Donkeykong

Many christians are now making a lot of claims along the lines of the above quote. Is this in fact true.

Diogenes the Cynic

No, not really. It's actually just the opposite. Current Middle Eastern archaeology pretty well refutes quite a lot of it. Obligatory Bible Unearthed link.

It's hard to address specific claims without knowing what they are but some of the most likely examples would be the Tel Dan inscription, the now discredited James Ossuary and the alleged cave of John the Baptist.

The first of these items is disputed, the second a proven forgery and the third doesn't really confirm anything in the Bible except (maybe) the existence of John the Baptist which was never really disputed anyway (Josephus mentions him).

Peter Kirby

It's a half-truth. In the past fifty years, we have uncovered physical evidence of both Pontius Pilate and Caiaphas the high priest, not to mention the finds that impinge upon the Hebrew Bible. It takes a leap of faith to go from that to the trial and crucifixion, let alone resurrection, of Jesus. The paranormal claims of the Bible, and much of its central cast, are not supported by archaeology at this time.

regards,
Peter Kirby

Chris Weimer

It's not proving any "aspect" of the Bible. And Peter, neither Pontius Pilate nor Caiaphas were ever seriously thought to be myth, since Josephus attests to them both, does he not?

Peter Kirby

They're in the Bible, and have been confirmed now by archaeology. I believe they've also confirmed the existence of snakes and doves in the first century, which coheres with an aphorism, 'Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.' The barrier to confirmation of some implication of some part of the Bible (if that's all that's meant by "aspect") is quite low.

regards,
Peter Kirby

fromdownunder

Many aspects of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" have been proven. There is such a place as New York. There is such a place as Argentina. There is such a place as Tiffanys. And there are prostitutes.

Should I therefore assume that the rest is true, and look for Holly Golightly?

I don't think so.

Norm

Diogenes the Cynic

Exactly. The existence of quite a few place names has been confirmed, as well as the existence of some of the later kings of Judea (not to mention some obvious characters like Augustus Caesar), but with the possible exceptions of David and Jesus, pretty much none of the major players have been confirmed (some are demonstrable myths) and it goes without saying that none of the supernatural claims in the Bible have remotely been confirmed.

Essentially, the same kind of archaeological "evidence" can be amassed in favor of Homer or Gilgamesh.

NZSkep

Yep, I believe that Troy has actually been found. therefore Achilles was the son of a god and Odysyus did kill a giant cyclops and sail past the sirens. Therefore ancient greek gods exist.
Man this proving stuff is easy.

sismofyt

there's actually more solid evidence for gilgamesh as it's been found that the city of erech have been heavily modified just in the time period when he was supposed to have lived some 5000 years ago

he totally pwns jebus anyway