Minimalism mon amour

Uri Avnery's comments, quoted in the previous post, seem to have created a bow wave ranging from herniated shock to guarded reservation among readers of this blog. So, what the heck, let's stir things up further with this short article on the Bible and Interpretation site by Jim West: A (Very, Very) Short History of Minimalism.

Enjoy!

Archaeology and the State of Israel

Israeli peace activist and former Knesset member Uri Avnery has a transcript of a speech entitled The Connection Between Archaeology and Ideology in the Middle East up on the CounterPunch site. It's a brilliant introduction to the politically inspired deceit that surrounds much popular rhetoric on this subject.

 An excerpt:

"[W]ith the coming of the Zionists to Palestine, a frantic archeological search started. The country was combed for real, scientific proof that the Biblical story was not just a bunch of myths, but real honest-to-God history. (Pun intended.) Christian Zionists came even earlier.

There started a veritable attack on archeological sites. The upper layers of Ottoman and Mamelukes, Arabs and Crusaders, Byzantines and Romans and Greeks and Persians were uncovered and removed in order to lay bare the ancient layer of the Children of Israel and to prove the Bible right.

Huge efforts were made. David Ben-Gurion, a self-appointed Biblical scholar, led the effort. The Chief of Staff of the army, Yigael Yadin, the son of an archeologist, and himself a professional archeologist, searched ancient sites to prove that the Conquest of Canaan really happened. Alas, no proof.

When remnants of the bones of Bar Kochba’s fighters were discovered in Judean desert caves, they were buried on Ben-Gurion’s orders in a big military ceremony. The uncontested fact that Bar Kochba had caused perhaps the greatest catastrophe in Jewish history was glossed over.

And the result?

Incredible as it sounds, four generations of devoted archeologists, with a burning conviction and huge resources, did produce exactly:

Nothing.

From the beginning of the effort to this very day, not a single piece of evidence of the ancient history was found. Not a single indication that the exodus from Egypt, the basis of Jewish history, ever happened. Nor of the 40 years of wandering in the desert. No evidence of the conquest of Canaan, as described at length in the Book of Joshua. The mighty King David, whose kingdom extended – according to the Bible – from the Sinai peninsula to the north of Syria, did not leave a trace. (Lately an inscription with the name David was discovered, but with no indication that this David was a king.)

Israel appears for the first time in sound archeological findings in Assyrian inscriptions, which describe a coalition of local kingdoms which tried to stop the Assyrian advance into Syria. Among others, King Ahab of Israel is mentioned as the chief of a considerable military contingent. Ahab, who ruled today’s Samaria (in the north of the occupied West Bank) from 871 BC until 852 BC was not beloved by God, though the Bible describes him as a war hero. He marks the beginning of the entry of Israel into proven history.

(Tip of the fez to Jim West who drew attention to Avnery's article a couple of days ago.)

"Fool Me Once..."

Oh the irony; Roderick "Spanky" Meredith quoting the "highly regarded modern philosopher Søren Kierkegaard."

Kierkegaard died in 1855. You can be sure however, if he were alive today, he'd take a rather dim view of Spanky.

Yes folks, the first 2015 edition of Tomorrow's World - flagship magazine of the Living Church of God - is now available for your edification and entertainment. And if it wasn't for the slick layout and graphics you could be reading a 1955 copy of The Plain Truth.

As for Kierkegaard, Spanky found a nice wee quote somewhere, then proceeded to incorporate it in his editorial - he's rewritten it many times before - this time with a title worthy of The Watchtower: "Study to Avoid Deception!"

Too bad he doesn't take his own advice.

Then there's the cover article by the this spiritual giant entitled "Will God Bless You and Your Finances?" Anyone want to guess what that one's about?

"[W]e would be remiss if we did not remind you, occasionally, of God’s direct instruction on tithing and the blessings you will receive if you are willing to obey your Creator and “seek first” the Kingdom of God above all else—even in financial ways!"

And

"God has certain basic commandments and statutes that last forever for human beings. Tithing is certainly one of these."

Richard Ames is also up to the bat with an article that alerts us to "Prophetic Trends for 2015."

"Dear readers, we are living in the exciting prophesied “end-times.” End-time prophecies that have been in place for thousands of years are “speeding up” toward fulfillment as never before. We look forward to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, who will soon return to establish the Kingdom of God on planet Earth. So we must be prepared. Even if Christ does not return for a few more years, we cannot let our guard down individually, as any one of us might die tonight. We must draw close to God in 2015, and we must stay close to Him. As we do, we can be informed and encouraged by the fulfillment of prophesied events as we obey Christ’s command to “watch” in 2015 and beyond!"

Talk about mixed messages. Speeding up as never before brethren, living here in the end-times, but don't hold your breath.

John Meakin has the real oil on what's happening in Her Britannic Majesty's domains: "What Does Scotland's 'No!' Mean for the United Kingdom and Bible Prophecy?"

(Nothing John, absolutely nothing.)

Dougie Winnail beats the same old drum with "Prophecy Comes Alive: The Demise of the West."

Yup, we've read it all before. It gets no better with the passing of time.

Quotable

"The ideologue has a singular cast of mind, one that needs bold rules and eschews nuances. Abundant examples exist of those who, devout in proselytising for one belief system, undergo an epiphany, and then reach in sudden disillusionment for a diametrically opposed but equally rigid creed."

Gordon McLaughlan (emphasis supplied)

Peanut Prophecy

Rod, Gerry, the lads in Milford and certain others should have this framed behind their oversized desks.

Mellow Kiwi Jazz

Jazz? Not my first choice in musical genre, but I'm willing to make an exception for Taupo, the work of Brian Smith and friends. Some old boys got together to record these ten tracks back in 2007. Included is that unintentional minimalist anthem "It Ain't Necessarily So" from Porgy and Bess. Here's what the Marbecks website has to say.

'Taupo' is a fine new recording of smooth and sophisticated sounds from New Zealand tenor "Moonlight" saxophonist, Brian Smith.

'Taupo' was the product of a day session at York Street Studios, Auckland in September 2006, and later mixed at Muscle Studios Taupo Bay, in the Far North. The title derives from this most beautiful location and is also featured in the cover artwork..

Along with leader Brian Smith the album features some of New Zealand's most talented musicians. Billy Kristian (bass guitar), Kevin Field (piano), Lance Su'a (guitar), Kevin Haines (bass), Kim Paterson (trumpet), and twenty year old sensation Alain Koetsier (drums).

Brian Smith started to make his mark in Auckland New Zealand in 1958. and apart from a stint in Australia working on the Gold Coast for 2 years, he established himself as an in demand tenor player backing local & touring musicians.

He moved to London in 1964, performing at Ronnie Scott's and working & touring with such names as: Humphrey Littleton, Alexis Korner, T-Bone walker, Georgie Fame, Alan Price, Annie Ross, Bing Crosby, Mark Murphy, Jon Hendricks, John Dankworth, & Tubby Hayes. He was a founder member of 'Nucleus' which won the European Band competition in Montreaux in 1970, resulting in gigs at Newport Jazz Fest and tours of Italy, Germany, Holland, and America.

In 1969 he started working in the Maynard Ferguson band, staying with them until 1975 including touring and recording. He also backed acts like Nancy Wilson, The 4 Tops, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Donovan, Dusty Springfield, sandy Shaw and Lulu.

Brian returned to New Zealand in 1980 and has since been kept busy recording, writing and performing on tours with a huge list of top national and international stars. He remains one of New Zealand's most sought after musicians.

Along the way he has recorded many albums non the least being the New Zealand No 1 selling album 'Moonlight Sax' which sold over 40,000 copies. Followed up later by 'Moonlight Sax II'.

The YouTube clip below, made in 2012, gives an indication of Brian's work, though the album is way, way better!

 

Jim Franks Proves the Bible

"Jim who?" you ask. Jim Franks. Jim is a leading punkawallah in the Church of God, a Worldwide Association.

"Church of what?" you ask.

Oh never mind. The important thing is that this church publishes a magazine called Discern, and in the latest issue Jim begins the first in a series of five proofs that the Bible is true. A sort of latter-day apologetic Pentateuch for the incurious fundamentalist.

I'm not exactly sure what Jim means by 'true', but I suspect he has a fairly rigid definition in mind; literal, propositional stuff. I'm not sure what he means by 'proof' either. I well remember a booklet called The Proof of the Bible where the author (some guy called Armstrong I believe) botched his prophecy argument completely and, according to one wag, actually ended up "disproving" the good book.

Jim's five areas of proof are, "archaeology, the Dead Sea Scrolls, secular history, fulfilled prophecy and the consistency of statements found within the Bible."

This could be fun. Jim launches out into archaeology. This is a brave move as, as far as I know, Jim isn't an archaeologist, even an amateur one. In fact I'd bet good money - if I was a betting type - that he's read absolutely nothing by anyone currently "in the field", if you'll pardon the pun. Indeed I suspect he's never so much as taken a university class in the subject either (apart maybe from an unaccredited and now closed college based in Pasadena?) But isn't it wonderful what you can find using Google these days!

"If archaeology can confirm the existence of major characters and verify major events as recorded in the Bible, then we have an objective proof of authenticity. There are archaeologists who reject the Bible and make the claim that many accounts recorded in Scripture never happened. These individuals are called minimalists and their position is that the biblical story must be read as fiction unless it can be confirmed by archaeology. Another group is referred to as maximalists and their position is just the opposite—the biblical story is more or less correct unless archaeologists prove that it is not."

I hope we all learned something there. Jim now grabs us by the hand and takes us on a jolly romp through Hezekiah's tunnel. Then...

"One of the greatest Jewish archaeologists of the 20th century was Nelson Glueck (1900-1971), who even appeared on the cover of Time magazine in 1963. He wrote the following about the authenticity of Scripture when compared to archaeology: “It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference. Scores of archaeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or in exact detail historical statements in the Bible. And, by the same token, proper evaluation of biblical descriptions has often led to amazing discoveries” (Rivers in the Desert, 1960, p.31). 

1960? The other not-so contemporary source Jim cites is from a 1981 US News and World Report article. Well, there ya go! Jim's really done his homework, huh? So I hope you're all now fully convinced of, of, of whatever Jim wants us to be convinced of.

"The story of Hezekiah’s tunnel and second wall, the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem and the death of King Sennacherib are only a few of the scores of biblical accounts that have been confirmed by archaeology. While there are archaeologists who reject the Bible as authentic, the record of archaeology, taken as a whole, supports the biblical text."

So there! Proof positive! Can't wait for part 2.