The recently released documentary “Patterns of Evidence: Exodus” attempts to redirect the modern scholarly discussion of the historicity of the exodus by revealing evidence that mainstream scholars “don’t want the world to see–because it could cause them to shift their long-held positions.” The stated justification for the film, however, is not so much scholarly as it is the need to stem the tide of “attacks” on the Bible in modern culture, which have led directly to moral decline and young people leaving... Read more

Today’s post is the second of three on the recently released documentary “Patterns of Evidence: Exodus.” As I said in my first post, the concern I have is with the culture-war rhetoric the documentary seems to promote concerning the historical reliability of the exodus story. Below is the rationale for making this documentary taken from the film’s website. Stated are: The Problem, The Source of the Problem, The Attack on the Bible, and the Approach taken in the film. I’ve inserted some comments in red at points that I think... Read more

I’ve been asked a few times in recent weeks if I would comment on the recently released documentary Patterns of Evidence: Exodus.   I wasn’t able to see the film, since it has not been widely released, but I perused the film’s website, watched trailers, and read reactions. It struck me rather quickly that the film would likely rehash and repackage arguments for the historical accuracy of the exodus story in the Bible. Fine. Whatever. I was more concerned, though, that the film would... Read more