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Copyright �
1997-2003
Rated in the
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This kind of reasoning is called a referral argument. Its thrust is that since Jesus eschewed, not chewed, meat then we should too. Such arguments are always of questionable validity.
My somewhat humorous, decidedly caustic, and pointed comment to my wife was--which Jesus? The one in the New Testament was anything but a vegetarian. In deed, how could he keep Torah and observe the Passover without resorting to eating mutton? If Jesus opposed flesh-eating why then did he eat fish (Luke 24:42), prepare a fish fry for his followers (John 21:9-13), and in a major miracle multiply enough fish and loaves to feed 4,000 people (Matthew 15:36)?
The apostle Paul, in reference to our world today, condemned vegetarianism (I Timothy 4:3). With respect to those weak in faith he wrote to Roman Christians that "he who is weak eats vegetables only" (Romans 14:2). Moreover, this very same apostle called the practice of vegetarianism the doctrine of demons (I Timothy 4:1). Rather strong language, I know, but this apostle did not mince around. Paul told his readers that they should follow him as he followed Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 11:1; II Thessalonians 3:7-9). Apparently Paul ate not only meat, but had no compunction in polishing off a good steak or slice of mutton, along with a nice flask of red wine. He even recommended that a little wine, not unfermented grape juice but alcohol, was good for the stomach (I Timothy 5:23). Sounds like a balanced guy.
Paul did lay down some guidelines for the Corinthian Christians concerning eating idol meat (I Corinthians 8:1-13; 10:28). He explained in his first epistle to the Corinthians that eating meat was appropriate except when it involved idol-meat (meat sacrificed to pagan gods in the course of pagan worship and sold in pagan temples). That had nothing to do with vegetarianism. It involved avoiding paganism. With respect to eating meat he told the Roman congregation that "the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17 NASB).
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One has to wonder about the place of humans in the world. The Bible has much to say on the topic. In anthropology, however, we attempt to understand the role of humans through the means of science. From scientific inquiry we know that the design of Homo sapiens is as omnivores. Now, if humans are not to eat flesh, then why are we omnivores and not herbivores? If we follow Jesus of Nazareth and the apostle Paul then we will conclude that the God of the Bible made human kind so. Surely, the PETA folks are not so naive, nor so biblically ignorant, as to believe that the historical figure, Jesus of Nazareth, did not consume flesh?
He cooked it and gave it to his followers to eat. He multiplied sufficient fish and loaves to feed a couple of crowds. I suppose someone will argue that fish is not meat. Alright, but fish are animals composed of flesh. Their cells contain nuclear DNA strands molecularly programmed to produce flesh not turnips, chard, or beets.
Perhaps PETA's need for publicizing their cause outweighed their sensitivity toward biblical understanding in this matter. Or perchance one of their members named Jesus, a fellow from Southern California, is indeed a vegetarian. Last time my friend Jesus had us over for dinner at his place in Pomona, we had a great Mexican American meal with plenty of meat to eat, but he did not belong to PETA. But anyway, in our culture all to many of our American people believe that the ends justifies the means. In this case, what possible harm comes from claiming Jesus was a vegetarian? The answer is a lot!
Jesus of Nazareth taught that how we live our lives is quite important. Or, to borrow a metaphor from two former athletic director colleagues of mine, Floyd Lochner and James Petty, how you play the game is more important than whether you win or lose. Honesty, character, truth, and fact are important values. The Jesus of the Bible was not careless in such matters and taught that we should not be so either. If biblical understanding is important at all, which unfortunately is not high on the American peoples' agenda, then a more careful reading of the Bible is necessary.
Misinformation clouds our understanding. Spinning the Bible leads to an erroneous perception of Jesus and the Bible's message. Any hope of an accurate perception of the real Jesus of Nazareth and biblical understanding requires that we handle "accurately the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:14-15 NASB). Anything less leads to misunderstanding and confusion.
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This problem exists to some extent in biblical archaeology as well. Eisogesis does not produce truth. Quests for Noah's Ark, the Ark of the Covenant, David's Tomb, the Exodus' route, and the treasures of the Second Temple, are all adventures into pop-archaeology. They may be serious ventures but they are not real science. They are amusement and fiction. Unfortunately all too many people believe such tales are fact and truth. Such ventures occasionally provide entertainment as other forms of fiction. However, interesting reading is not science nor biblical archaeology. Neither are claims that Jesus was an Essene ascetic monk, married, Mary Magdalene's lover, a homosexual, a teenage traveler to the British Isles to visit the tin mines, a blond, a white-robed hippie with unkempt long hair, nor a vegetarian. In appearance he was an average, typical Jew of his day. He looked and dressed as an ordinary Jewish man in the Herodian period, but more importantly, he was and remains your Messiah!
I do not advocate cruelty to animals and have never tolerated such at home nor at work. I have consistently supported the humane treatment of animals and will continue to do so. But, I find it troubling that at the end of the 20th century that we find people seeking to give greater rights to cows, dogs, and guppies than to unborn human beings. Our national form of infanticide through abortion, particularly the atrocity of partial birth abortion, is as far from the life, teachings, and example of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, as it can get. In stead, we have people appropriating Jesus as their authority to advance their animal rights cause. Our schools pass out condoms to children and we wonder why we have an epidemic of children having babies? How would Jesus view that?
Jesus loved little children. Jesus advocated human rights in an age when they did not exist. Jesus valued human life. Jesus died that humans could live. Would the Jesus of your Bible terminate a human life by abortion? Would he counsel you to do so? If you think so, then you lack in your understanding of the real Jesus Christ of the New Testament. When will we finally realize that human rights, as well as human life, must begin with conception? It appears the priorities of some people are as upside down as their exegesis and understanding of the Bible. Anything less than recognizing that human rights begin with conception is not consistent with the Bible nor with Christianity.
–Michael P. Germano
Michael
P. Germano, a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, holds earned
doctorates from the University of Southern California and the University of La Verne. He
completed post-graduate study in anthropology, archaeology, and theology at Southern
Methodist University and Texas A&M University at College Station. He and his wife
Brenda reside in Cullowhee, North Carolina, where he continues his research, teaches, and
writes.
Affiliated with Ambassador University since 1959, he served as AU's vice president of academic affairs 1973-1978, dean of academic affairs 1987-1995 and chair of its anthropology department 1995-1997. He held responsibilities in the institution's involvement in excavations at the south Temple Mount directed by Benjamin Mazar, the Umm el-Jimal Project directed by Bert de Vries, the Mozan Expedition directed by Giorgio Buccellati and Marilyn Kelly-Buccellati, and the Hazor Excavations in memory of Yigael Yadin directed by Amnon Ben-Tor. He supervised the Ambassador contingent at the Hazor Excavations and held responsibility for excavation videography.
His current research consists of an investigation of the relationship of the Tomb of Jesus, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Cenacle in Jerusalem. He has a book in preparation entitled The First Christians: Myths, History, and Traditions of the Ancient Church as well as Cultures, Peoples, and Lands of the Bible: An Introduction to Biblical Archaeology (scheduled for publication by High Top Media in 2000). You may communicate with the writer of this editorial at [email protected]
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I have just read your article on the lost tribes of Israel, remembering your having mentioned it the last time you were with us, but found no mention of the incidence of lactase deficiency, or lactose intolerance, within the current Jewish population, presumably the purest inheritors of that mutation you discussed. Of course, something like a very high incidence, comparable to that within the current Anglo-Saxon population, would add credence to the possibility of their being the ten lost tribes. When you get a moment, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
–Eric & Peggy Moore
In the editorial, Perspectives 1.2 (Nov./Dec. 1998), I did not make an issue of lactase deficiency or its persistence. This could be one avenue of research toward explaining matter of the Lost Ten Tribes. Even if one established a high correlation, for purposes arguendo, the questions of cause would still remain. What is required is a comprehensive review of the technical literature and the development of a carefully crafted scientific research design including testable research hypotheses. Even if all this is done, I see this approach as only one in a larger research strategy involving a series of genetic markers. In other words, the collective evidence is more probable than pieces of evidence standing alone. If we take several factors together then we can draw overall conclusions based on the weight of the collective evidence.
Jared Diamond, writing in Discover magazine, says that around 4000 BCE fresh milk obtained from domestic animals became a major food for adults in a few human populations. He lists present-day "northern and central Europeans, Arabians, north Indians, and several milk-drinking black African peoples such as the Fulani of West Africa" as examples. You can read Diamond's article, Race Without Color, article on the Web (look at the Discover magazine archive). I have not researched out the details as to various populations of Jews. How Jewish populations scattered in the Diaspora fit in this picture I'm not sure. If you would like to follow this matter up a good starting point would be OMIM (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man) Web site at the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Take a look at the file 223100 DISACCHARIDE INTOLERANCE III. I also suggest the article by T. Gilat, R. Kuhn, E. Gelman, and O. Mizrahy. "Lactase Deficiency in Jewish Communities in Israel" (Gilat, Kuhn, Gelman, and Mizrahy 1970:895-904).
–editor
How does one subscribe to the magazine Biblical Archeology?
–H. Rosenstoc
Dear Sir: I know it is not the kind of thing you are meant to deal with, but I tried contacting your e-mail [email protected] and the message came back. I have a subscription to your wonderful magazine and a new address where I would like it sent. Please do confirm that you did receive this e-mail.
–Thamar Jaramillo, Santiago, Chile
We know there is a little confusion between bibarch.com (that's us) and bib-arch.org (that's them). For BAR subscription information we suggest you go directly to the BAR Web site at http://www.bib-arch.org where the editors have placed detailed subscription information. We highly recommend the BAR publications and appreciate the hard work Mr. Hershel Shanks and his colleagues put into their publications. If you do not have a subscription to the Bible Review and the Biblical Archaeology Review you are missing out on a great source of information. For their e-mail we suggest [email protected] and it should go right through.
–editor
I'm trying to look for the Biblical Archaeological Review 1988, vol. 14, issue no. 3 which contains some facts about Corinth during Paul's time. Would it be possible for me to view it on-line? Thanks and hope to hear from you soon.
–Sr. Jojo, FMA
I believe you may want to check with BAR. I forwarded your e-mail to them. I have used the article by Victor Furnish you referred to in teaching my epistles of Paul course. Its well done. You might have to resort to hard copy because I searched the internet and came up empty.–editor
Please feel free to submit short questions. We reserve the right to answer and publish those we believe to be in the public interest. Click here to submit a question to the editor.
Can you please show me some information on Noah's Ark? I heard it was on top of some mountain. Supposedly new information has surfaced. If so, I was wondering why I hadn't heard about it? Please put that on your website if you could.
–Amber Cummings
Years ago, around 1976 actually, I saw a movie called The Search for Noah's Ark. It was so exciting that I was ready to sign up for an expedition. Later I came across a paperback with the same title. As I recall it was the narration of the movie. When I read the book, where I could think about the issues involved rather than having my emotions manipulated on the silver screen, I began to realize how speculative the matter was.
Assuming, arguendo, the veracity of the Hebrew Scriptures in the Genesis report of the flood, then "the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat" (Genesis 8:4 NASB). This would have been Early Bronze IV (sometimes referred to as EB IVa-EB IVb where the former is their old world and the latter their strange new world somewhere in 2000-2200 BCE). Notice that Genesis refers to the mountains, plural, not specifically Mt. Ararat.
Even as a social scientist I find Michael Grant's opening in his work The Rise of the Greeks, somewhat haunting in this context. Grant begins "during the third millennium BC there were people in Greece who did not speak Greek, or any language related to it" (Grant 1987:1). After citing an echo of their language he goes on to say "but in about 2000-1900 BC - at the beginning of what archaeologists call the middle Hellenic or middle Bronze Age - invaders, speaking a version of what later became Greek, came in from the north, and devastated most of the previous habitation centers" (Grant 1987:1).
In Amihai Mazar's Archaeology of the Land of the Bible: 10,000-586 B.C.E he devotes chapter 5 called "An Interlude The EB IV/MB I Period (2300/2250-2000 B.C.E.)" to a roughly 300 year period where:
...Palestine was sparsely populated, mainly by pastoralists and village dwellers. This period of decline parallels the First Intermediate Period in Egypt (Dynasties VII-XII, during which there was a decentralization of power and a break in the traditional connections between Egypt and Asia, particularly with Byblos. (Mazar 1990:151.)
P. Kyle McCarter, Jr., writing in the BAR's Ancient Israel: A Short History from Abraham to the Roman Destruction of the Temple says:
It now seems unlikely that an invasion or immigration of nomads was a primary factor in the collapse of urban civilization in the last part of the third millennium. The pastoral peoples so prominent in this period were present in earlier times as well, living alongside the established urban centers. Overpopulation, drought, famine or a combination of such problems may have exhausted the resources necessary to the maintenance of an urban way of life. When the cities disappeared, the nomadic encampments remained (McCarter 1988:9.)
Other authors have suggested disease epidemics as well for the massive depopulation of the region. Is there a pattern here? Not? Don't be too sure. Something exceptional occurred during this time period and we don't have enough data to offer a reasonable scientific explanation. All three sources are learned men who take the meager available facts, reflecting the disappearance of massive populations, cities, and civilization itself, and in good faith interpret them to provide a logical cultural continuity consistent with cultural materialism and the paradigm of science. But the Genesis account of Noah and his little family is neither logical nor scientific. It deals with an unforeseen independent intervening event called a miracle. Were there only 8 people left in ca. 2200 BCE? With this science cannot deal. Some scientists scoff at the very idea. Why?
We social scientists are not going to take the sparse data of EB I/MBIV to explain to the rest of the scientific community and the world that civilization collapsed because of Noah's flood. The sciences, in general, have a deep macroevolutionary presumption underlying them. Science deals with physical phenomena, the relationship of patterned events, and variables. Scientists seek physical explanations, through physical causes and effects, not divine intervention. Nevertheless, existing proffered explanations for the disappearance of the cities and the like in EB I/MBIV are guesswork. There is insufficient data to offer any reasonably conclusive scientific explanation.
To dismiss the Genesis deluge out of hand, however, as ridiculous and a waste of time is condescending, nonscientific, and a little silly. Why not develop and test some research hypotheses relating to the Genesis flood proposition? If researchers falsify them, and on that scientific basis reject the theory, then we can get along with our archaeology, history, religion and theology without having to complicate things any more than they are already. If not, then we better rethink and mend our ways. If anyone wants to consider the implications of all this then think on Jesus' statement "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah...and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away, so it shall the coming of the Son of Man be (Matthew 24:37-39 NASB). Some whit said that those who fail to learn the lessons of history are condemned to repeat them.
According to Josephus the ark came to rest in Armenia. Josephus says, probably relying on the account of the historian Berosus the Chaldean, "the ark being saved in that place, its remains are shown there by the inhabitants to this day" (Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 1.3.5; Whiston 1957:37-38). Josephus certainly seemed to believe that the Armenia of his day was the authentic location but he does not say he was an eyewitness. Berosus, quoted in Josephus, says "It is said there is still some part of this ship in Armenia, at the mountain of the Cordyaens; and that some people carry pieces of the bitumen, which they take away, and use chiefly as amulets for the averting of mischief's" (Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 1.3.6; Whiston 1957:38). Said by whom? This is hearsay. Hearsay is highly unreliable evidence, even in a literary context, let alone in a scientific one.
Explorer B. J. Corbin publishes noahsarksearch.com which is a comprehensive web site dedicated to the Search for Noah's Ark. This site will give you more information from someone who has been searching at Mt. Ararat. Another interesting project, published by Douglas Peterson, dedicated to the study of the ark is the Noah's Ark Project. Take a look at both sites as it is well worth it.
–editor
–Gary Johnson
I find this region to be very much like Southern California. The Levant is relatively small by American standards but has several climate zones. We know from the architecture of the Mediterranean that the region had a more temperate climate 2,000 years ago. Moreover, the study of tree-rings on a worldwide basis has contributed to our knowledge of changes in weather patterns over time. Ice core research also provides data allowing us to learn more of global weather patterns. This topic would make a good term paper for someone.
The wilderness, known as the Negev, in Israel and Jordan is desert but it is not exactly like Death Valley. There is far more natural vegetation and wildlife. Moreover, the area is much smaller and not as harsh. In Israel, north of Eilat, lies the Yotvata Visitors Center which includes the Hi Bar. The latter is a large natural habitat for biblical-era local birds and animals, e.g. the striped-legged wild ass, ongers, addaxes, gazelles and ibexes, white oryxes, and the like. The facility also has a Predator Center where workers raise local birds and beasts of prey and then release them to populate the Negev. You might want to take a look at the Bridges for Peace Web site which will give you a lot more detailed information.
–editor
Thanks for a such an informative website! It is truly a blessing. I recently read a book The Gold of Exodus. It is about the true Mount Sinai located in Saudi Arabia? Will I be able to find out more on this subject in the future?
–Ricky Simmons, Virginia
You refer to the The Gold of Exodus, by Howard Blum, a pop-archaeology adventure story about the Bob Cornuke and Larry Williams expedition to locate Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia. A major motion picture based on The Gold of Exodus, from a script written by John Sayles, is in production by Castle Rock Entertainment, Warner Bros. Studios. The book and the forthcoming movie are entertainment not science. It is pop-archaeology and a lot of fun. Details of the exploits of these adventures and their current undertakings is at the BASE Institute Web site.
For biblical scholars, whose adventures are usually no further than the nearest library or conference, the question of where the true Mount Sinai lies is a matter of dispute, as is the Exodus itself, and the Conquest of Canaan. As a biblical archaeologist I endorse scientific explanation developed through the methods of science. If we assume that the Israelites left Egypt precisely as described in the Hebrew Scriptures, a very literal approach, then we would have the parting of the Red Sea by a miracle ca. 1443 BCE. The Israelites would have proceeded inland over a period of several weeks to Mt. Horeb (Exodus 3:1, 12). A population of the magnitude suggested in the Hebrew Scriptures, probably well over a million men, women, and children, plus their cattle, sheep, and other animals, and the like, would move fairly slowly. The simplest answer would then be that the Mt. Horeb of Moses' day was on the present day Sinai Peninsula.
In hermeneutics, as opposed to science, literally scores of possible routes of the Israelites and Mt. Horeb are possible. The advocates of various theories select ancient literary accounts, quote authorities (usually those they agree with), and argue selected archaeological discoveries to support their opinion. This is not science. The approach only brings about more argument and more questions not understanding, fact, and truth.
Scientific analysis of the Exodus route, still assuming a literal one as reported in the Hebrew Scriptures, through biblical archaeology is quite difficult. Nomadic peoples leave very little surviving material culture to excavate. They didn't manufacture the pottery and build the villages, towns, and settlements that we can excavate today. That does not mean that there is no evidence. One day we will develop more information about this matter and place it on bibarch.com. Our opinion, for whatever that is worth, is that the biblical Mt. Horeb is today the place called Jabal Musa or Gebal Musa in the southern Sinai Peninsula. Nevertheless, I plan to go to the The Gold of Exodus movie as I enjoy a good adventure too.
–editor
I live in the Los Angeles area. How would I pursue and begin a career as an archeologist. I would need to study in the Los Angeles area.
–Rick Meyer
Since you are considering a career in archaeology then plan to complete a doctoral program. I suggest you check out all the local institutions such as UCLA, UC Riverside, USC, and the state universities such as Cal. State L.A., Fullerton, San Bernardino, and the like. For archeology you will want to look at Anthropology Departments although at UCLA you have other options in their area studies approach. As to beginning a career you might want to research some of the links at the AAA Web site. You can start your research at the Anthropology Links Page.
–editor
Thank you for your wonderful publications! Do you know where Aila is - where this new discovery of the oldest church building (circa 300 AD) was found?
–Paul Vermilion
Its at the Jordanian Red Sea port of Aqaba. The ancient name was Aila. Check the story in Archaeology. Thanks for your kind words.I study History in Brazil and my research is about Hebrew history. Now, I'm studying about the Conquest of the Promised Land. I'd like to receive archaeological and historical information, bibliography, or news about this subject. Do you know how can I get pictures from the Internet about Canaanite gods? Thanks and congratulations. The Home Page of BibArch is very interesting.
–Priscila Pugsley Grahl
Don't stop with our home page. There is a lot worth thinking about deeper in the site. We are not familiar with Web sources that would provide pictures of Canaanite gods. What we suggest is a search strategy on hotbot.com or one of the other major search engines. We like hotbot.com because it is so easy for beginners to use.
Go to hotbot and select MORE SEARCH OPTIONS. Enter Canaanite AND gods in the search box. Then, in the "Look for" drop-down menu, select Boolean phrase. Next, in the Word Filter, key in bronze age. Scroll down and select 50. Then click on the search button. You should get about 290 sites. You probably will have to start checking each one to see if it is what you want.
–editor
Page last updated: 07/02/03 07:37 PM.
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