History channel and religion: They are

[Ilsa]

pretty much dispelling any religios beliefs currently held as "Biblical" --- many of the current depictions of and myths about satan are devised by th church (usually Catholic) and people. Discussing the Inquisition and witch burnings and drownings.

A few weeks ago they covred information regarding Moses and the Pharoah and the Plagues, and how there had been a volcanic eruption that probably caused all of the plagues, inclding a gas that crept along the ground and killed the first born Egyptian males, who slept in a place of honor: a bed low to the ground, while girls and younger siblings slept much higher, and the Jewish slaves were all kept awake. Fascinating stuff. This was the first really good scientific explanation I heard of that event, and WOW! I bet the Fundies freaked ot over it.

BTW, I have trouble with my keyboard. Not all of the U and Es are making it.

[Justitia]

1. Yes, I've been really enjoying this recent programming, it's fascinating.

Some I already knew from my history studies, some is new to me, but all of it is really interesting.

I wonder if any of it is cracking open any closed minds?

[Ilsa]

2. Only if we can get the cable companies to switch

The History Channel with EWTN, that Catholic Broadcasting station, or Trinity Broadcasting. Maybe then someone will hear enough that they feel compelled to follow through. But I have my doubts.

[bklyncowgirl]

3. There's been a theory about Exodus and the volcano for many years.

The volcano on the Island of Thera erupted. It spewed ash and caused tsunamis that devestated nearby Crete. Ash from the volcano has been found in Lower (Northern) Egypt and it's possible that the tsunami may have reached the Sinai peninsula.

The theory is that before the tsunami hit, the sudden withdrawal of water from the Red Sea--actually the Sea of Reeds a swampy area in the Delta where the Suez canal is now--let the Israelites pass safely. When the Egyptian chariot troops followed, they were wiped out by the tsunami. Neither the Egyptians nor the Israelites had any idea of what hit them. The Israelites called it a miracle--wouldn't you?

One problem with this scenario is that the dates don't work. Thera probably blew around 1700-1500 BC. Moses is usually placed around 1300 BC around the time of Rameses II. There is a minority opinion that places him during the reign of Thutmose III and his stepmother Hatshepsut (around 1450 BC) A few years ago an Egyptologist interpreted an inscription of Hatshepsut's as describing the sea devouring the footsteps of some group of Asiatic nomads who'd offended the Egyptians--no mention of an Egyptian army being drowned, of course. This interpretation has been questioned and is not generally accepted. More importantly, the Thutmose III dates are a stretch for Thera.

It's lots of fun to imagine the foundation of western religion being based on primitive people's misinterpretation of a natural disaster but of course we really don't know. Maybe some day some archaeologist will find something that will clear the whole thing up.

By the way, Thera has also been proposed as the source for the story of Atlantis.

[Ilsa]

4. Thanks for the detail. I had missed the beginning of the story, but

caught the part about an underwater mineral release causing the seas to look blood red, killing the fish and creating those plagues with reptiles and vermin, whatever, and then the parting of The Red Sea.

[bklyncowgirl]

5. Yeah it's a pretty neat theory but of course like I said the dates are a stretch

By the way it doesn't preclude divine action either. If God set the natural forces into motion why wouldn't/couldn't he/she use these natural forces to accomplish her divine will.

[Left Is Write]

6. Last Friday while working out, I watched a show about Mary and the stories/myths

surrounding the question of her virginity, and it was so absorbing my workout seemed to fly by.

[Blue_In_AK]

7. I saw that one about the plagues.

It was fascinating and made so much sense.