Putting the host/foundation on the back burner here for now. And I want to say that you didn't say what types of reactions or discussions you hoped might come from your original post, so I'm left to go my own way with it. As I stated previously, I take a skeptical approach. Critical thinking is important to that process. So here comes a beginning reaction to the video.
At 2:36 in the video, the host pinpoints the area as Jabal al Lawz.
At 3:13 he quotes the Old Testament that God descended upon Mt. Sinai mountain as a fire. Talks about the "blackened peaks" and later claims that the rocks are only black from the outside (How does he know that? Has he been inside of the mountain?) and offers that researchers disagree as to whether the black rocks are evidence of the Old Testament claim or if it's volcanic rock.
Okay, first of all, the last claim (that researchers disagree as to whether the black rocks is evidence of God descending the mountain as fire or etc. falls flat on it's face. No researcher is or can prove that God descending Mt. Sinai and blackened the rocks with fire. I know that sounds like I'm debunking the Old Testament claim but I am not. I am debunking
the presenter's claim because it seems outrageous to me. If a researcher actually DID make the claim that the rocks were blackened by God, what evidence would s/he have for that? The Old Testament account and the fact that the rocks are black? That s/he's never seen black rock like that so it must be from God? That's not evidence for the claim.
There CAN'T be evidence for the claim because there's nothing to compare it to. And if you can't reproduce the effect based on the evidence, the science comes down like a house of cards in a tornado. If a researcher made such a claim another researcher would come right behind him/her with yet another claim of an undiscovered type of rock that would be followed by decades of tests and comparisons. So where does that leave the believer or non? Chasing down rock tests for the next several decades? Again, as a believer myself I don't think that's how my God wishes me to spend my life so I reject it at face value based on what I've stated.
Continuing...
Ceebs that entire area surrounding Jabal al Lawz or Midian (Midyan) is a geothermal system.
You can see here an abstract about Midyan granite in the area as well as maps.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/a ... 6808000905There are plenty more maps and descriptions to be found online. They were some of the windows I had open earlier.
So...not only do I see the host's claim about the researchers as a time draining waste that can never be proven, just on the surface I see that a reasonable answer to the blackened rock is that it's the result of volcanic/tectonic activity in the region and I don't see a need to prove it to begin with.
There are numerous relics from and excavations in the Holy Lands. Most of us are at least familiar with some of those. We have, for example, evidence of Pilate. (Pilate stones/inscriptions and I think...coins? I forget now.) How does evidence of Pilate testify to the crucifixion and resurrection?
It doesn't.
The Gospels testify to it. With regard to proving the Bible (which you made no claim to in your original post on the video), I see it as a waste of time and contrary to my faith in Christ. I can think of one figure in the New Testament for example, who required tangible proof of the resurrected Jesus because he doubted (look at the name of the foundation that this guy is sponsored by--if that's not Christian BAIT I don't know what is) and that was Thomas. In response, Christ Jesus stretched out his hands and let Thomas touch his wounds.
I could bring up numerous portions of scripture that have to do with faith and I don't think that any of them stipulate that "Faith is based on tangible empirical evidence". The Great Commission isn't followed by
Go ye into all the world looking for evidence to show your fellow human beings so they believe Jesus.
As I have stated many times you either believe Jesus or you don't. You either believe that he stretched out his hands on the cross or you don't. And it's not up to me to go looking for solid proof other than what is revealed to me in scripture and in my own life, sharing with others who seem to be open to it.
So...I will still hang with you on this video topic, but a video like this doesn't wow me. It makes me want to pick it apart for the possible idolatry it tempts me to buy into (and good folks to spend their money donating to--the presenter had a GoFundMe for part of this video presentation--yet another window and no, I didn't waste time digging up issues about him. He's also a FOX News guy--national security analyst.) and spend my time researching various subtopics which is not how I live out my faith--which I admittedly stink at some days. :-)
I'm not even 5 minutes in and poking holes for the second time...just mentioning.
