Hello Glen,
You wrote: Sadly, from your reaction here, I suspect you will continue to
claim she is
correct and possibly start claiming that I am ignoring the 'facts' of this
supposed 'major mystery'.
No, I wont. I much appreciated your answer. It makes sense to me. The answer
to the "mystery" she speaks of is most likely quite similar to the solution
you describe.
I ran across her article by typing "2350 BC" and "Middle East" into a search
engine. I was not aware the site which has posted her article is a
"Velikovskian site." That being the case, it certainly does not do much to
recommend her article. However, as I just browsed the site I did come across
a couple articles containing sound scholarship in areas not related to
catastrophism. One article dealing with Babylonian and Assyrian history was
written by Carl Olof Jonsson, who I know to be a very highly respected expert
in that field of study. I also know he rejects young earth creationism and is
an advocate of a local flood which he dates, like most others, at about 2900
BC. So the site is not totally "chock full of nuts."
Though Velikovsky was certainly not playing with a full deck, I do not think
it is wise for us to reject any and all suggestions that, sometime in the
past 5,000 years, some nations of people may have been greatly affected by a
cosmically induced cataclysm. I think the flood of Noah's day may have been
such an event. The wording of the Epic of Gilgamesh seems to indicate that
was the case. My mind remains open to this possibility. However, I think you
are most likely correct about Courty's article. The "mysterious" layer she
speaks of was probably laid down by forces no more exotic than those which
were responsible for the ash deposit your oil rig ran into.
Thanks again for your answer.
Mike
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