BIBLE Archae/Anthro/Art Note: The WAS has a new publication out: A Healing by Jesus that Shook the World, See News and Pubs Section. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Right here we have a new section on Biblical Archaeology, the most important of all of our sections. If we are going to study humanity, anthropology, we must study THE textbook on humanity - the Bible. This textbook is all about God and His relationship with humans and His other creations. It is really His Word, but it shows all the foibles and reactions of humankind searching for and finding God. This is the greatest of all adventures. The Bible is a wonderful history and full of archaeology and clues for archaeology and helps for every problem. We all need a solid scholarly grounding in the Book of All Books, because just look around today at all the pop pseudo-religious theories and cults ...atheism/agnosticism/humanism (really atheism)/materialism(more atheism),Marxism, Leninism, Pragmatism (these three are still more atheism), star cultism, political party religion, etc., all philosophies that people have cooked up to solve problems themselves...with no help from God, who they don't believe exists anyway. Jesus healed all day long for three years using God, thus proving God exists. God works today also. Others not knowing much about the bible go ga ga over the Bible theory of the day. The Da Vinci Code is getting a lot of attention. It's a story. Society needs to take a deep breath, sit down....and look at SOMETHING EVEN MORE EXCITING than the far out stuff....REAL BIBLE ARCHAEOLOGY/ANTHROPOLOGY/ART HISTORY (and a few dozen other ologies). We're going to be getting into some great adventures. What's so exciting about this adventure is that it pertains to right now. It's the most current thing there is. We hear about many problems, but very few answers. Well, here's the answers. We'll also learn about the greats who have studied and helped preserve the Bible. We wouldn't have the Bible today if not for these great people. Countless good people gave their lives in the arenas of ancient Rome for the Bible and Christianity. Many tyrants today would love to destroy the Bible and its wonderful, helpful story. They work constantly to try and invalidate God. I can think of at least three other things I would rather try and do other than try and beat Moses, Isaiah, Jesus, Luke, John, Paul and all the rest! Yes, society is dumbing down, because many try! We're going to follow along the adventures of the late Dean of all the biblical archaeologists William Foxwell Albright, a stickler for the scientific method. What an amazing life! The names of the students he produced are legendary in the field. He always hammered away on the importance of the scientific approach in research of finds in the field and language studies (a great tool). When you stop and think about it, this approach is so important. First, any research theory must be checked out in scholarly, scientific court as any theory in archaeology. Also, concerning the field of religion, many humanist critics are out there diabolically trying to invalidate and zap the old Anvil and good scholars who work in the field. In Albright's Rice Univ. Lectures re. "Historical Analogy," he points out the importance of getting two proofs in scholarship. Great lessons here for all of archaeology and other fields too. And so-called popular science writing must be correct also. Mind you, there isn't anything wrong with pop scientific writing. Albright did a lot of this type of writing...so did George Washington Carver (two of our mentors here). Both wanted to get over the ivy wall and down with the troops in the trenches and educate. Of course, some of Albright's writing is so technical that it might as well be Egyptian glyphs. He was Head of the Dept. of Ancient Near Eastern Languages at Johns Hopkins. He was a true genius of languages. Adam Clarke "The Prince of Bible Commentators" is another language genius in God; also there was St. Gerome, and there are more. You do need a background in scholarship too - first dealing with the basic data that everyone needs. Your writer has done a lot of popular scientific writing...50 years in fact, telling people about archaeology and the importance of saving it. In fact, most of this site is just that! But, the thing is, when doing this type of writing, you need a solid scholarly grounding, or you can get out in left field fast. Another important reason for this section is that Bible Archaeology/Anthropology/Art History ELUCIDATES the Bible. It doesn't take the place of the Bible..."the old Anvil" as Rev. Henry Halley called it. Halley pointed out that the "Old Anvil" has worn out countless hammers of criticism down through the ages and continues right on helping people. When I see the critics clanging their heads against the old anvil, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. One example is the evolutionists who promote a material approach...but often totally miss the unseen, vast, spiritual side of the coin that is greater than atomic powerful (as Jesus proved). If anyone is setting out to change anything about the Bible he or she better have plenty of backup material and be ready for a tough scholarly court, or the scholarly gauntlet I should say in this case of the Bible. I don't believe that anyone can get into Bible Archaeology/Anthropology/ Art History without becoming a jumping up and down excited fan. You begin to see that there really were these inspired old characters, towns, cultures and stories. And, too, as mentioned earlier, the bible is current. There's nothing today going on that the inspired characters haven't "been there and done that" in bible antiquity. So many people suffer needlessly today. I don't know of a better thing for anyone to study than Bible Archaeology/Anthropology/Art History. This is the greatest "applied" (practical scholarship...the Spiritual study of Man). In a way, the DaVinci Code has gotten people to look at the Bible, who, otherwise, would never touch it. And the author did a tremendous amount of research. And, we don't know, all this probably gave the author ideas for other works (Albright said that one area of research leads to dozens more). And he established a thesis - and many others will now set about to prove or disprove...and along the way unearth other theses. "Round and 'round it goes, and where it stops, no one knows?" as major Bowes used to say on the radio when I was a kid. Anthropology, a relatively new study, adds many tools to the scholar's tool box. Of course, you have to watch it as all scholarship. It can be very material. It's loaded with theories of its own that have taken on a religious aura for some. But there are a lot of good tools here...biology, culture, language, psychology, archaeology with dozens of sub-branches. Interestingly, anthropology is the study of Man and Woman and Child...but so is the Bible. Be sure and don't break the First Commandment and worship the wrong god. As you can see, much overlapping takes place with traditional biblical archaeology scholarship. The theme of our approach to archaeology kicks in here..."we just don't want to miss anything...and we want to explore all avenues that will help us study the story of the past and humanity then and now, and then apply in practical ways to the present." We do this in a Christian (or whatever your belief is) humanism way, not a secular humanism (atheistic) way. There's a lot of difference as Albright noted in his book..History, Archaeology and Christian Humanism. By the way, our State Department needs to check this out right now! It has much in-depth study of the Near and Middle East. If anyone out there has any news about archaeology going on in the Near and Middle east ...and research at home (wherever your home is around the world)..and in the library...by all means let us know...right here. Write: ronwriterartist@aol.com....or if you like to talk on the phone better...call: 417 334 2377...or if you want to send materials, write: Ron Miller, WAS, 120 Lakewood Drive, Hollister, MO 65672 If you are of another faith and have some archaeological item pertaining to your belief and old teachings, send it in. As usual don't forget return postage and envelope. We may not be able to use. We still appreciate much. As always, good excavating in the field, home and library. ( This section commenced Sept. 17, 2005 ). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - BIBLE COLLECTION, WAS A TOUR OF THE BIBLE COLLECTION OF THE WORLD ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY INFORMATION CENTER. Before we get too far here I want to get down to basics...a biblical adventure...an introduction exploring the bibles in our WAS Information Center. Many know nothing about the bible, and are barely conscious of it as some black blob gathering dust on a shelf or coffee table...or in a box of books in the closet...or somewhere around the house...maybe in the attic or basement...or something "poor" Grandma reads out on the front porch (she's the smartest gal in town)...or some old wispy thing about old wispy people way back somewhere...merely fables...something out of date and irrelevant, some dumb thing that shouldn't be in schools (Heaven forbid that students should learn the Truth about Life and things that will solve all their problems - what learning is all about...and learn of ultimate anthropology - great people studies). To most people I am afraid the bible looks incrediblly dull, so dull that the very least little thought about it creates a feeling of great dread. (Jesus said: "Have no fear."). "God is Love," one of the writers, John said...Love is healing...and the bible is all about God. What a deal! The problem I believe is that the bible requires a little bit of thinking...ah yes, thinking. But not all that much really. The student must have read this before going to college or university or he or she will get taken to the cleaners there and later in life faster than the dumbest rube in town. Because believe me there are hordes of people out there who are so arrogant that they believe they are better than Moses, Isaiah, Jesus, Paul and all the rest of the great old characters therein. Actually, the bible is the most exciting thing there is. It's the best friend they (we) ever had. It transcends the material. It will save necks in countless ways. Of course, they have to stop dead in their tracks (and they are really dead tracks believe me!)...turn around, go over to the dusty shelf, pull out the bible and commence reading. Start anywhere, I don't care. Some folks hit the wall in some way, and just open the bible and see what pops up. Some folks start at the beginning and methodically work their way through. This is probably the best approach, because it is one big story. I am more of a shot gun reader. But just keep at it. Don't give up because you might not understand some little point. Rest a bit but go back, and keep going back. Then, you will develop an appreciation. Also, I can help here, giving you some appreciation, if new to the bible...and maybe some advanced students might even find something of interest. Anyway, there are many dumb old wives tales and sterreotypes - wrong impressions of the bible - that go on and on down Satan's path to nowhere, misery, darkness, death and nothingness. What a revelation in one's life to discover, maybe in a quick blinding light as St. Paul the Apostle getting struck down flat on his face and blinded on the road to Damascus...or in gradual, doubting, torturous, mousey steps...maybe some forward, maybe some backward...then, finally for Heavens sakes learning that the Bible is truly as many have proclaimed, the greatest Book ever written. The bible is so great, because for one thing it is so useful...and it really is the Truth. It is the word of God, and you can't get any better than that. We know it is so, because it works - proven in the "Laboratory of Man." Jesus spent nearly every day, all day long and for three years proving it works and that there is a good God, by all kinds of healings with God. God/Love does indeed heal...not just medical things but social/political/economic things...but everything. The recordings of all this and more, going back to the very creation of everything are right there for us today...the bible. What a great gift!! And you can even buy one for 50 cents at a garage sale! And just what's needed now in these tough economic times. Get the spiritual world straight, and the material will fall into line. We have quite a collection of bibles and associated literature...little bibles, big ones, old ones, new ones, each very unique showing wonderful creativity and great care...some with pictures, maps, explanatory information, references. Some are major translations, some are versions re-worked a bit, some are paraphrases. Some are printed on the best, highest rag content paper you can find; others are printed on poor quality paper that is in a crumbly stage and a tannish color. Nevertheless, we love them all; each has a great story of its own about THE story! We can learn from all. Previous owners have written little thoughts of wisdom here and there and underlined verses that hit the nail on the head for them. Ah yes, we can see that the verse is a beaut and very helpful to us right now! Thanks to the owner, and we never met them, and sometimes the underline and little note was written many years ago. "God works in (such) mysterious ways!" People know that we collect bibles and associated publications and have given us some dandies. Some have been found at yard sales, garage sales, and used book sales as well as bookstores. It is all quite an adventure in anthropology and Theology....and archaeology too...excavating books! It is great fun to restore some of these bibles. And most of them do require much first aid. Some are disaster areas with pages falling out, spines broken (ouch!), worn corners, pages torn, covers torn, mould on practically every page. Feb 4, 2008 (to be continued) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - BIBLE CRITICS The secular humanist atheists continue to blast away at what they consider a non-entity God. They have organized movements creeping away and making much headway. They are hammering away at "the Old Anvil" as Rev. Halley described the Bible...and in the process he notes, wearing themselves out...and yet "the Old Anvil," just goes right on helping people. The fully documented cases of the Bible helping people are countless...verified testimonials. Healing (seen in countless ways), using Jesus/God/Bible methods are proof of God. Jesus proved that God exists by healing every day all day long and for three years...and showing that He had the spiritual tools and wherewithall and connections... to heal. He was the "Master" teacher, "Son of God." Then, He told everyone to go and do likewise. And, many today are doing just this. The healings are large and small. As far as unbelievers, He said "let the dead bury the dead." He went on to teaching Life and Love and eternally solid spiritual things...Truth. The big healing ingredient of the God medicine is the fact as John said: "God is Love." So, Love is not putting down some other religion. And it is certainly not God-Love causing any problems ...but Man thinking. Also see our WAS section on Race and Cultural Relations with much on prejudice. Take a look at the put down artists (invalidation in psychology) who want to invalidate the other guy to make themselves feel bigger. Biblical archaeology has much to offer in understanding old bible days, which in many ways are just the same as today. One can see vividly in the ruins of mankind where humanism/materialism "the Man- can- do- everything- himself approach (the humanist/atheist religion) leads. Mar. 30, 2007 - Ron - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - GREAT HISTORICAL NOVEL FOR THE HISTORICAL FICTION CLASS. ..."DEAR AND GLORIOUS PHYSICIAN," BY TAYLOR CALDWELL, DOUBLEDAY AND COMPANY, 1959. HERE'S A GREAT HISTORICAL FICTION NOVEL WITH MUCH CLASSICAL ARCHAEOLOGY AND BIBLE THINGS THAT JUST MAY BE THE GREATEST OF ALL CHRISTMASTIME STORIES. I DON'T KNOW HOW HOLLYWOOD HAS MISSED THIS ONE, ALTHOUGH THEY MAY HAVE DONE WITH A DIFFERENT TITLE, AND I MISSED IT. THE STORY IS ABOUT LUKE THE BELOVED PHYSICIAN, WRITER OF TWO BOOKS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. TAYLOR CALDWELL HAD BEEN FASCINATED WITH LUKE...OR LUCANUS (GRK) SINCE A LITTLE GIRL, WHEN SHE WROTE HER FIRST STORY ABOUT HIM WHEN SHE WAS 12. IT IS OBVIOUS SHE HAS MADE A VERY DETAILED STUDY OF THE CLASSICAL TIMES, PHILOSOPHY, MYTHOLOGY, MEDICINE, GEOGRAPHY AND MUCH MORE. I WONDER ALSO IF SHE MIGHT HAVE OBSERVED SOME REAL OPERATIONS..THE DESCRIPTIONS ARE SO GRAPHIC. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT MEDICINE WAS LIKE IN THE DAYS OF JESUS, THIS IS A GOOD INTRODUCTION. I HAVEN'T SEEN SUCH DETAILED OBSERVATIONS OF BACKGROUND MATERIAL IN ANY NOVEL. HER DETAILED DRAWING OF SCENES REALLY MAKES THE STORY COME ALIVE REALISTICALLY. IT'S REMARKABLE. IF YOU WANT TO LEARN ABOUT ANTIQUITY AT THE TIME OF LUKE, HERE'S A GOOD ONE FOR YOU. HER FICTION CRAFT IS EXCELLENT TOO. OF COURSE, SHE IS A FICTION WRITER AND FILLS IN SOME BLANKS AS ALL HISTORICAL FICTION WRITERS DO...BUT SHE WORKS IT ALL TOGETHER...FACT AND FICTION SEAMLESSLY...IN A WORK DONE BY A MASTER AUTHOR, AND I SHOULD ADD A VERY CREATIVE, ELOQUENT, PERCEPTIVE AUTHOR. FOR EXAMPLE, THE PROFOUND SPEECH OF DIODORUS, THE TOUGH, REALISTIC OLD TRIBUNE GIVEN TO THE ROMAN SENATE IS A CLASSIC OF LITERATURE. THIS SPEECH SHOULD BE CARVED IN BRONZE AND POSTED ALL OVER WASHINGTON, D.C., BECAUSE DIODORUS EXPRESSES EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR GOVERNMENT AND COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, THIS VERY MINUTE. THERE ARE OTHER PROFOUND STATEMENTS. KEPTAH THE PHYSICIAN AND LUKES FIRST TEACHER, WHEN SPEAKING TO LUKE SAID: "MAN IS HIS OWN EXECUTIONER; HE HANGS HIMSELF ON HIS OWN CROSS; HE IS HIS OWN DISEASE, HIS OWN FATE, HIS OWN DEATH. HIS CIVILIZATIONS ARE AN EXPRESSION OF HIM." I HAVE A HUNCH THIS BOOK IS CALDWELL'S MAGNUM OPUS IT IS SO GOOD. I BELIEVE THAT ANY ADVANCED PRO SCHOLAR WILL APPRECIATE ALL HER SCHOLARLY EXCAVATIONS...AS WILL LAY READERS, BUT THE APPROACH DOESN'T COME ACROSS IN A DULL WAY. IT HAS A LOT OF EXCITING ADVENTURES, SUCH AS LUCANUS HELPING GALLEY SLAVES SUFFERING FROM THE HORRIBLE PLAGUE IN THE FILTHY HOLD OF A ROMAN SHIP. HE HAS GONE AGAINST THE STRICT ORDERS OF THE CAPTAIN TO DO THIS. THIS IS A THICK BOOK. YOU WILL FIND IT HARD TO PUT DOWN. DEAR AND GLORIOUS PHYSICIAN IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT BOOK. I FOUND MY COPY AT A USED BOOK SALE IN SPRINGFIELD, MO., HELD BY THE SPRINGFIELD-GREENE COUNTY LIBRARY. I PAID $1.00 FOR IT. QUITE AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIND!!!! Ron Miller, entered May 6th, 2007 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	DAME KATHLEEN KENYON, BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGIST. I was first introduced to Kathleen Kenyon in Dr. Saul Weinberg's class "Archaeological Methods" in classics dept. at the University of Missouri. She wasn't a Dame at that time, but a very well known archaeologist. Dr. Weinberg knew her very well. Weinberg was excavating at Corinth at that time. And, later he would teach in Isarael. When our little class at Mizzou was in session it just so happened that Kathleen Kenyon's little book, Beginning in Archaeology (the American version) came out, and Dr. Weinberg had written the Introduction of this edition. I remember how excited he was and showed us all a copy. I would buy one shortly. Many years later I loaned it to a student, and that is the last I ever saw of it. Kenyon was one of the greats. She had been a student of none other than Mortimer Wheeler. One of her most famous excavations was at Jericho a site that had been worked practically to death by previous archaeologists, so, it was quite a challenge for her. I think it became very difficult to see the walls in the "stratigraphy." If you want to have some fun, get together a collection of Kenyon's writings. Entered Oct. 1, 2005. RM
RE. THE DA VINCI CODE...OR I'VE GOT SOME NEAT SWAMPLAND IN ARKANSAS THAT I WANT TO SELL YOU....ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO SELL YOU SOME BERMUDA SHORTS IN ALASKA IN THE WINTER= TIME....PLUS SOME THOUGHTS ON FRINGE ARCHAEOLOGY/HISTORY. There are several things we need to consider re. the Da Vinci Code. First, it is an imaginative novel, and will no doubt get many to thinking. However, there is plenty of proof that the Scriptures are accurate, and that Jesus didn't get married. We have four Gospels that tell about the life of Jesus. They have just enough difference in them to show scholars that they aren't carbon copies. And the basic facts agree. They were written by different men - right there on the spot and got it down for all of us for all time. The Da Vinci Code is a good story, but, it picked the one subject - the Bible - that is guaranteed to cause problems if there are variations. Of all the subjects in the world that is the one subject upon which one must tread lightly. In fact extreme variation goes into areas where "Angels fear to tread." Nothing is closer to one's heart and soul as the Bible. Just look what happens when a new Version/Paraphrase/Translation comes out! Keep in mind the big hurdle for the average reader and student of the bible also, is figuring out if a work is either fiction or fact. Things look so real and authentic on the screen or in print. And the action and story and pretty people are so great. The dialogue is wonderful. We are all caught in this great illusion of supposed reality. We're entertained, and it's enjoyable eating popcorn and drinking a cola too. But wait...it's just a story isn't it? But is it fiction or fact? Do we even want to think about such a difficult subject right now? No problem if it's a romantic comedy or some jungle adventure or whatever...but...if it is about the sacred bible with its super aura...wow! But sitting in the plush theatre seat we don't have the hard tools of the scholar to sort everything out. If we don't watch it, fiction can become fact...or fact fiction and many stages inbetween. Sometimes, there are a few lines at the beginning or end of the work, "any resemblence between this work and fact or any characters herein and anyone living or dead are purely coincidental." I don't know if anyone reads this or not? THERE'S CERTAINLY A LEGITIMATE THING CALLED FICTIONALIZED ARCHAEOLOGY OR HISTORY ---AND THERE ARE MANY NOVELS OF THIS TYPE. I HAVE WRITTEN ONE NOVEL AND MANY SHORT STORIES OF HISTORICAL FICTION. A SHORT STORY ON THIS SITE 'THE RETURN OF SAUL OF TARSUS' IS A GOOD EXAMPLE. THEREIN I TRIED HARD TO KEEP RIGHT WITH THE BIBLE. IN FACT I EVEN QUOTE FROM THE BIBLE (KING JAMES). AND I HAVE GREAT LEAWAY AND FREEDOM TO WORK ALL AROUND THE BIBLE. BUT I WOULDN'T DARE DISTORT BASIC KNOWN BIBLE FACTS... PROVEN BEYOND QUESTION IN TOUGH SCHOLARLY COURT. THIS APPROACH IS VERY VERY EXCITING, AND I HAVE A LOT OF FUN. I BELIEVE WE WRITERS HAVE FALLEN DOWN ON THE JOB, AND HAVEN'T GOTTEN ENOUGH OF THE REAL, TRUE, EXCITING WORD OUT TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE BIBLE. And, many scholars and others need to lighten up in life. If one gets too upset it's not good for you. THE ROBE IS A CLASSIC NOVEL WITH MUCH INTERTWINED FICTION CENTERED AROUND CHRIST'S ROBE - WHICH IS REAL. THE AUTHOR DIDN'T USE JESUS' HAT, BECAUSE JESUS, AS FAR AS ANYONE KNOWS, DIDN'T WEAR A HAT. AND, I SUPPOSE YOU COULD INVENT A HAT FOR JESUS. THAT MIGHT LIFT AN EYEBROW OR TWO. THIS WOULDN'T ROCK THE SCHOLARLY BOAT AS MUCH AS IF JESUS GOT MARRIED AND HAD CHILDREN. (of course, fiction can do this..fiction is like the India rubber man and ambidextrous) CONCERNING THE HAT ... OF COURSE, IT WOULD HELP GREATLY IF YOU CAN PROVE, SAY, THAT EVERYONE WORE A HAT WHO LIVED IN NAZARATH OR MIGHT BE A FISHERMEN. SO, REALLY THERE IS ALL KINDS OF LEAWAY FOR THE FICTION WRITER IN THE BIBLE, A WONDERFUL SOURCE. AGAIN, JUST KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FICTION AND FACT. IF YOU KNOW IT IS FICTION, JUST LEAN BACK, ENJOY YOUR POPCORN AND HAVE FUN. BUT KNOW THAT THE WORLD OF FACT THOUGH IS A JOB FOR SCHOLARLY COURT. AND THAT IS A TOUGH ROW TO HOE. THE ARCHAEOLOGISTS ARE SOME OF THE TOUGHEST SCHOLARS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TOUGH IF ONE INVENTS A WIFE FOR JESUS. OF COURSE, THERE IS SUCH A VALID, IMPORTANT THING AS WORKING THEORIES. BUT SUCH THEORIES MUST BE STATED CLEARLY THAT THEY ARE WORKING THEORIES. STUDENTS WRITING THEIR MASTER'S THESES AND DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS DO THIS, AND, THEN, SET OUT TO PROVE THEIR THESES. AFTER PUBLICATION, SOME FACULTY, AND IN THE CASE OF A DOCTORAL DISSERTATION, STAFF AND STUDENTS ARE INVITED TO THE PUBLIC "GRILLING" OF THE CANDIDATE. SOMETIMES THE STUDENT HAS TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. THEN, THE THESIS/DISSERTATION IS SOMETIMES PUBLISHED IN A SCHOLARLY JOURNAL OF SOME SORT, OR SEPARTATELY IF OF MUCH SIGNIFICANCE. THEN, THE WORK IS REGISTERED WITH AN INTERNATIONAL THESIS/DISSERTATION REGISTRY SERVICE WHERE ANYONE CAN ORDER COPIES. THEN, THE WORKS ARE PUT THROUGH MORE SCHOLARLY (PUBLISHED) WRINGERS. NOVELS GET PUT THROUGH LITERARY AND PUBLIC CRITICISM. THERE ARE REVIEWS IN NEWSPAPERS, ETC., BUT NOTHING LIKE THE MICROSCOPIC WRINGERS OF FORMAL SCHOLARSHIP. FICTION WRITERS MAY TRY AND PROVE THEIR THESES IN THEIR WORKS BUT MOST OF THEIR REVIEWERS ARE LAY PUBLIC. IF SOME SCHOLARS DO REVIEW IT, THE RESULTS USUALLY END UP GATHERING DUST ON THE SHELF IN THE BASEMENT OF SOME OBSCURE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT. AND THE CREATIVE WORK IS OUT THERE GETTING RE-RUNS. ON THE OTHER HAND, GOOD HISTORICAL FICTION IS GREAT AND MUCH FUN. SAMUEL ELLIOT MORRISON OF HARVARD, THE GREAT WRITER OF SEA STORIES, SAID THAT MOST PEOPLE GET MOST OF THEIR HISTORY FROM HISTORICAL NOVELS. LOTS OF RESPONSIBILITY THERE FOR AUTHORS. THEY CAN FILL IN SOME GAPS WITH DEDUCTION, BUT THERE ARE GOOD WAYS TO DO THIS AND BAD. IT HAS TO BE BELIEVABLE AND PASS A BUNCH OF HARD HEADED CRITICS. STILL, YOU CAN FICTIONALIZE AND WORK AROUND BASIC FACTS, BUT YOU STILL DON'T WANT TO CHANGE THE BASIC TRUE CORE. AS MENTIONED, THE BIBLE IS A SPECIAL SENSITIVE SITUATION, PRECIOUS IN MANY WAYS, INERRENT TO MANY. TAMPERING WITH THE BIBLE IS LIKE WALKING THROUGH A MINE FIELD. GOOD LUCK. KEEP IN MIND THAT CREATIVITY, IMAGINATION AND WORKING THEORIES ARE GREAT (AND IF EVERYONE KNOWS IT IS A THEORY). I BELIEVE SOME EXCELLENT EXAMPLES OF HISTORICAL FICTION ARE THOSE BY IRVING STONE WHO WROTE; THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY...AND PASSIONS OF THE MIND (ABOUT FREUD) AND A NUMBER OF OTHERS. STUDY STONE'S APPROACH. I COLLECT HIS WORKS. I GET EXCITED WHEN I FIND ONE OF HIS WORKS AT A USED BOOK SALE. WHEN PEOPLE LIKE YOUR WRITER WRITING IN A GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGY WEB SITE LIKE THIS OR EDITING A NEWSLETTER AND HAVE TO GET OUT THE DUST PAN, BROOM AND MOP AND TRY AND CLEAN UP THE MESSES, IT'S PRACTICALLY A FULL TIME JOB. THIS CAN REALLY GET WILD. WE HAVE TO WORK HARD EXPLAINING TO THE PUBLIC THAT THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS DIDN'T COME OVER TO SOUTH AMERICA IN FLYING MACHINES, AND THERE AREN'T CIVILIZATIONS ON THE MOON, ETC. BUT, A LOT OF TIMES THE PUBLIC HAS ALREADY BECOME BRAIN-WASHED BY THE WRONG INFORMATION. YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE HOW MUCH OF THIS HALF BAKED ARCHAEOLOGY IS OUT THERE, AND IT DRIVES ARCHAEOLOGISTS UP THE DIG WALLS! I TRY AND BE OPEN MINDED, AND HAVE EVEN MENTIONED SOME REALLY FAR OUT THEORIES (BELIEVED AS FACT BY PROPONENTS). I WANT STUDENTS TO KNOW THAT SUCH THINGS ARE OUT THERE. IT'S A WEIRD FACT OF SCHOLARLY LIFE. AND PEOPLE WILL STOP BY THE OFFICE AND ASK ME ABOUT SOMETHING; "I JUST FOUND THIS ROCK AND UNCLE JOE THINKS IT IS A FOSSILIZED HUMAN THUMB!" I TELL THEM THAT FLESH WON'T FOSSILIZE.,,ONLY BONE. SORRY. THIS WOULD MAKE A WONDERFUL FICTIONALIZED STORY. PEOPLE HAVE LUGGED BACK-BREAKING BOULDERS INTO MY FRONT YARD, AND THEY DO LOOK LIKE A HUMAN HEAD....BUT I HAVE TO TELL THEM...NO...SEE THESE FRESH PNEUMATIC DRILL MARKS. SORRY...IT'S A MOD...AND I REALLY DOUBT THAT IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE AS THERE AREN'T ANY BURN MARKS ON IT AS IT ENTERED THE ATMOSPHERE. THEY GO AWAY GLOOMY...MUTTERING...WHAT THE HECK DOES HE KNOW" ALSO, THERE'S MUCH PSYCHIC-ARCHAEOLOGY GOING ON TOO. PEOPLE ARE IN TOUCH WITH THE ANCIENTS IN MATERIAL WAYS. I HAVE TO EXPLAIN THAT WHEN PEOPLE DIE, ONLY THEIR SPIRITS GO ON...SO...HOW CAN THEY MAKE CONTACT MATERIALLY WITH A SPIRIT? YOU CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THE FRINGE STUFF GOING ON OUT THERE. IT IS A WONDER THAT I AM STILL AS OPEN MINDED AS I AM HERE AT THE WAS. ALL THE PRO ARCHAEOLOGISTS I KNOW RUN FROM THIS STUFF. BUT IT ALL JUST FASCINATES ME. THERE IS SOMETHING CLICKS IN SOME MINDS - THAT TRULY WANT TO BELIEVE - THAT PERHAPS THEY HAVE MADE A GREAT DISCOVERY - AND THEY BECOME ADAMANT ABOUT IT - AND JUST WON'T LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN. THIS THINKING SUDDENLY BECOMES RIGHT. BUT, THE PRO ARCHAEOLOGISTS I KNOW, KNOW JUST HOW INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT IT IS TO ESTABLISH TRUE FACTS...AND THEY JUST DON'T RUSH INTO THINGS. ALL I CAN SAY IS, HOPEFULLY, THE PUBLIC WILL STUDY AS MUCH REAL ARCHAEOLOGY AS THEY CAN AND SEE HOW THE PRO ARCHAEOLOGISTS AND PRO-AMATEUR ARCHAEOLOGISTS SIFT AND COMPARE, ETC.....AND ALSO STUDY HISTORICAL AND PREHISTORICAL FICTION TOO AS THAT OF IRVING STONE. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD EVEN BE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY COURSES IN GOOD HISTORICAL FICTION AND POPULAR SCIENCE WRITING. THAT'S GREAT AND EDUCATIONAL. I BELIEVE THEN FOLKS WILL COMMENCE TO BE ABLE TO SEPARATE FICTION FROM FACT. AND, MAYBE MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING, JUST TAKE THINGS WITH A GRAIN OF SALT - MAYBE AN ENTIRE BAG! GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE AUTHORS, READERS AND VIEWERS. IT'S A SCHOLARLY JUNGLE OUT THERE. HAVING SAID ALL THIS, I DON'T WANT TO DISCOURAGE FICTION WRITERS...BUT JUST LOOK AT SOME OF THE SCHOLARLY ANGLES. NOW, I HAVE AN IDEA FOR A SHORT STORY ABOUT BIBLE TIMES. I SHUDDER A LITTLE, BUT MUST NOT BE DISUADED. I DON'T WANT TO DISCOURAGE CREATIVITY IN ANY WAY...MINE OR ANYONE ELSES. RON - MAY 18th, 2006. Touched up some more, Aug. 24, 2006....and also Sept. 22, 2006.	SIR FREDRICK KENYON - We can't speak of Dame Kathleen Kenyon without telling about her Dad, Sir Fredrick Kenyon of the British Muesum. How about that...a Sir and a Dame in the same family. Sir Fredrick was a famous Bible scholar. Among other things, he wrote a great little book: THE STORY OF THE BIBLE. This book is a must for your library. Just think, he was right there in the British Library with all those famous Bible manuscripts around him that had been obtained by the museum for years. And, of course, England was the home of that great group of super scholars who put together the King James Version of the Bible, very popular. Three other books on the bible story are How Came the Bible? by Edgar J. Goodspeed....How We Got the Bible by Neil R. Lightfood....and Where We Got the Bible our debt to the Catholic Church by Henry G. Graham. It's a fact that if it hadn't been for the Catholics down through the centuries no one would have the bible. It's miraculous how the books and letters made it through time. It will be an adventure for you to find these great little books. And when you are excavating garage sales, used book sales, your local library, Amazon.com...Barnes & Noble (BN.com) for the above, also keep your archaeological hawk eyes peeled for books by Kenyon's daughter. After you begin to excavate a few such books on biblical scholarship - written in an understandable way by these two ....and also Albright's ARCHAEOLOGY OF PALESTINE (for laymen) ...all of which will lead you on and on to other great Bible books ....I predict that one day...you will glance over at that old, worn, dust-covered Bible on the coffee table or crammed into some book shelf...and run over and grab it...and voraciously commence gobbeling it up. Get ready for the adventure of your life. (entered Mar. 2, '06 --- Ron M.). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - THE ADVENTURES OF TISCHENDORF'S DISCOVERY OF THE PRICELESS OLD BIBLE I can only relate here a little of the great story of how the scholar Tischendorf discovered the fabulous old Bible "The Codex Sinaiticus" in the Monestary of St. Catherine at the foot of Mt. Sinai. He was nosing around this ancient monestary when one of the monks walked by with a basket of strange looking pages. He was getting ready to burn them. Tischendorf asked to look at them and I think almost fainted when he found they were pages from an old Bible written in Greek. Great Heavens - what was all this?! Turned out this was the Codex Sinaiticus written way back in 400 A.D. What a great find for the scholars who have been analyzing ever since. Tischendorf left but then returned and found some more "leaves." There was much politics involved and negotiations. But, finally, the manuscript ended up in the British Library in the care of Sir Fredrick Kenyon and other experts. One wonders if there are any other rare ancient manuscripts out there just waiting to be discovered? I have a hunch there are. You never know what is going to turn up and where. The dryer the climate the better the chances. All the Near and Middle East and including Egypt are great looking grounds. And, it doesn't have to be a complete manuscript to be of help to scholars. The famed John Ryland's fragment from the Book of John is a good example. As far as I know that is the oldest piece of the New Testament that has ever been found, and, dates around 125 A.D. What next?! Good excavating in the sands of time. RM Mar. 6th, 2006. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Great Book on Biblical Archaeology and antidote to all the atheism trying desperately to pollute the good atmosphere of God. HISTORY, ARCHAEOLOGY AND CHRISTIAN HUMANISM BY WILLIAM FOXWELL ALBRIGHT. Albright as you may know was the dean of all the biblical archaeologists, a great stickler for the scientific method, field archaeologist, genius at linguistics, and who scanned antiquity of the near and middle east with the most fascinating fine tooth and comb you will ever see. Not only this, he produced some of the best biblical archaeologists around. He was Head of the Dept. of Near Eastern Languages at Johns Hopkins and active in ASOR, the grand old American Schools of Oriental Research. The Albright Center in Jerusalem has been named for him. It is more fun to study his works. Keep on the lookout at used book sales for some of the vast array of his writings. If you find one, you have really hit the jackpot. Works as From the Stone Age To Christianity (a little heavy in spots, but stick with it|), His Rice University Lectures "History & Analogy," and The Archaeology of Palestine. This one is a little out of date, but that is o.k., it is still good. The title mentioned above History, Archaeology and Christian Humanism has helped me personally. It is an eye-opener. And in a way it was a shocker when I first read. It really rocked me. I have to backtrack a little to explain. At the University of Missouri I took a heavy 5 hour course, Ancient and Medieval History taught by Prof. Wrench. It even had a Lab period. Prof had circumnavigated the Dead Sea in a rowboat, explored the passageways in the pyramids, and knew more dates, names and events of antiquity by heart than you can possibly imagine. He was active in the Missouri Archaeological Society, active on campus, cheerleading at football games with his long hair before long hair became a fashion. He was champion of all the students. When in the first and second grade in the lab school on campus, I often hung out at the Museum of Anthropology on campus that he ran. He even let me watch things while he went on errands around campus. Later, I was on digs with him..at Graham Cave and some others. He visited the Rice Site and was my guest in my tent. He and I worked in the lab of the Museum of Anthropology when it was in the basement of old Switzler Hall. He was in charge of the Archaeological Site Survey. Anyway, one of our main texts in "Ancient History," was Charles Braidwoods THE CONQUEST OF CIVILIZATION. Braidwood of the famed Oriental Institute in Chicago was one of the icon scholars of the near and middle east. In fact, he coined the famous descriptive phrase: "The Fertile Crescent." Now, back to William Foxwell Albright. In his book he explainged in detail all about Braidwood being one of the big Humanist(atheist) gurus in scholarship and the humanist movement that was gaining much momentum in his day, and still gaining momentum with some major anti-god conquests in grade and high schools, and universities. I hope the reader here can imagine what a shock this was...to suddently realize your mind conned. Just think of all the Christianity and Judaeism and no doubt Muslimism too, history that was no doubt ignored - you could call it historical defacing. Wonderful feeling being taken to the cleaners!!! And just think of the thousands of students, also taken to the cleaners. When I thought about this, one could see that there was an exciting spark missing in Braidwood's text. And many other texts today have historical defacing. I really feel sorry for students. Albright's book is a must for any student, and teacher too. What a breath of fresh air! When citizens of America discover how much they have been conned by the humanist movement, it is going to be very interesting. I would not miss all this for anything. The following isn't in Albright's book, you may or may not know, that the symbol of the humanist movement is the Greek God Prometheus. He stole fire from the Gods and gave it to Man, which made the Gods mad, and punished him. The thing is, begin to look around you for this symbol. One of the best examples right under everyone's nose is Prometheus in Rockafeller Center, N.Y. It's one of the symbols of N.Y. Ah yes, isn't it a wonderful feeling to get zonked? The American people are suffering from humanism zonkites. The fact is that Man without God falls flat on his face...and vibrant God/Life "the quickening spirit" of St. Paul is missing, not to mention the God/Love of St. John...and the limitless nature and harmony of God and His Creation. Look around you at the evidence. Good luck on anti-zonking. Ron Miller, May 24,2007. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -