Originally posted by deathhawk21
simple answer, the older stories of the bible are NOT fact, but stories. true they are based on real people and events, but much symbolism is used.
the massive ages of the leading figures of religion is just a symbol for wisdom. old people=wiser people, maybe not in today's society, but back then
thats how it was. even if biblical figures actually did live that long, it was most likely due to simplicity of living, exercise, healthy conditions,
etc etc. [
I don't have the time or patience to read all the way thorough this thread either. I've read some convincing arguments that mistranslations in
portions of the the original Aramaic to Greek account for some numbers being multiplied by ten. i.e. 853 years is meant to be 85.3, etc.
As demonstrate by genuine biblical scholars and historians, not aligned with religious institutions, the Old Testament is a weaving of legends and
mythologies form the Middle East cultures including the Sumerians, Egyptians, Syrians, Babylonians, etc. Names were changed and locations to
centralize it to the collective historical record of the monotheistic God and the Hebrews of the Sinai peninsula.
The later books written are closer to history with the Babylonian captivity, etc.
Where modern Israel now is, a desert outpost of the Egyptian Empire, was a Neolithic primitive agrarian society lacking the wide use of metals,
architecture, weapons and animal drawn vehicles when the stories of the Great Hebrew Kings was supposedly happening. We find no reference to them in
the writings form neighbouring cultures, when they were said to be at their height, 2000- 100 B.C.
In a nutshell, no Moses or King Solomon, or any of the very early books back to Genesis. The Great Flood is a shared story among virtually every
mythology cycle with details, names, and locations changing.
A handed down for generations oral tradition of stories told and retold, embroidered, embellished, form the basis of the still surviving Old
Testament. It was actually only recorded in a permanent form around 150 B.C.
all in all, interesting and insightful stories with a lot od fantasy and supernatural elements, sprinkled here and there with historical facts and
actual people.
Very little can be taken as literal history.
Mike
[edit on 2-5-2009 by mmiichael]