Enigmatic Mirror
An article about Mike Ash and his excellent book Shaken Faith Syndrome. Read more
An article about Mike Ash and his excellent book Shaken Faith Syndrome. Read more
Another methodological problem with the Documentary Hypothesis, which many scholars have noted, is that it is a massive exercise in circular reasoning. How do we know if a passage belongs to J, E, D, P, or other proposed authors? The answer is: it’s complicated; very complicated. And, unfortunately, different scholars see different characteristics for the various purported authors. The more you dig into the details of the various claimed characteristics, the more complex and often seemingly haphazard the system becomes.... Read more
I’d like to request that those of you who post comments use their real names. I use mine. Many, if not most of the problems of internet conversations derive from anonymous people behaving badly. If you are unwilling to use your own name, then please don’t comment. If you have a pseudonym, then introduce yourself in one of your comments. If anonymity continues, I’ll delete anonymous comments. Read more
The Documentary Hypothesis is not only unfalsifiable but also unverifiable. That is to say, there are no definitive criteria by which it can be decided which particular version of the Documentary Hypothesis, if any, is correct. It is, in its essence, an extended exercise in the fallacy of the possible proof. This is not to say that arguments can’t be made in favor of the Documentary Hypothesis, and for (or against) its many different variants. The problem is, how do... Read more
An interesting assessment of Post-Mormon monologues trying to disguise themselves as dialogues. It matches my experiences. Read more
Photos of the early first millennium BC Olmec pyramid at La Venta. Read more
Palestinian Muslims rioted today in opposition to Jewish attempts to pray and sacrifice on the Temple Mount. Read more
A major methodological problem facing proponents of the Documentary Hypothesis—the Documentarians—is the question of methodology. Since there is no empirical evidence supporting the hypothesis, the question arises, by what set of criteria can we determine if the Documentary Hypothesis accurately describes the pre-Pentateuch sources from which the Pentateuch was supposedly composed? The answer is: there are none. The reality is that the use of the same set of assumptions and methods by equally competent scholars has produced a wide range... Read more
Photos of the “Tomb of the Red Queen” from Palenque. Read more
Jews were prevented by Israeli police from attempting animal sacrifice for Passover (Korban Pesach) today on the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif. The article includes an interesting video of the “event.” Read more
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