth leans more towards this kind of lie being a Lie for Christ™. I hope that before you die, you have a chance to repent.

[Minimalist]

I hope that before he dies he wakes up and realizes what a scam he has fallen for his whole life!

[GrandizerII]

OP, when are you going to end up joining the dark side? Current available slots are limited, and it may be too late to join two weeks from now.

[DLJ]

You know those super-nervous moments sometimes when on one of those roller coaster rides?

Well, as a long time Christian, I am having that exact feeling from this news!

I've been thinking about this new information for a week now!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xVBldyy_Oo

That feeling is called 'cognitive dissonance'.  It's 'cognitive' because it's happening at your rational-processing level (thoughts) and 'dissonance' because there's alarm bells going off.  The alarm bell part is biological - whether on a roller-coaster or sensing movement (predator or prey) in the darkness or if you feel someone is lying to you etc.

I get it when I hear a philosophical position that challenges my own theories or when someone says, "I'm going to tell you something but don't tell anyone else." Alarm bells are ringing.

It's natural, it's uncomfortable and it's an extremely useful evolved feature.

...
Francesca is confusing me.
She says she loves the bible, and yet she talks about the people being made up, including some of the authors!

I love it too.  And other mythologies ... Norse, Roman, Greek, Thai ... and of course the best of all... The Silmarillion.

The feeling of awe that was described in the video (when standing in Jerusalem) would be the same for a Malaysian, life-long Spiderman fan who finally gets to visit New York.

But what makes the Tanakh and the Quran special, in my view, are the laws.  These were very early versions of best practice frameworks and standards.

I make my living teaching the modern version of those.  So, what's not to love?