Winds could explain Biblical parting of the Red Sea

[Newsjock]

Source: BBC News

The parting of the Red Sea, as described in the Bible, could have been a phenomenon caused by strong winds, according to new computer simulations.

The account in the Book of Exodus describes how the waters of the sea parted, allowing the Israelites to flee their Egyptian pursuers.

... The researchers show that a strong east wind, blowing overnight, could have pushed water back at a bend where an ancient river is believed to have merged with a coastal lagoon.

With the water pushed back into both waterways, a land bridge would have opened at the bend, enabling people to walk across exposed mud flats to safety.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11383620

[babylonsister]

1. Hmmm. OK. I thought it might be an overactive imagination.

:shrug:

[DJ13]

2. .....or the wrong mushrooms on their loaves of fish

[Lochloosa]

3. One problem with this "theory"

Have you ever tried walking across exposed mud flats? Growing up in N. Florida, I have. You don't go far very fast.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Since increasingly we have more info

that all this was the command of King Josiah in the seventh Century BCE...

Oh never mind... don't mind me.

I like the LEGEND for what it means regarding freedom, but a legend it is.

[Ozymanithrax]

6. It is dificult to reverse 2000 years of earnest propaganda.

For what it is worth, I think King Josia was something.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Try 5000 years

:-)

Effective...

:hi:

And yes he was something... the history is far more fascinating actually. A true lesson in how you develop a nation through story and legend.

[bherrera]

20. 5000 years?

If Solomon's Temple was built in 3300 BCE, then 5000 years seems a bit excessive. But there's no proof whatsoever that a horde of Hebrews invaded Canaan and Moab from Egypt. Archeology shows there was no such thing as a Hebrew invasion. Therefore the Bible is false.

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. Little math helps

3,300 BCE + 2000 C.E. My poor math tells me that is 5,000.

And the temple is historic. We also know that a "descendant" of Solomon, Jossiah, ordered, the writing of these stories... and it was more about him and his conflict with Egypt.

The first more or less historic king is David... that is the first that we might have any archeology about. Before that... well Noah is a Mesopotamian story.

:hi:

I love this whole story... I really do. At least to me this is FAR BETTER than all them Biblical stories.

Oh and let me add, we have evidence that David was historic, that don't mean the stories in the official history ordered by Jossiah are well... ahem... true... I mean David was a TRIBAL chieftain... not quite a king.

[baldguy]

5. People looking for "scientific" explinations for Biblical miracles are sinners.

[BeFree]

7. Truth

That's funny. And we're all sinners!


My new sig line:
'Desserts' spelled backwards is 'Stressed'.

[mysuzuki2]

9. There's no point in searching for scientific

explanations for mythological events. THEY"RE STORIES! They didn't really happen.

[Lucian]

10. Why is science wasting its time with this shit?

Good gods, why don't science now figure out the giant beanstalk/giant "theory" next.

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[Canuckistanian]

11. And WHY are scientists trying to justify fables?

Was there a pressing NEED to explain a historically unverifiable (and unlikely) Biblical event?

[Jamastiene]

12. And to think, we are still waiting for a cure to cancer.

We are so silly to wish they would use their considerable intelligence on such an unworthy endeavor as curing cancer, when it is so important to prove the Bible to be absolutely 100% true.

:eyes:

[hendo]

28. umm, im pretty sure they aren't the same researchers

Actually, since my wife does breast cancer research i am doubly sure that your concerns are not grounded.

[Lint Head]

13. There is historical evidence that the Jews fled Egypt at that time. The way they

got away is considered by Theologians as miraculous. It's miraculous in the same way you hear people often say,, when a baby survives a plane crash or car accident, it must have been a miracle. I'm not denying the possibility of miracles (I'll get ding for that I'm sure).

[dbonds]

14. So one element of a myth is scientifically possible (though unlikely)

What about the fact that Egypt did not have Jewish slaves, or very little slaves of any sort. Or the fact that a giant horde of people wandering in the desert for 40 years left no signs they were there.

[cynatnite]

15. There was a documentary years ago about this...

Without the use of computer simulations a scientist demonstrated how it could have happened. He had a miniature display. It certainly added to my growing gawd doubts at the time.

[frogmarch]

16. Yes, but what a miracle that

the winds parted the sea at just the right time for the Israelites to escape!

Anyway, everyone knows it's God who makes wind, by huffing and puffing, so Science can just STFU.

:sarcasm:

[madokie]

17. Do you really believe that the water parted?

I don't, just saying

[mindwalker_i]

18. The flying spaghetti monster gave God gas,

which caused the great and holy wind to blow, and even the water was afraid.

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. RLOL... ah the great and powerful FSM strikes again!!!!

Thanks for the laugh by the way.

God should not have had that spaghetti with a putanesca sauce....

[Warren Stupidity]

19. Nothing needs explaining.

As no such event happened.

[EstimatedProphet]

21. Mythology could explain it too.

[Mefistofeles]

22. This is perhaps the worst news article I have ever seen

Has anyone here seen sea waters part? Has any credible person told any of you about seeing Sea waters part? Even if we believe the absurd claim that waters parted, are we to believe that they parted just long enough to let the Jewish people pass and all of the egyptians drown?

The bible says, "And as the Egyptians fled into it, the LORD threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left."

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2013:17-14:29;&version=ESV;

[Codeine]

23. Goofy-ass storytelling is a more likely explanation. nt

[rrneck]

24. Sure, I expect it happens all the time.

I think it's called a storm surge caused by a hurricane. Imagine navigating a muddy river bottom in 60+ mph winds with women and children.

Also, imagine a bunch of people actually seeing it happen and actually thinking, "Hey, lets run in there!"

[spanone]

27. mass hysteria could explain it too, or ufo's, or a dam breaking, or whatever

or it could just be a fairytale