jkdoyle.com

Via the ANE-2 newsgroup and Jim West an a brief article on the discoveries:

Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Ancient sources — such as the Homeric epics and the Hebrew Bible — depict an era of widespread famine, ethnic conflict and population movement, most famously including the migrations of the Sea Peoples (or biblical Philistines) and the Israelites. This is thought to have precipitated a prolonged Dark Age marked by cultural decline and ethnic strife during the early centuries of the Iron Age. But recent discoveries — including the Tayinat excavations — have revealed that some ruling dynasties survived the collapse of the great Bronze Age powers.

"Our ongoing excavations have not only begun to uncover extensive remains from this Dark Age, but the emerging archaeological picture suggests that during this period Tayinat was the capital of a powerful kingdom, the 'Land of Palastin'," says Timothy Harrison, professor of Near Eastern Archaeology at the University of Toronto and the director of the project. "Intriguingly, the early Iron Age settlement at Tayinat shows evidence of strong cultural connections, if not the direct presence of foreign settlers, from the Aegean world, the traditional homeland of the Sea Peoples."

Here's a link to the Tayinat Archaeological Project website and here's a pdf with some good pics of the project.

"Land of Palastin" and connection with the Sea Peoples?    Interesting... 

I've been talking to my studens about the History of Western Thought, and how the measurability of nature led to a confidence in the objectivitiy of natural science at the same time that things like the Reformation and the Wars of Religion caused growing religious skepticism in Western thinking.   From the rational and empirical perspective, Thomas Hobbes' view that talking about God was literally "non-sense," since God cannot not perceived with the senses, was more profound than anyone in Hobbes' day realized. 

While I understand that social and civic religion is still important in some ways in our country, and that there is an awareness of the need for spirituality in one's life (at least the image of the "deep" person), it is easy to see the real place and nature of religion's status by where the magazines are at Barnes and Noble:

Note that the religious magazines are on the bottom and on the floor for all intents.  And even though you can't really tell from the photo, the bottom shelf is actually slightly recessed.  That's an interesting marketing statement, especially here in Tulsa.  I'm guessing the Barnes and Noble hasn't done their local demographics very well. 

Look at the topics of the magazines in that bottom section.  Anything interesting? 

Let's see, there's Christianity Today with a story about resurrection.  Another on Children's Ministry and, of course, one on Leadership in the church.   There's Shambhala Sun and Hinduism. But please note the Pirates book in the background and the Faerie Magazine in the foreground. 

Where did I put that Flying Spaghetti Monster Magazine?

(Thanks to Aubrey for the pic!)

There has been much news lately concerning President Obama's bowing to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (see here, here, here, here, here, and here --get the picture ?).  I'm not sure what is more frustrating to me, those overly angry at this, or the White House for foolishly attempting to say that he didn't do it:

Q    And then one unrelated question.  When the President met with King Abdullah, there was something that took place that I believe the White House explained as just the President being taller than the King.  We took a look at the video, and it does appear that the President actually bowed to King Abdullah.  Did he bow or didn't he?

MR. GIBBS:  Well, I think he bent over with both -- to shake with both hands to shake his hand.  So I don't --

Q    It appears to show one hand, that he was just --

MR. GIBBS:  Well, I --

Q    Did he bow or didn't he?

MR. GIBBS:  No.  But I think this meeting was like a week ago, right?

Q    That's right, but this is something that a lot of people are still talking about today.

MR. GIBBS:  I can only imagine it is of great cause and concern for many people struggling with the economy.  (Laughter.) 

when he clearly did:

Ah, American Politics! 

I'm not really sure that this story deserves the press it is getting.  From the perspective of President Obama's intent, it seems to me that he made the gesture without thinking about it (it doesn't seem to be very formal).  However, such a mistake can be a serious issue for a President in the world of international politics.  In matters of foreign diplomacy and protocol, small unintentional or thoughtless blunders can certainly have far reaching effect and communicate something other than intended or needed.  A good example is George W. Bush speaking of a "crusade against terror " and then going to war in the Middle East, or American soldiers in Mogadishu being unaware of the great insult displaying the bottom of one's shoe can carry in Middle Eastern and Muslim cultures.  However, I don't think this blunder and breach of tradition gives us reason to accuse Obama of pandering any more to the Saudis than former Presidents.   Remember President Bush holding hands with the crown prince?  I think we've been politically bowing to Saudi Arabia for a good while as our straw has reached accrroossss the ocean to drink their milkshake.  Or maybe their straw has been siphoning off of us?  It's difficult to tell.

King Jehu bowing to Shalmaneser III on the Black Obelisk.