FRDB Archives

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.


Go Back   FRDB Archives > Archives > Religion (Closed) > Biblical Criticism & History
Welcome, Peter Kirby.
You last visited: Today at 03:12 PM

 
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 04-06-2007, 12:43 PM   #21
Banned
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Palm Springs, California
Posts: 10,955
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by FatherMithras View Post
Well, even though the burden of proof is on Lars, it seems that he's been roundly refuted once again.

I can't imagine the mental hoops one puts them through trying to reconcile the Bible with reality. It's so much easier, simpler, and more accurate to just admit the Bible has flaws.
Ironically they are the same hoops by which we reconcile Tacitus, Herodotus, Thucydides and any other "historian" from antiquity with reality. All have an agenda and all use fabulous elements to understand events.

As the biblical flaws, I agree. The Hebrew and Christian texts get some historical facts wrong, just like Tacitus et al do.

There is no categorical difference.
Gamera is offline  
Old 04-06-2007, 12:56 PM   #22
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Texas
Posts: 976
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by RED DAVE View Post
Uhh, dude, I've been answering your points since you began your fantasy venture in history here. I've restricted myself to your nonsense about Greek history. As an example, you still haven't produced an iota of evidence that Aristotle was Phaedo and Socrates' lover, yet you still repeat this bullshit time and again.

RED DAVE
I don't want to produce the evidence. I found the reference in a book and then matched the dating! The eclipse of 402BCE redates the PPW beginning in 403BCE. Socrates was 32 years old when the war began so must have been born in 435BCE. Phaedo was 18-19 when Socrates died. If Socrates died at 69 or 70 then it means Phaedo would have been born in 384BCE, the same year Aristotle was born. Interesting.

But a coincidence? Maybe. Well if the two knew each other one would think something would have survived to support that. For instance, did Aristotle ever mention him and if so, is there something in the context of those quotes that would confirm they were lovers? Aristotles mentions Socrates over 80 times in his works!! And guess what, you can tell by the reference that he presumed his readers knew Socrates. So Socrates was definitely a contemporary of Plato. Further it is clear Aristotle was still very much in love with Socrates.

But fare more interesting than that, if I found this in a book, it means it's a deep dark secret in some scholarly circles; somebody already knows about this or has heard the rumor they knew each other and were lovers.

Further, don't you think that Socrates, who allegedly (but didn't) was the teacher of Plato that if he personally took a lover and mentored him that he would have amounted to something? Compare that with what the substitute "Phaedo" character became compared to Aristotle!

Furthermore, Xenophon, Aristotle and Plato become prominent historical icons, but if they destroyed everybody else's work, leaving only their own preserved, that was inevitable! The only Greek historian's work that survives in toto is one: Xenophon!

The only question is, did Xenophon know any Persians and was he in any way focussed on Persian history? Answer: Yes! He wrote Cyropaedia, about the life of Cyrus.

Now, Dave, here's where being a little smart, not so smart or really smart comes in. Why are the most two prominent Greek historians, Herodotus and Xenophon, so focussed on PERSIAN HISTORY?

It's because if you have to CHANGE history, you have to publish a new version of history. You can't merely destroy the records. Since the Persians were the ones changing their history, Persian history becomes the focus.

Thus Plato, Aristotle and Xenophon became famous in later times because they manipulated history. Socrates servives because Plato and Xenophon wanted his "dialogues" preserved. But his actual history had to be chucked since he likely mentioned too many historical characters known to be related to later times.

Into this context we put "The Delian Problem" where Plato is consulted to help out with the Peloponnesian War. You see, you can't change folklore that easily and this was a popular story. They mention Plato and 431BCE in the same text and don't realize Plato wasn't born yet!!!

And yet you come here, proposing to resolve this! Did you write the encyclopeadia to tell them they have the wrong Plato?

Oh, I forgot, your EXCUSE and your own acceptance of that explanation has "refuted" everything else.

So, no, I'm not giving up all my sources and therefore I can't blame you for not accepting this as fact. But I don't need you too, it can remain a "possibility". It's only a detail I happen to know about that you'd have to investigate anyway (not the love affair but Aristotle being alive while Socrates was) once you correct the chronology.

When it comes to revisionism, the closest you get sometimes is just the suspicion and "loose ends", like the Delian Problem. But that's all you need to dismiss the history as potentially revised.

So as I said, you can't prove Aristotle and Socrates were not lovers or that Xenophon wasn't paid by the Persians to revise Greek history. You can't. You can't PROVE that Xerxes and Artaxerxes were two different kings. You can't.

I can prove they were by the Bible's reference though. Even so, if I gave you my reference for Socrates and Aristotle being lovers, you still might not accept it and claim it is unfounded like some people do with the gospels! So why should I give it to you?

It's far more tantilizing to just tell you I didn't make it up but found it in an old book I happen see in a dustry old used book store in San Pedro.

You want PROOF before you believe, do you DAVE? It doesn't work that way. There's a videotape of Socrates and Aristotle having sex but the person who has it wants too much money for it, otherwise, I'd buy it and send you caopy so you'd "believe". Oh wait, then you'd claim it wasn't real, it was fake because they didn't have video back then! SEE! I can't please you, Dave! It's impossible. :huh:

LG47
Larsguy47 is offline  
Old 04-06-2007, 01:16 PM   #23
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Texas
Posts: 976
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by RAFH View Post
Somehow, I am getting this has nothing to do with the great Greco-Parisian fashion wars of recent years. Or am I not understanding any of this?
Speaking of Parisian Wars, have you seen the recent movie hit "300"? It's about Xerxes at the beginning of his invasion of Greece. Great movie, great effects! But you can see what they thought Persian "fashion" was.

Interesting how they depict Xerxes, as someone wanting worship. But all Xerxes wanted was revenge from the Athenians for killing his father. That was his motivation. He wasn't interested in conquering the Greeks. Sparta got dragged into this because the Athenians convinced them that if they didn't help them out Persia would cause a problem for the whole region, and even though they had their own local differences, they as the racist group of Greeks that they were, certainly had the common cause to oppose the racially inferior "barbarian".

What the movie leaves out though, is that Xerxes burned king Leoidis on pyre once he was captured. It survives in some Greek pottery. The historians turned it around and depict Cyrus as burning Croesus on a pyre.

So that's a little hint. Don't overlook the "history" that comes down to us through Greek pottery and other works of art!

Or HOW SMART ARE YOU?

Look at this DARIC:



Notice how Darius is running on this coin, the position of the legs.

Now notice Artemis depicted on her temple at Corfu:



Artemis temple, Corfu

Notice the running stance.

Notice also this is MEDUSA. In Greek times, the Persians were not known as the "Persians" as much as they were called "the MEDE."

No connect MEDE with MEDUSA. Compare the representation.

Are they connected?

No? Just a coincidence?

And you see that figure sitting down on the left? A king on a throne? Don't you think it resembles Darius sitting on his throne? See how both figures are holding up a staff? Is this a depiction of DARIUS? and MEDUSA a symbol of the evil of the MEDES? Is this temple commorating the Greek pride in the fact that they killed the great king of Persia, Darius? In fact, beheaded him? That's the story of MEDUSA, you know, how Pericles beheads Medusa. Coincidence? or Connection?




So you see, some things are not apparent unless you can see them from square #9. But some people don't let themselves get past square #5.

Dave, you're going to need more blinders, obviously.



LG47
Larsguy47 is offline  
Old 04-06-2007, 01:16 PM   #24
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 3,283
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Larsguy47 View Post
But fare more interesting than that, if I found this in a book, it means it's a deep dark secret in some scholarly circles; somebody already knows about this or has heard the rumor they knew each other and were lovers.
This would be the book you're afraid to reveal the title of, lest the Men in Black swoop in to cover up the evidence? Yeah, 'some thing wot I read in a book' isn't evidence until you can produce the book and you can demonstrate that what's in the book is valid. I can find you dozens of books that insist that all human society has its roots in Atlantis and they even have photographs showing where the lost continent was. So, are you ready to embrace Atlanticism yet?
Quote:
Now, Dave, here's where being a little smart, not so smart or really smart comes in. Why are the most two prominent Greek historians, Herodotus and Xenophon, so focussed on PERSIAN HISTORY?
Check your history books and try to recall what major events were going on at the time they were writing. Now try and think if these current events might, just might have prompted writers to focus on Persia.
Quote:
It's because if you have to CHANGE history, you have to publish a new version of history. You can't merely destroy the records. Since the Persians were the ones changing their history, Persian history becomes the focus.
I think you're confusing 1984 with fact.
Quote:
Into this context we put "The Delian Problem" where Plato is consulted to help out with the Peloponnesian War. You see, you can't change folklore that easily and this was a popular story. They mention Plato and 431BCE in the same text and don't realize Plato wasn't born yet!!!
How many times must we point out that the source you're relying on here isn't trustworthy?
Quote:
Even so, if I gave you my reference for Socrates and Aristotle being lovers, you still might not accept it and claim it is unfounded like some people do with the gospels! So why should I give it to you?
Speculation of adverse consequences for providing the evidence is no excuse for not providing the evidence. I claim that you have no evidence and are just making shit up. Feel free to prove me all the other naysayers wrong by providing this book of yours. We still may not agree with your conclusion but at least we'll know you weren't lying about having a book.
Weltall is offline  
Old 04-06-2007, 01:25 PM   #25
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,890
Default

Can anyone else tell this is the work of (at best) a recent high school graduate? I mean honestly, when someone doesn't even understand the burden of proof, how can you argue with them? Especially when they keep bringing up refuted talking points... My favorite bit.

Quote:
So as I said, you can't prove Aristotle and Socrates were not lovers or that Xenophon wasn't paid by the Persians to revise Greek history. You can't. You can't PROVE that Xerxes and Artaxerxes were two different kings. You can't.
Which is why you have to accept that Jesus and Peter were gay lovers. If not why would Peter be "the rock"? Clearly, Jesus was referring to gay sex, since the Church is the Bride, and will be on his "rock". You can't prove this isn't true.
FatherMithras is offline  
Old 04-06-2007, 01:42 PM   #26
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Washington, DC (formerly Denmark)
Posts: 3,789
Default

[MOD]
Remember to attack the argument and not the poster. Ad Hominem attacks are not allowed whereas attacks on the substance of the posts are encouraged. Make sure to read your posts before you submit them and make certain that they impugn the writing of a poster and not the person behind them regardless of how you may feel.

Julian
Moderator BC&H
[/MOD]
Julian is offline  
Old 04-06-2007, 02:12 PM   #27
Regular Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 363
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Larsguy47 View Post
Chapter Four: Phase II Revisions:
All was well, until Thucydides wrote his history of the Peloponnesian War and linked certain Persian events with that war. Case in point the death of Artaxerxes in year 8 of the war after a 41-year rule. This, of course, exposed that Xerxes and Artaxerxes were the same king since both would have begun ruling at the same time. The problem was Artaxerxes claiming his full 41 years of rule and still claiming Xerxes ruled for 21 years before him.
Thucydides, Book IV:

Quote:
(50) During the ensuing winter Aristides the son of Archippus, one of the commanders of the Athenian vessels which collected tribute from the allies, captured, at Eion upon the Strymon, Artaphernes a Persian, who was on his way from the King to Sparta. He was brought to Athens, and the Athenians had the despatches which he was carrying and which were written in the Assyrian character translated, and read them; there were many matters contained in them, but the chief point was a remonstrance addressed to the Lacedaemonians by the King, who said that he could not understand what they wanted; for, although many envoys had come to him, no two of them agreed. If they meant to make themselves intelligible, he desired them to send to him another embassy with the Persian envoy. Shortly afterwards the Athenians sent Artaphernes in a trireme to Ephesus, and with him an embassy of their own, but they found that Artaxerxes the son of Xerxes had recently died; for the embassy arrived just at that time. Whereupon they returned home.

(51) During the same winter the Chians dismantled their new walls by order of the Athenians, who suspected that they meant to rebel, not however without obtaining from the Athenians such pledges and assurances as they could, that no violent change should be made in their condition. So the winter came to an end; and with it the seventh year in the Peloponnesian War of which Thucydides wrote the history.
1. That 7th year (ending in the spring) equates to 425-424 BCE, a standard year of death, given for Artaxerxes (reigned: 465 - 424 BCE).

2. Your source calls him the son of Xerxes.

Book I:

Quote:
(14) But a little before the Persian War and the death of Darius, who succeeded Cambyses, the Sicilian tyrants and the Corcyraeans had them in considerable numbers. No other maritime powers of any consequence arose in Hellas before the expedition of Xerxes.
Quote:
(16) Some time afterwards, Darius, strong in the possession of the Phoenician fleet, conquered the islands also.
Quote:
(104) Meanwhile Inaros the son of Psammetichus, king of the Libyans who border on Egypt, had induced the greater part of Egypt to revolt from King Artaxerxes.
Quote:
(118) Fifty years elapsed between the retreat of Xerxes and the beginning of the war; during these years took place all those operations of the Hellenes against one another and against the Barbarian which I have been describing.
Quote:
(129) Xerxes was pleased, and sent Artabazus the son of Pharnaces to the sea, commanding him to assume the government of the satrapy of Dascylium in the room of Megabates.
Quote:
(137) He then went up the country in the company of one of the Persians who dwelt on the coast, and sent a letter to Artaxerxes the son Xerxes, who had just succeeded to the throne.
4. "Fifty years elapsed between the retreat of Xerxes and the beginning of the war". Thucydides' year one, of the war, is said to be 431 BCE. The year given for Xerxes retreat, is 480 BCE, so 50 years, fits just fine.

Darius I the Great (522-486)
Xerxes I (486-465)
Artaxerxes I Makrocheir (465-424)

What's the problem?


Peace
3DJay is offline  
Old 04-06-2007, 03:07 PM   #28
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Eastern U.S.
Posts: 4,157
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Julian View Post
Aha, but that's where you are wrong! On one hand we have the parisian standards and on the other the aforementioned pogoniasis of the pogomaniacal Darius.

Imagine my pilary horripilation when realizing the depilous floccinaucinihilipilification of your comment.

I can't believe I just typed I sentence I couldn't possibly pronounce. I dare anyone to try...

Julian
floc·ci·nau·ci·ni·hil·i·pil·i·fi·ca·tio n

Rare. the estimation of something as valueless (encountered mainly as an example of one of the longest words in the English language).

"floccinaucinihilipilification." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 06 Apr. 2007. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/floccinaucinihilipilification>.

:notworthy:

v/r
NinJay
-Jay- is offline  
Old 04-06-2007, 03:48 PM   #29
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 3,283
Default

That was a real word?!
Weltall is offline  
Old 04-06-2007, 05:21 PM   #30
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Eastern U.S.
Posts: 4,157
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Weltall View Post
That was a real word?!
You betcha. If nothing else, this place is great for vocabulary building!

v/r

NinJay
-Jay- is offline  
 

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:49 PM.

Top

This custom BB emulates vBulletin® Version 3.8.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2015, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.