Water, Archaeology, a Park, and Tiberias

Ha’aretz has a really interesting essay today about a new park in Tiberias which … well, I’ll just let you read it, after I toss in this small bit of teaser:

The park, called “The Tiberias Archaeological Park” and named for deceased Tiberias community leader Ozer “Berko” Berkowitz, is also raising the ire of archaeologists. They say that the park was established in order to make the town’s archaeological antiquities accessible to the public, but it has been built over the remains of the very archaeological findings that have yet to be excavated. “They have buried national assets here,” said Aharon Amitai, the archaeologist who headed the last season of excavations at the site. “Tiberias was the capital of Jewish culture, and the Mishnah and Talmud were written there. Tiberias was also the last seat of the Sanhedrin, and during the period of the sages the Tiberias Hebrew vowel marks were decided upon,” he added.

Amitai added that Prof. Yizhar Hirschfeld of the Hebrew University, who was in charge of the dig at the site until his death two years ago, called the park project “a cultural crime.” Hirschfeld’s name was not mentioned yesterday at the ceremony, to the displeasure of his archaeological colleagues. “They spoke about archaeology but they forgot the archaeologists,” one of them said angrily.

The Israel Antiquities Authority, which supported the project, responded: “Prof Hirschfeld did indeed express opposition to developing the area in the beginning. However, as time went on, he saw the contribution that would be made following the development [of the park] to archaeology and tourism in Tiberias.”

It raises, doesn’t it, the thorny issue of the concerns of archaeology and the concerns of modern life when those conflict.

Shanks, Again….

Bishop NT Wrong has yet another bit of breaking Trial of the Century news from Tel Aviv.  And this time Shanks has stepped outside the bounds of normalcy…

REUTERS, TEL AVIV – Proceedings in the ‘Second Biggest Forgery Trial of the Century’ ground to a halt yesterday. Judge Moshe Yadin refused to hear the case against ‘Ezra the Scribe’, who was alleged to to have forged the Book of Deuteronomy.  …  “This decision completely vindicates the authenticity of the Book of Deuteronomy,” exclaimed a jubilant Kesev Shanks.  “If a Criminal Court is not the appropriate forum in which to determine delicate archaeological, philological, redactional, and paleographic questions, then what is?” questioned Shanks.  The Israel Antiquities Authority is presently considering whether it will reprosecute the forgery case, but with a new group of defendants – the mysterious ‘D’ and ‘Dtr’, and their alleged accomplice-after-the-fact, ‘P’.

And then the most depressing part:

Shanks is currently planning a ‘Tour of The Land of Moab Across the Jordan According to the Authentic Book of Deuteronomy’. Ticket prices begin at $18,500, and will include some of the superstars of the paleographic world as guides.

I just don’t know what to say any more…   Maybe it’s time to retire.

That Groan You Heard Was California’s Gay Community

Because a clear majority of voters in the state rejected, soundly, after an acrimonious campaign season, gay marriage as a legitimate manifestation of the definition of marriage.

With 96 percent of the vote counted, the measure was winning by a decisive 400,000-vote margin, 52.2 percent to 47.8 percent. It had piled up huge margins in the Central Valley, but lost in every Bay Area county but Solano. … Opponents of the measure, gathered at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, had tried to put the best face on the disappointing results Tuesday night.

I suppose opponents of Proposition 8 are as disappointed with the results as Texans are at the election of Barack Obama.

Same-sex marriage bans won easily Tuesday night in Florida and Arizona. It was a rematch in Arizona, which in 2006 became the only state to ever reject a ban on same-sex marriage.

So Arizona changed its mind.

The campaign in California pitted those who argued that a same-sex marriage ban was nothing more than outdated discrimination against gays and lesbians, and conservatives and Christian groups who countered that the state and the courts have no right to unilaterally change a definition of marriage that has existed for centuries.

I have to say that though ‘traditional’ marriage has its problems, the solution isn’t to widen the meaning of the word to meaninglessness.  The solution is the strengthening of families, the foundation upon which sustainable societies are built.

The Prop. 8 battle, born in San Francisco, came eight years after more than 61 percent of California voters came out in favor of Prop. 22, which banned same-sex marriage in the state. But supporters had little time to savor the victory.

So it seems that the supporters of Gay marriage in California (and elsewhere) have now been dealt yet another blow.

[n.b.- I realize some of my dearest friends simply cannot comprehend my position on this issue.  But if I changed what I said or how I said it to coddle them, I wouldn't be me, now would I?]

Let’s Play ‘Name the Publisher’

The Neo-Aramaic Dialect of Barwar, by Geoffrey Khan
Number of volumes: 3
List price: € 495.00 / US$ 738.00

No cheating by looking up the title elsewhere.  You have the price- so name the publisher!

Invincible Ignorance

The earliest known Hebrew text written in a Proto-Canaanite script has been discovered by Hebrew University archaeologists in an ancient city in the area where David slew Goliath. The 3,000 year old finding is thought to be the most significant archaeological discovery in Israel since the Dead Sea Scrolls – predating them by 1,000 years.

Note the absolute disconnect between what can be known, and what merely stands as unfounded claim, and how the two are ruthlessly and senselessly blended.  I’ve put it in bold face so that even the Maximalists won’t miss it.

Now none of this is news.  Except perhaps where this story appears- in the science section of the paper. The science section!  And yet in a quite unscientific manner the biblical account is taken at historical face value without even a sense of the wider theological setting of the account.  It’s invincible ignorance.  And it’s everywhere.

More Paganism

It seems I never have my camera when I need it.  I was returning from a meeting and happened upon a large sign in the front yard of a house which screeched

In Obama We Trust

I’m tempted to go back there with a hatchet and Samuel style hack Agag into pieces [Agag of course being the sign].  This disgusting sort of pagan idolatry isn’t confined to one particular party or other, sadly, but is becoming more and more widespread as the inept and theologically ill-informed continue to heap mountains of praise on mere mortals.  All such idolatrous signs are signs of the greater and far more widespread depth of Total Depravity so rampant these days.  Even, I wince to confess, among self professed ‘Christians’.

Colbert and Stewart Blew It

I watched a bit of the Colbert / Stewart ‘election special’ last night and have to confess that I thought it was lame and stupid.  Colbert and Stewart usually do such excellent work that it was not a little disappointing to watch this flat, limpid, and inarticulate fiasco.  Stick to scripted and pre-taped stuff guys.  Live isn’t your gift or gig.

The Future of the Book

That’s the title of an interesting post by David Instone-Brewer at Tyndale Tech.  Give it a read.  In my estimation, the book is no more likely to disappear than radio when TV arrived nor Movies when TV arrived for that matter.  Printed books are so far superior to anything electronic that they will be around forever.  Or at least as long as I’m alive.  After that, who cares?  ‘As long as there are books in my day…’

A Book You Should Read

Whether you get it from interlibrary loan or whether you find it in a used book shop, you need to read Robert Carroll’s little gem, first published in 1991 and then in a second edition in 1997, titled Wolf in the Sheepfold: The Bible as Problematic for Theology.  Especially if you’ve read Hector Avalos’ piece on what he egregiously and erroneously and even deceptively calls the ‘end’ of biblical studies.

Carroll’s work is cutting and profound and eminently readable and as superior to Avalos’ work as the direct light of the sun at its surface is superior to a firefly’s light reflected off of a black piece of paper at the outer edges of the universe.  Carroll avoids the overblown claims of Avalos and simultaneously still manages to raise incredibly insightful and important questions about Christianity and its sacred text.

It’s only 147 pages of text, but worth its weight in gold.  And it might well be old, but it is most certainly not outdated (as Avalos’ work already is).

I heard of this book I don’t recall where or when- but I certainly wish I had learned of it years ago.  I got a copy on interlibrary loan from Southern Seminary (the closest library carrying it) and to my utter amazement since it was included in their collection in 1997 it had only been checked out once before I received it.  I liked it so much that I got a copy of my own from a used book dealer in the United Kingdom.  You see, this is one of those books you read and re-read and learn from at each sitting.  Not many books can do that.  This one does.

Quite Right Robert

Robert Parham writes

President-elect Barack Obama is neither the messiah, nor the antichrist. He is first and foremost a politician, whose adoring adherents deny his feet of clay and demonizing opponents refuse to respect him. Hopes are too high; despair is too deep.

Robert then goes on to call for theological realism concerning the President-Elect. Read the whole essay. Especially you Obamaniacs who have placed all your hope in him- in a profoundly misguided theological move.

You Oprahites and Matthewsians and Farrakhanians and Wallisians who have attributed to Obama titles such as ‘the One’ and ‘Messiah’ and his rallies ‘the New Testament’ and ‘revivals’ have moved outside of Christiantiy and become pagans.  For pagans such language is ok- but for Christians it is Anti-Christianity.