Freethought & Rationalism Archive

mountainman · 11-07-2008, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patcleaver

Matt Giwer hypothesizes that the Septuagint is the original Jewish Scripture and that Hebrew versions were translated from the Septuagint. He proposes that the Septuagint was written in Greek in 200 BCE, possibly in Alexandria, and that probably nothing but oral tradition existed before then.

http://www.giwersworld.org/bible/septuagint.html

Dear Pat,

One thing that I noted in passing about Matt's summarised claims is the following. Here are his claims:

Quote:

The Septuagint in Greek is the original Old Testament and the Hebrew version is a translation of it.
You may have heard this idea before but likely not. The Old Testament itself is a problem to both archaeology and history.

This suggestion is made in an attempt to reconcile the existence of the Old Testament with these facts.

1. There was no bibleland civilization capable of creating or preserving the Old Testament until the Greek period.

2. Every story in the Old Testament is fiction. It contains no history at all.

3. The first mention of the Old Testament in ancient literature is of the Greek Septuagint.

4. The first mention of the Jews/Judeans is after the first mention of the Old Testament, i.e. the Jews appear in history after the first mention of their holy book. [url herodotus]

These facts can also describe the Koran and the Muslims, Book of Mormon and the Latter Day Saints, as well as Scientology and the Scientologists.

These following similar facts may also described the christian religion:
Below I have simply paraphrased the above:

This suggestion is made in an attempt to reconcile the existence of the New Testament with these facts.

1. There appears to be no evidence supporting the creating or preserving of the New Testament canon until the Codex (Constantinian) period (other than appealing to handwriting analysis, paleography, which cannot be accepted as a primary chronological foundation in its own right).

2. Every story in the New Testament canon is fiction. It contains no history at all.

3. The first mention of the New Testament canon in ancient literature is of the Greek "Historia Ecclesiastica" of Eusebius, sponsored by Constantine and prepared (according to all modern scholarship between the years 312 and 324 CE) --- corresponding precisely to the epoch when Constantine rose meteorically to supreme and absolute power.

4. The first mention of the christians (or the Eusebian tribe or nation of christians is after the first mention of the New Testament Canon, i.e. the Christians appear in history after the first mention of their holy book. [url Constantine and Eusebius]

Best wishes,

Pete

Toto · 11-07-2008, 03:20 PM

This is a strained analogy, and does not work to your favor. In any case, please stop hijacking threads.

mountainman · 11-18-2008, 09:22 PM

Buried Secrets of the (Hebrew) Bible.

An archaeological detective story traces the origins of the Hebrew Bible.

Quote:

Q: For those who haven't had a chance to see the film yet, tell us broadly what it's about.

Paula Apsell: "The Bible's Buried Secrets" is an archeological journey into the Hebrew Bible, more commonly known as the Old Testament. It builds on centuries of biblical scholarship and excavation to tackle some of the biggest questions in biblical studies: Where did the ancient Israelites come from? How and when did their religion transform into modern Judaism? Who wrote the Bible, when, and why? How did the ancient Israelites, who, like virtually all ancient peoples, worshiped many gods, come to believe in a single God?

The answers to these questions emerge as we look both at the archeological evidence and at the biblical text itself—the powerful accounts describing Abraham and his journey to the Promised Land; Moses and the Exodus; David's kingdom and Solomon's Temple; and the destruction of that temple and Jerusalem followed by the Exile of Jews to Babylon.

spin · 11-18-2008, 09:40 PM

:crying: :frown: :crying:

:frown:

:crying:

Vampyroteuthis · 11-18-2008, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spin

:crying: :frown: :crying:

:frown:

:crying:

What do you mean!!!????

spin · 11-18-2008, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vampyroteuthis

Quote:

Originally Posted by spin

:crying: :frown: :crying:

:frown:

:crying:

What do you mean!!!????

It's dead, Jim.

Toto · 11-19-2008, 12:00 AM

I guess I forgot to lock this thread. I will remedy that while you plan the wake.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

11-07-2008, 03:20 PM	#2
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	This is a strained analogy, and does not work to your favor. In any case, please stop hijacking threads.

11-18-2008, 09:40 PM	#4
spin Contributor Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: nowhere Posts: 15,747	:crying: :frown: :crying: :frown: :crying:

11-19-2008, 12:00 AM	#7
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	I guess I forgot to lock this thread. I will remedy that while you plan the wake.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.