Proof of Bible story about angels killing 185,000 soldiers in a night is uncovered after 2,700 years

[Occams Barber]

A volcanic eruption is more likely.

I've come across both explanations. From what little I've read the meteoric airburst hypothesis seems to fit the circumstances better. It's also possible that both events occurred separately and were scrambled together.

The possibility of a natural explanation for S&G's demise also left me wondering whether Jericho's walls might have come-a-tumbling-down as a result of an earthquake?

OB

 

[RileyG]

You're probably right. S&Gs reputation may be totally undeserved. The God's punishment thing was probably a story concocted to explain what was inexplicable back then.

OB

You’re an atheist. You probably don’t believe homosexuality and homosexual activity IS EVIL.

From the traditional Christian perspective, it totally is.

Which of course, I agree with.

You do you. That’s your own choice.

God bless

 

[FireDragon76]

for S&G's demise also left me wondering whether Jericho's walls might have come-a-

You’re an atheist. You probably don’t believe homosexuality and homosexual activity IS EVIL.

The Sodom and Gomorrah story in the Bible isn't about homosexuality per se, but about hospitality to travelers (or lack thereof). This value still exists in Middle Eastern and Islamic cultures to this day. Abraham's hospitality to the three strangers is contrasted with Sodom and Gomorrah seeking to exploit their guests.

 

[Occams Barber]

You’re an atheist. You probably don’t believe homosexuality and homosexual activity IS EVIL.

From the traditional Christian perspective, it totally is.

Which of course, I agree with.

You do you. That’s your own choice.

God bless

My view of S&G has nothing to do with the nature of the crime (e.g., homosexuality). It's entirely possible that the crime was invented post-hoc to explain why God would flatten S&G in a fiery mess.

Remember this is several centuries BC. There was no explanation for things like meteoric mass destruction or earthquakes so assuming God's involvement was natural. From their point of view, it was obvious that God had something against S&G.

Was S&G a particularly Gay town? Who knows - but, rightly or wrongly, that appears to have been chosen as the sin which could explain S&Gs destruction.

Occam's razor suggests the crimes were invented or exaggerated after the event to explain why God might rain down death and destruction.

OB

 

[Nithavela]

You're probably right. S&Gs reputation may be totally undeserved. The God's punishment thing was probably a story concocted to explain what was inexplicable back then.

OB

Reminds me of the principle of the "heavenly mandate" of ancient china, where every dynasty falling was being explained with that dynasty losing the favour of the heavens.

 

[David Lamb]

My view of S&G has nothing to do with the nature of the crime (e.g., homosexuality). It's entirely possible that the crime was invented post-hoc to explain why God would flatten S&G in a fiery mess.

Remember this is several centuries BC. There was no explanation for things like meteoric mass destruction or earthquakes so assuming God's involvement was natural. From their point of view, it was obvious that God had something against S&G.

Was S&G a particularly Gay town? Who knows - but, rightly or wrongly, that appears to have been chosen as the sin which could explain S&Gs destruction.

Occam's razor suggests the crimes were invented or exaggerated after the event to explain why God might rain down death and destruction.

OB

It seems that you don't believe the bible, because there, it is made quite clear what the prevailing sin was in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. It even gives an example:

“4 ¶ Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally."” (Ge 19:4-5 NKJV)

 

[FireDragon76]

Reminds me of the principle of the "heavenly mandate" of ancient china, where every dynasty falling was being explained with that dynasty losing the favour of the heavens.

There's definitely a working out of political theology going on in the Hebrew Bible.

But like I said, the real value of these stories, for a Jew or Christian, isn't so much about a lesson in vulcanology or geology, but what sort of moral character we should develop, and how this points to the divine.

 

[FireDragon76]

It seems that you don't believe the bible, because there, it is made quite clear what the prevailing sin was in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. It even gives an example:

“4 ¶ Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally."” (Ge 19:4-5 NKJV)

Ezekiel 16:49-50 states what the sin of Sodom was:

“‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen."

 

[David Lamb]

Ezekiel 16:49-50 states what the sin of Sodom was:

We also have this from Jude:

“as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” (Jude 1:7 NKJV)

 

[rockytopva]

49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good. - Ezekiel 16

Let's see...

1. Arrogance
2. Gluttony
3. Laziness
4. Greed

 

[Nithavela]

There's definitely a working out of political theology going on in the Hebrew Bible.

But like I said, the real value of these stories, for a Jew or Christian, isn't so much about a lesson in vulcanology or geology, but what sort of moral character we should develop, and how this points to the divine.

Maybe, which is it why it seems odd that religious people feel the need to parade out those findings. For example, muslims tend to make a big thing out of a verse of the Quran that hints at fingerprints being unique. Anyone who looked at fingers closely could have seen that even in antiquity, but somehow that still strikes muslims as "proof" that islam is true.

 

[FireDragon76]

We also have this from Jude:

“as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” (Jude 1:7 NKJV)

"Strange flesh" is open to interpretation.

 

[FireDragon76]

Maybe, which is it why it seems odd that religious people feel the need to parade out those findings. For example, muslims tend to make a big thing out of a verse of the Quran that hints at fingerprints being unique. Anyone who looked at fingers closely could have seen that even in antiquity, but somehow that still strikes muslims as "proof" that islam is true.

It could be the result of religious fundamentalism seeing divine revelation as identical to scientific facts. But I think that's a category confusion.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

"Strange flesh" is open to interpretation.

I'm going to go out on an interpretive limb and surmise that "strange flesh" is a euphemism for 'bestiality.' I don't think we're doing that in the U.S. just yet, at least not legally.

 

[RileyG]

The Sodom and Gomorrah story in the Bible isn't about homosexuality per se, but about hospitality to travelers (or lack thereof). This value still exists in Middle Eastern and Islamic cultures to this day. Abraham's hospitality to the three strangers is contrasted with Sodom and Gomorrah seeking to exploit their guests.

Well...it's both, and I completely agree with you.

 

[RileyG]

My view of S&G has nothing to do with the nature of the crime (e.g., homosexuality). It's entirely possible that the crime was invented post-hoc to explain why God would flatten S&G in a fiery mess.

Remember this is several centuries BC. There was no explanation for things like meteoric mass destruction or earthquakes so assuming God's involvement was natural. From their point of view, it was obvious that God had something against S&G.

Was S&G a particularly Gay town? Who knows - but, rightly or wrongly, that appears to have been chosen as the sin which could explain S&Gs destruction.

Occam's razor suggests the crimes were invented or exaggerated after the event to explain why God might rain down death and destruction.

OB

It also had much to do with inhospitality and how the stranger/outsider were treated as @FireDragon76 explained.