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From: djstevo@quicksilver.net.nz
Category: Category 1
Date: 27/12/03
Time: 20:26:05
Remote Name: 202.89.142.148
Ian challenged my reference to the Biblical Israel story as perhaps not being borne out by the Archaeological record.
Ian`s reply read ,in effect, " No ,a group of atheistic archaeologists ,led by Israel Finkelstein , without making any fresh discoveries decided to regig the time lines , then claim it never happened ."
Israel Finkelstein`s credentials I hesitate to question . As Professor of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University, of all institutions. I would hesitate to question his scholarship as Ian appears so ready to do . Any lack of scholarship would be very badly received by his peers and students, particularly the Conservatives, let alone the Ultra Orthodox community.
Ian`s remark that Finkelstein was " amongst a group of atheists " appears made as though that were a slur for a start upon his attempt at scholarship. David Brown , another archaeologist, has challenged Finkelstein`s hypothesis . Just as Ian noted the latters` atheistic stance I might mention that David Brown`s position is that of a creationist .Neither of these points may be relevant but, in the interests of balance, I add the counter point.
Whether the four stages in Israeli history are correctly chronologically established to accord with scripture is of academic interest only. I can well accept that in broad terms the Old Testament may outline history correctly . But that triumph is a far cry from establishing that the detail is correct and not loaded in the editing for political or other purposes with element of the supernatural. Hardly the province of Archaeology.
What interests me far more is the range of responses to Israel Finkelstein`s hypothesis whether it be true or not. Some see the Biblical account as a political document designed to glorify Josiah and connect him falsely with the Golden Era when the State of Israel rose up briefly as a powerful and advanced civilised centre . That the Bible is essentially a work of propoganda weaving historical fragments and myths of various Canaanite peoples into a powerful justification for Josiah`s rule and expansionist policies.
An American Jew advances most interesting and conciliatory personal viewpoint.
"I have for a long time struggled with the contradictions and problems of Zionism and the unjust policies of the State of Israel versus the Palestinians.For those brave enough to seize this research in the right spirit there is a solution in it for the Middle East ". Simply stated European Jews , Middle Eastern Jews and Palestinians are brothers and sisters and share a common Canaanite ancestry. There were a small number of voices amongst early Zionists who opposed the creation of the Jewish State in the region. They lost out to the bigger faction headed by David Ben Gurion, who suffered from the European disease of European Colonialism . Ben Gurion and those in his camp saw the natives of the region as an obstacle to be eliminated ,not as potential partners..
Okay the Biblical underpinnings of Zionism are under threat - but so they should be. Jews around the world must take pride in not just Israel but in the entire region of Palestine as the home of Canaanite and Israelite culture that both are descended from. It is common heritage that they have -- Not the distinctiveness and difference that is so contrived and nurtured even by the Diaspora.
What a paradigm shift this attitude reflects ! What an inspiration for the future.
It is the Zionists who through their acts of ethnic cleansing ( some parallel with Nazi Germany ,ironically) and ongoing violence have made enemies out of people who share a common ancestry .The ancient Canaanites had a great culture and from that culture sprang Judaism and it`s offshoots Christianity and Islam.
The ironic and sad part of hope for change in attitudes is seriously impeded by the West. Christianity sees itself as committed to it`s reading of Biblical "prophecy" and "covenant".Even if the Jewish and Arab worlds have to collide in the process. Despite possibility of resolution of the Palestinian conflict, with appropriate paradigm shift, parts of the Christian world would see maintenance of the disastrous status quo as fulfilling Biblical prophecy and covenant and, therefore , how the position must be played out . All from the position of some vicarious spectator without honest commitment .Those that nurture the view that the Jewish race are the "Chosen people" and that the Arab world is some impediment or scourge should stand ashamed of their stance and are guilty of every drop of blood that is shed in Palestine.Where lies sound conscience or is it superceded by religious belief ? Those that fled the claustrophobic and introspective world of Israel for the West are the only ones with sufficient perspective to find resolution, not merely to perpetuate the shameful past that their political leaders are hell bent on doing . Probably the worst illustration of diplomacy in international relations in history . And we are expected to respect those religions.