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: Yesterday at 03:12 PM

 
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 07-27-2008, 07:28 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: California
Posts: 748
Default Hector Avalos videos on archaeology and the Bible

I came across this site which has two short videos by archaeologist Hector Avalos. He basically argues that most of what is found in the Bible is not supported by archaeology. He even shows a slide quoting Dever as saying that, due to his studies in the field, he has now gone over to the minimalist camp after years of challenging that viewpoint.

http://www.thoughttheater.com/2008/0...lical_hist.php
Roland is offline  
Old 07-28-2008, 04:30 AM   #2
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 3,076
Default

WWJD4aKlondikeBar is offline  
Old 07-28-2008, 04:26 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Ames, IA
Posts: 543
Default

Hector has a B.A. in anthropology, but he's a professor of Philosophy and Religious studies, not archeology.

[btw]: He's also a well-reasoned, calm, and exemplary atheist, and takes on public controversy at Iowa State in courageous fashion.
Celine is offline  
Old 07-28-2008, 04:42 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 932
Default

He's written an article on "The End of Biblical Studies" or something to that effect in BAR (If I recall correctly). He's a frequent contributor to the "Debunking Christianity" web log.
gregor is offline  
Old 07-28-2008, 06:30 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: California
Posts: 748
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Celine View Post
Hector has a B.A. in anthropology, but he's a professor of Philosophy and Religious studies, not archeology.

[btw]: He's also a well-reasoned, calm, and exemplary atheist, and takes on public controversy at Iowa State in courageous fashion.
Thanks Celine for the info.

Hey, that cat is cute and all, but what the heck is it doing in this thread? Am I missing something?
Roland is offline  
Old 07-28-2008, 06:31 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: California
Posts: 748
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by gregor View Post
He's written an article on "The End of Biblical Studies" or something to that effect in BAR (If I recall correctly). He's a frequent contributor to the "Debunking Christianity" web log.
I just ordered his book by the same name. It looks quite interesting.
Roland is offline  
Old 07-28-2008, 06:46 PM   #7
Contributor
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Los Angeles area
Posts: 40,549
Default

The End of Biblical Studies (or via: amazon.co.uk)

Reviewed here in BAR

Quote:
The reviewer of a book should declare up front any material biases, so here is mine: I am a supporter of the Biblical Archaeology Society and believe that Biblical archaeology is both useful and fascinating. Thus, it is disconcerting to discover a book entitled The End of Biblical Studies, whose third chapter begins, “Biblical archaeology lies in ruins ...” According to author Hector Avalos, the entire field is so riddled with shoddy practices, erroneous conclusions, religious and political bias and downright forgery, that its usefulness has come to an end.
:boohoo:
Toto is offline  
Old 07-28-2008, 10:47 PM   #8
Contributor
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Falls Creek, Oz.
Posts: 11,192
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Roland View Post
I came across this site which has two short videos by archaeologist Hector Avalos. He basically argues that most of what is found in the Bible is not supported by archaeology. He even shows a slide quoting Dever as saying that, due to his studies in the field, he has now gone over to the minimalist camp after years of challenging that viewpoint.

http://www.thoughttheater.com/2008/0...lical_hist.php
Some notes on the first part of the vid:

Do We Need Biblical Scholars?

Quote:
Originally Posted by PHILIP DAVIES
Can Biblical Scholars persuade others that they conduct a legitimate academic discipline? Until they do, can they convince anyone that they have something to offer to the intellectual life of the modern world? Indeed, I think many of us have to convince ourselves first!



Biblical Archaeology

Maintains the relevance of the bible.

The position in 1900 ....

1) Most (not all) BC&H scholars considered Genesis scientific and historic
2) Archaeological historical proof existed for Exodus, Jacob, David, Solomon
3) Plenty of evidence for Jesus.

(eg: William Allbright)



The position in 2007 ...


1) Most (not all) BC&H scholars considered Genesis unscientific and non historic
2) Archaeological historical proof does not exist for Exodus, Jacob, David, Solomon
3) No trace of evidence for Jesus.


Best wishes,


Pete
mountainman is offline  
Old 07-28-2008, 11:46 PM   #9
Contributor
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 11,525
Default

How the hell is "biblical archeology" different than "plain-ol' archeology"? If you have to make up special rules just because something is found in the Bible, then you're in the domain of apologetics, not archeology.
spamandham is offline  
Old 07-29-2008, 06:55 PM   #10
Contributor
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Falls Creek, Oz.
Posts: 11,192
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by spamandham View Post
How the hell is "biblical archeology" different than "plain-ol' archeology"?

Examine the trajectory of both fields over the last 100 years. The difference as we all must know rests in the postulates of "biblical archeology" and those of "plain-ol' archeology". The former contains the unexamined postulate of a historical jesus (wrt NT studies), the latter does not.


Quote:
If you have to make up special rules just because something is found in the Bible, then you're in the domain of apologetics, not archeology.
But this has only become apparent in recent times. Whoever allowed Carbon dating citations into BC&H opened up a wedge into the certainty of the authority of handwriting analyses for their chronology.

Best wishes,


Pete
mountainman is offline  
 

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:56 AM.

Top

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