Johnny Skeptic

Further, if the Ten Plagues occured, would some historical records other than the Bible probably have survived?

Gullwind

I'd say so. The destruction of an entire year's food crop plus the loss of the logistical infrastructure in the form of the domesticated animals would have seriously weakened Egypt as a power.

And one would think a neighboring nation would have noticed the Egyptians scrambling around to replace the food and animals.

Minimalist

One would think that Egypt's other vassals would have taken the opportunity to rebel. That didn't happen either.

Boro Nut

I don't think you have to bother yourself with pointing out the plain fact that the mythical plagues never occurred, as they won't believe any real hard evidence to the contrary.

But they can't avoid the embarrassment that their very own magic book states quite categorically that Osiris was perfectly capable of miraculously bringing real live snakes into existence when called upon to do so by a trained priest. It rather takes the wind out of the sails of the good ship monotheism. They clearly weren't pushing this line in Moses day, only that their god was mightier than everybody else's, as evidenced by his superior snake making skills.

Boro Nut

Roland

Ah, but you forget that all the "dead" domesticated animals seem to be miraculously resurrected (so they can be killed again) all throughout the story. Maybe the last resurrection actually "took."

:Cheeky:

Timetospend

Clearly, the plagues were aimed at showing that the LORD was more powerful than the Egyptian gods, as this comment for the tenth plague so identifies:
Ex 12:12
12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.
NRSV

I know of no identification of the snake trick with Osiris. There is also a debate as to whether the magicians did this per slight-of-hand or through real magic. In either case, the Christian holds to supernatural being possible and not only from the true God.

Thanks,

Timetospend

This one actually through me for about 10 years until the obvious dawned on me. "All" does not always mean "all," as in everything. Not to make this a Clintonesque statement, "all" can also mean (and not limited to):
-All kinds of cattle.
-Cattle located in all parts of the country.
-Cattle belonging to all classes of people.

Thanks,

Johnny Skeptic

Message to Timetospend: Let's get something straight: How destructive do you believe the Ten Plagues were to Egypt? In your opinion, would they have been the biggest news story in the world by far at that time?

Minimalist

All kinds of cattle.
-Cattle located in all parts of the country.
-Cattle belonging to all classes of people



Once again we are treated to the spectacle of the bible being the fucking inerrant word of god until it doesn't make any sense.

Then it has to be "interpreted" for us.

Gullwind

Well, the bible says "all the cattle of Egypt died." Which interpretation do you think is the right one?