Biblical Hebrew Forum

[K Randolph <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Yigal:
The problem we have with Jim’s theories is that he starts with certain
beliefs that are outside the realm of science (they can be neither verified
nor falsified by science), in other words, faith, then tries to use it as
proof that his theories are correct.

For example, long lives, based on our present conditions. But has the human
body been so weakened by diseases and other environmental factors that
didn’t exist in the past, as well as DNA degradation, so that ancient people
could have lived longer? That’s speculation based on the historical record,
one that science cannot touch because it is dealing with what cannot
presently be observed. The surviving records don’t give an answer to the
why, just lists that the shortening lives was a gradual process.

I don’t think James was likening Jim to a child, rather that his claims are
based on beliefs that are false in the same manner as those of children who
do not know about past conditions, therefore wonder why grandparents did the
things they did. James referenced the claims, not the person.

Karl W. Randolph.

On Sun, Jul 19, 2009 at 2:07 AM, Yigal Levin <leviny1 AT mail.biu.ac.il> wrote:

> Dear James,
>
> While I personally think that Jim's theory is dead wrong, there is a huge
> difference between the long life-spans of biblical characters (and those in
> other works of literature as well) and the examples that you listed bellow.
> Humans living hundreds of years is not only not a part of our present-day
> experience. It is also totally impossible within our understanding of the
> laws of nature as they stand at present. Theorizing that "nature was
> different in the distant past" or the "God intervened in the cases of
> certain chosen people" is a statement of faith, by its nature unprovable by
> any scientific method known to us. As long as you admit that your position
> depends on an acceptance of the biblical text as factually accurate out of
> faith, that's fine. Comparing anyone who does not accept your faith with
> children is derogatory, and has no place on this list.
>
> Yigal Levin
>
> Co-moderator, B-Hebrew
>
>