charity wrote:ludwigm wrote:charity wrote:....
This double standard is frustrating. The sites of mor than 60% of Biblical events are at present not located, ...
The 60% of the biblical sites are not located. This means 40% of them are located.
Interestingly, in the case of Book of Mormon this is 100% (not located) and 0% (located).
Yes, we can call this double standard.
Ludwig, these are important questions. The events of the Bible took place in a fairly small area, which has been continuously inhabited. The current inhabitants could point to a hill or a pill of rubble and say, "My grandaddy told me that's where X happened." The archeologist can go and stick a shovel in the dirt and come up with something. It doesn't take as much effort to start looking for Jericho in an area where Jericho was reputed to have existed. Even so, barely
more than half the sites have been identified. Why can't they find those other 40%? It would seem to be like shooting fish in a barrel.
Now take Book of Mormon archeology. There are Old World sites which have been identified as Book of Mormon sites. While not continuosly inhabited, because of the starting point (Jerusalem) and the directions given, the clues can be followed.
In the New World,
we don't have a starting point. We don't know where they landed. And it isn't a dry area as the Old World Holy Lands.
The likely area of the Lehite colonies is hot, humid, jungles. See how that makes a difference?
- more than half the sites have been identified. Why can't they find those other 40%?
In fact, I am not a bible-defender. If more than 60% of the sites are at present not located - as You wrote it before -, or more than half the sites have been identified, is all the same for me. The essence is that many site, person and event was identified by extra-biblical source. This doesn't make the flood or the Noah-in-the-whale valid, but validates a lot of biblical story as
historical. Civilisations, cultures don't exist in vacuum. They have partners, neighbours. If we read on a mesopotamian sherd about biblical kings of Israel, or in Egypt have ruled pharaohs mentioned in the Bible, then something became more clear.
OK, hitherto the nephites wasn't found. Where are their neighbours?
- The likely area of the Lehite colonies is hot, humid, jungles.
As Mohenjo-Daro in India or Great Zimbabwe in Africa. They have found and excavated.
- In the New World, we don't have a starting point. We don't know where they landed.
The starting point is the
scripture. Read it. Call the HG. Ask the prophets & seers.
Johann
Ludwig Heinrich Julius Schliemann had a scripture, the Ilias written by Homeros. He has found Troy, Mycenae and Tiryns.
- Now take Book of Mormon archeology. There are Old World sites which have been identified as Book of Mormon sites.
If I may use singular,
please name one.
- Whenever a poet or preacher, chief or wizard spouts gibberish, the human race spends centuries deciphering the message. - Umberto Eco
- To assert that the earth revolves around the sun is as erroneous as to claim that Jesus was not born of a virgin. - Cardinal Bellarmine at the trial of Galilei