Atheist Ramblings - 3.3
A little error...
...I frequently enjoy spirited discussions with fundamental xtians concerning how accurate the bible or how true some prophecies are. Well, despite the fact that much of revelations is vague, twistable parables (most of which clearly refer to the times they were written in, not to some vague future time), there are a few points in the bible where the language is not vague, but is clear, unambiguous, and unmistakable... and wrong.
...I find it amazing the lengths inerrants will go to to twist parables to fit their view of the world (making the words of revelations fit modern times). But more amazing is when a clear statement in the bible is shown to be in error. In particular, a recent favourite of mine is Ezekiel 26:15-21.
...In Eze 26, the bible talks of how the city of Tyre will fall, but not just fall, but be utterly destroyed. Eze 26:21 "Though they will seek you, you will not be found again forever, declares the Sovereign LORD".
...The city of Tyre was a very important Phoenician port. It was built on a small rocky outcropping into the Mediterranean and had thick walls and towers and was thought impervious. Alexander used Tyre as an example and besieged it, eventually crushing it during a protracted engagement. Upon a comparison of the historical events of Alexander and the words of Eze 26, it seems quite apparent that the destruction told in Eze was fulfilled at the hands of Alexander.
...But the problem is, Tyre still exists. Not only was it not utterly destroyed, it was rebuilt (contrary to Eze 26:14), and is now a thriving port city in southern Lebanon (hard to run a port if it will never be found again as said in Eze 26:21).
...The only minor sticking point is the ancient city of Tyre was an island, while the modern city is a mainland port. How can this be? Well, this also is due to Alexander. During his siege he widened an existing causeway to make room for his siege engines. He widened a small 7m causeway to over 60m of rock, stone and sand. Over the next few centuries, this causeway accumulated more sand until the whole island became an isthmus. The island never went away, it just got swallowed up by land, not by the sea (as Eze seems to say).
...Any study of a map of the region clearly shows how the modern city of Tyre is on the tip of a stretch of sandy beach, consistent with the accumulation of sand on the causeway. The modern city was built upon the rocks as the old city was. It was rebuilt, and it is populated.
...Twisted logic may match up revelations with modern events, but no twisted logic will stop ships from going to the city that will never be found, or people from living in the buildings that will never be rebuilt.
For referential information on the city of Tyre including historical and modern notes, see the Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites on Tyrus at http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/text?lookup=pecs+tyrus.