Duvduv

Data or phenomena can be INTERPRETED but it can be subjective based on the observer and based on the extent of the phenomena.

For example, if a bright light crashes into the earth one person may claim it is a UFO, while someone else says it's just a meteorite. In this case it is possible to empirically prove that it was a meteorite and not a UFO when analyzing the crash site.

This is not subjective interpretation. It is simply stating the fact of what it is, not who sent it, from where, or why.

Sarpedon

Would you not say that it is wrong to "interpret" a meteorite to be a UFO?

I think your separation between interpretation and empirical evidence is entirely false and subjective. You are trying to declare that reasonable conclusions based on evidence are possible in the case of the meteorite, but not the 38 year, 1.5 million people campsite. There is no neat separation to be made between these things. We can 'prove' that a meteor is not a UFO, because there's no evidence that it is a UFO, and no one is crazy enough to argue that it is one. Similarly, there is no evidence that 1.5 million people camped in the desert for 38 years. However, someone is crazy enough to argue that 1.5 million people can camp for 38 years and not leave a single trace of their stay.

If there were a meteorite cult that believed they were spaceships, I'm sure they'd find all sorts of criticisms to make towards people who claim they are just meteorites. Cultists will say anything and believe anything.

Sheshbazzar

Bingo!

If there is a logical explanation for any phenomenon, that if contrary to the cultist's belief system, will be
unacceptable.

Logical explanations that tend to support the cultist's belief system however, are most often quite acceptable.

Just a fact of life.




.

Cheerful Charlie

Because you are utterly wrrong

Now, we know the OT, Torah Tanack et al are contradictory and inconsistant. That means they cannot be true. Since nobody was there to see the true facts and what the writers of these people knew of the facts when they wrote, all these works are interpreted by true believers. Since interpretation is a no-no, you have no right to claim anything as to the trutrh of any of these ancient works, do you like that?

No, claiming hard evidence does not count for anything because it is "interpreted" is a false and foolish claim.

Numbers 2 tells us that 600,000 men of fighting age left Egypt, some 2 1/2 million all together. But there is no trace of that at Kadesh Barnea, no middens, no hearths, no broken pottery of 2 1/2 millions. These are FACTS.

Exodus tells all these 600,000 Israeite warriors had to be lead through the wilderness to avoid the Philistines. Yet the Philistine cities are so small they could in no way support 600,000 warriors that could take on 600,000 Israelites. The idea 600,000 Israelites feared the Philistines is utter nonsense.

Wikipedia - Philistines
The Bible paints them as the Kingdom of Israel's most dangerous enemy.[2] Originating somewhere in the Aegean,[3] their population was around 25,000 in the 12th century BC, rising to a peak of 30,000 in the 11th century BC, of which the Aegean element was not more than half the total, and perhaps much less.[4]

Cheerful Charlie

Sheshbazzar

Yeah but they were BAD !!! They were so so bad that one Philistine could kick the asses of twenty Israeite warriors, and Jehovah wouldn't so much as lift a finger to help. No wonder these Israeite 'warriors' needed to hide from the Philistines.

(see, apologetics do work.)

Duvduv

For heaven's sake, why do you get so riled up and proceed to change the subject over to what you believe are contradictions in the Torah? Do you believe that no Jews for 3000 years were as literate as you, and none of the hundreds and thousands of rabbis could figure out what you think you have figured out?
The Torah didn't get born yesterday, and if you don't believe me ask the Samaritans.
There is a lot you don't know about this subject for discussion, unless you would rather just go off onto another one.

Duvduv

Where are Goliath's Philistines today, and where are the Jews today?!
I should change that because Jewish tradition teaches that Goliath's family were not originally Philistines anyway. His parents or grandparents moved to Philistia from Moab. There were originally Moabites, and his grandmother Orpah was the half-sister of Ruth the Moabite who was the great-grandmother of King David.

Duvduv

Argumentum Ad Hominem is not the way to go in a substantive discussion about anything........

Duvduv

You did not follow the thread of what I was saying at all. Too bad......I wasn't looking for an argument, only a discussion.....

Sheshbazzar

Such discussions are hardly substantive when the doors and windows are barred against the entrance of the light of rationality and logic.

Just a fact of life.