Posted by Bibleman [Bibleman] on October 26, 1999 at 01:49:27 {c/rgKhj4NcMSSTtTA17sslyACFuF8c}:
In Reply to: *****************FOR AL: CHRONOLOGY CONT'D posted by Al; on October 25, 1999 at 20:57:32:
Hello Al,
Wow! I truly enjoyed your response. Thanks.
But this is getting long and unweildly and I think about to drop off the edge of the earth here.
But I think we can take a breather and see where we are (or at least I think I can see where you are).
1) That you're more interested in Genesis dating and creation and all that than the 80-ish year descrepancy of the Neo-Babylonian period. I think we were talking about two different things. I don't think you have any problems with astrochronology for a specific period of time, but just the scientific methods of dating things in the distant past. So that's one topic if you wish to have fun to discuss. Creation and prehistoric dating.
2) I hear you keep bringing up the "Word of God" and that's not my term. I specifically stated I would allow the Bible to stand or fall on its own merits. Which meant that I was treating it in this context as just another ancient historical record, to be examined and compared as any other.
And on that basis, not as an inspired work, the Bible as a purely historical document it fared well and has confirmed absolute dating for critical events. And you only need one really good ancient date to which you can establish all the other relative dating. All Biblical chronology from Creation until our day is linked. So that's another topic, though I don't think that was primarily your point or you had issue with. Basically, the current dating methods seem to confirm the general dating for these periods. So there is no real issue here. So we'll call this topic, Neo-Babylonian and Biblical dating.
3) You seem to take a moral issue over Biblical interpretation and dogmatism. Which is okay. But that's another topic as well. This gets into the "inspired writings" field when it deals with prophecy and interpretation, etc. But that is also another category.
So those are the tree separate topics we have touched on and which I consider fairly unrelated. You seem most interested in the Genesis 1:1 issues which interests me that you're so focussed on that. So I'll go along with you and soundboard on these issues as a hardnosed, die-hard Biblical fundamentalist if you wish. That topic wouldn't need to involve the Neo-Babylonian dating issues or prophecy or anything else. That's it's own topic, which I think is really what you want to talk about? If I'm not mistaken. If so. Great, let's pick something specific and go from there.
Perhaps I should find out what your basic beliefs are so we can find some common ground:
1) The Days of Creation. How do you see them? How long? I date them at 7000 years each, for instance. We can start there.
2) Dating methods. I can reflect on them based upon my "lay" position. It won't affect much since I think probably we're not in a position to really conclude absolutely anything that far in the ancient past. But I'm sure it will be interesting and I'll learn something. In fact, I already have.
But I'm very curious, as a person who believes in God, how you are rectifying some of these issues, obviously the Global Flood and prehistoric man prior to Adam. You did make one comment on perhaps the Bible being an adaptation of Sumerian legend. I do have some comments on that. But basically, that there was no need to adapt from the Sumerians if there was a common experience. I believe the Jews got their "legends" from Noah and if they are similar to the Sumerians, it is because the Sumerians got their legends from the same place as well. So that might be interesting.
Now, forgive me for summarizing, but I know we don't have 100 hours a day to have these "fun" discussions ("Are we having fun, yet?" :>)
If, however, there is a specific point you wish me to address that you want me to specifically address, then repeat it and I'll do so. I've commented on radiocarbon dating elsewhere.
And let's take this to the top of the page, huh?
And let's focus on what you want to discuss which I think is Genesis and prehistoric dating. I'd love to explore this to see where this comes out from the Biblical standpoint and my beliefs.
Basically, though, the other topics as far as dating is concerned are not that controversial as far as these scientific methods. As I said, there is only about an 50-80 year discrepancy in any records and that's not substantial in the overall picture when you're dealing with 3000 to 4000 years of written history.
Thanks for the webpage though (though mine originally). Great summary! So I'll be reviewing it.
So, beyond a request fresh, unqualified re-dismissal by me of anything pseudo-scientific that dates man older than 6000 years. I think we're at a concensus here.
So if you want to discuss something further, just make a specific request (or I will for you?) at the top of the page. If you have a webpage with your beliefs about your adjustments to the chronology of Bible vs science I'd love to read through that and then perhaps ask questions or make comments.
See you at the top!
Cheers,
Bibleman