spamandham

Genesis does not say how old the earth is, nor does it say how long speech has been around, nor can the age of the earth be inferred to be 6000 years from Genesis.

Which cult have you been brainwashed by?

IamJoseph

I'm not kidding [I'm Joseph]. There is not a single theological document which says the Creator is indefinable and unlike anything within creation [the universe], and singular ['ONE']. The 2nd commandment is the most copious one, allowing no room for any confusion here - hated by all who saw it as an affront to their cultures and religions. Please point us to another, as you claim, then say I'm kidding? This was unique in ancient history, and the reason for a host of wars; it is also not seen in any European documents, including the Greek, Roman or Christianity; nor in Asia or the American natives.

It has rendered Israel and Judaism with such a disdain, that it signifies only an unwelcomed truth potential, while every one forgets they actually uphold Monotheism with no alternatives. In fact none believe in Polytheism - this is only a process of interims which give a comfort zone, and eventually lead only to ONE.

IamJoseph

Genesis does not say the age of the universe or the earth. It does say speech began with Adam and Eve some 6000 years ago, which also alligns with the Genesis calendar - this begins with Adam's birth, and is thus separated from the cosmic creational days. The blessing referred to humans in chapter 1 refers only to speech - humans have no other traits which renders them the dominant life form.

You have to imagine if man had no speech, as opposed to possessing a trait in the ratio of 1: all other trillions of life forms. speech is the most mysterious phenomenon in the known universe. There is reason to even believe this phenomenon to be a pre-uni factor, because none possess it despite being far older than humans. Genesis uses the term of 'SAID' [speech] to be the instrument which brought forth the universe - when no tools and elements existed; speech is a container of a thought and will. A wise man said:

'ALL MY POWER IS IN MY MOUTH' [King Solomon].

spamandham

This is a far cry from your earlier claim. Goalposts are not meant to be moved.

"I am the Lord your God..."

It does not say "I am the only God..."

There is no confusion. The ancient tribal cult your cult has has as its heritage obviously accepted that each nation had it's own national god.

Anat

Which Finkelstein, and what reference do you have for your claim? Archaeology supports the presence of anatomically modern humans for over two hundred thousand years. They made complex tools, traded, created art, buried their dead. They also had the skeletal structural capacity for speech. If you want we can have a more detailed discussion in the evolution forum.

However Finkelstein author of The Bible Unearthed specializes in the archaeology of Palestine from the Bronze Age to the Persian period, well after the evolution of human speech.

Sheshbazzar

Perhaps Joe heard it from his close neighbor, Dick Finkelstein who lives in downstairs in Apt.3-A .

IamJoseph

You'd fail if this was a comprehension test to pass to the next level. 'No other Gods' = the objective view, namely 'YOU' - the people - should not believe this, as was commonplace belief with all nations before this advocation. It is also alligned with the totality of the narratives and laws. :wave:

IamJoseph

What F'stein believes is irrelevent from what he agrees is the most difficult obstacle presented by speech and ToE adaptation. I have read his discouse on a discussion.

Skeletal structures have no bearing on speech - almost all life forms possess this. Give me a 'name' which is 6001 years - then discuss 200K years of archeology. Recalling a name is easier than finding a 1000 burial sites and C14 datings of retrovirus - its also what speech endowed humans do most.

spamandham

No. My interpretation is correct, unless the Hebrew god was given credit for bringing all of mankind out of slavery from Egypt (including the Egyptians).

If you give me any more reading comprehension lessons, I fear I'll lose 10 IQ points.

Minimalist

There are problems with the Merneptah stele, as well. It actually uses the word "Ysrir" which Flinders-Petrie decided meant Israel in 1896 without a single instance of the word being used in any other Egyptian inscription. In short, to his ear it "sounded like" Israel but we have no idea what the ancient Egyptians called these people if they called them anything at all.

For a modern example there is a large country in Central Europe which the French call Allemagne. We in the US call it Germany. The people who live there call it Deutschland. What will scholars 3,000 years from now make of this apparent confusion?