Religion as opium? No, ayahuasca!
4 March 2008
Good grief. I’d have to say that, after this article, I’m going to agree with the rabbi quoted at the end: “We have to fear not for the fate of the biblical Moses, but for the fate of science.” Indeed, if this is what scientists find to do with their time, then only God can save the planet after all.
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1.
Ken | 5 March 2008 at 10:01 am
I think MSNBC was trying to stoke the flames of the culture wars with this article. I think there is great profit earned from that war in the media.
BTW, a friend of mine loaned me a book that he wants me to read and discuss with him. It is by Ian Wilson and describes the speculation of some archeologists that Noah’s flood destroyed a civilization at the Black Sea that was older than Sumer. Without the connection with the Bible that is an interesting study. I think that the Bible connection was thrown in to inspire book sales.
2.
Benedict | 5 March 2008 at 9:19 pm
It is a fascinating study. Back in the day, when I was doing bronze age archaeology of pre-historic Greece, this discovery (by Robert Ballard, the noted underwater archaeologist, I do believe) was the newest and coolest discovery in the field and at the time no one had thought to connect it with the biblical flood epics. A couple of my colleagues and I thought maybe we could explore that area. I don’t think for a second that “Noah’s” flood destroyed the Black Sea communities, but it’s not at all out of the possibility that a catastrophe like this belongs to the common stock of mythic images that Noah’s belongs to. The Atlantis myth is another one that comes immediately to mind.
Ah, memories…
3.
Ken | 6 March 2008 at 12:00 am
I did not know you have done archeology. Wow. Your experiences have given you some great memories to enjoy and resources to draw from.
4.
Benedict | 6 March 2008 at 12:34 am
I think my comment was a little misleading; I haven’t actually “done” archaeology so much as interpreted archaeological analyses, evidence, data, practice, etc, historically. My MA thesis relied primarily on archaeological data for my topic (Aegean/Hittite relations in the Late Bronze Age), since there weren’t really any historical records beyond Linear B and some obscure Hittite stuff. But I picked up a lot, and the Black Sea area has been an interest of mine ever since.
5.
Ken | 6 March 2008 at 7:04 pm
That’s close enough for me! Still exciting. Still wow.