Why I Rejected Christianity Review: The Exodus
This will be a short one as this is a short section basically calling into question the historicity of the Exodus. I recall Walter Kaiser saying that with archaeology, the best thing to do is wait. Many findings have been made to the point where things once thought non-existent are seen as basic knowledge today. Kaiser would tell you even problems that are still waiting for solutions, but simply wait. Don’t buy an argument from silence.
Let’s look at some statements. First off, it’s highly unlikely the Pharaohs would record their own defeats, especially an embarrassing one like this. What Pharaoh would say that he chased the runaway slaves into the sea only to have the waters come crashing down around them and bury them?
Secondly, what archaeological evidence is to be found? I doubt that some of the material would hold well under the water for so many centuries. Chances are, we are more likely to find something in a tablet making a reference to an unusual event. (Glenn Miller to be cited later does have such an instance.)
As to the difficulties of the crossing, Glenn Miller gives a better picture of the territory that would need to be crossed. His excellent article is here:
http://christian-thinktank.com/5felled.html#partsea
I definitely recommend it.
Other than that, there really isn’t much to say tonight. We simply have arguments from silence. I’m still of the same opinion. Wait. The Bible has shown itself to be reliable in other areas. I will trust it in this one also.
Maram08 30, 2007 at 10:12 PMar
You sound like the Mormons here because they too don’t have any archaeoloical evidence in America for civilizations they claim existed. What would you say to them? Would you also say “wait”?
Maram08 30, 2007 at 10:12 PMar
The situations aren’t remotely comparable. Mormons, in fact, have huge amounts of evidence piled up in direct opposition to their claims. Stating that their records of North America are flawed(putting it mildly) is not an argument from silence, but an argument flowing directly from the large amounts of evidence present.
Christians/Jews do not have this problem — the best a skeptic can say, while remaining truthful, is that the evidence available is inconclusive. This makes any claim that the Exodus definitely did not happen an argument from silence. Nick’s only point near the end is that the Bible has repeatedly proven itself reliable on countless other issues as more evidence has presented itself; therefore it is reasonable to give the Bible the benefit of the doubt in areas where it is still inconclusive. Its history of overwhelming reliability merits it that much.