David you mention contradictions and I am not sure what you are talking about. Are you saying that I contradict myself? Do I contradict what most Christians believe? Or do I contradict your belief?
I've been fortunate enough to stand atop Masada, Qumran, Ein Gedi, and in the Dead Sea twice in my life (belch to the Dead Sea). I've have had the pleasure to be a part of some of the archaeological digs in Israel as a geophysicist. The amazing thing to me about the ramp at Masada is that it was never completed which is one of the evidences used for the suicide theory.
I don't have all of my books back in my house yes but I do have one. It is the complete works of Flavius Josephus or simply Josephus. In case you don't know who he is; he is a Jewish historian who lived at the same time Jesus did. To the best of our knowledge Josephus was not a follower of Jesus; just a well respected historian and contemporary to Jesus. Here is what he wrote about Jesus;
"Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it is lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day."
The 1000 year old thing always twists people up a little. When you look at this idea and you believe evolution to be true then it is impossible to believe but the key factor is in believing in evolution. Now I know that I have placed myself with many of the spiritual wackos that are out there but, I have not seen one shred of actual evidence that evolution is a true science. From a scientific standpoint then it is not true. Science is based off of fact and evidence, you said it yourself. There has not been one fossil found that shows the evolutionary process of a species.
We do find however that there is a harmony of biblical history and scientific fact. At one time the earth was completely covered with water. The reason I mention the Christian flood theory is because it is a key factor in understanding the length of human life.
Humor me a little. Man was created by God in a perfect environment for health, wealth and longevity. (Even science will tell you that the human body was designed or created for a much longer lifespan.) Mankind was banished from the garden and lived in a less than perfect environment. Some 2000 years later when Noah was born mankind had become so corrupt that Noah was the only one left that was righteous man. So God wiped out the the world saving Noah and his family. After the flood human life became shorter and shorter until we come to Moses who lived 120 years and almost 90% reduction in human life.
Now I know you think this is nothing more than a fairy tale but what is one of the main carriers of disease? Water.
Second for some reason we like to think of the people as living in dog years. As I mentioned before time was established in the beginning. Math was more than likely the second thing so even if they counted every season change as a new year they would have lived to 250.
After counting came greed. I get two you get one.
I for one enjoy talking with David and Vince about these things. I think it is a good thing to have a healthy debate and then walk away still respecting each other.
You will still respect me in the morning won't you?
Thanks for mentioning The Self-aware Universe and The Fabric of the Cosmos. I have read excerpts from them but not the whole book. They are on my to do list.. One of these days...
Keep posting guys.
