Special to the Sun
The Kernville United Methodist Church held the first in a series of lectures on “Archeology and the Old Testament” Aug. 4, given by Dr. Gregg Wilkerson.
This first lecture, titled “Sex and the Cities – the Historocity of Sodom & Gommorah,” focused on whether the two cities in the famous bible tale actually existed.
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Wilkerson, who teaches an extension course on this topic at California Stae University, Bakersfield gave a PowerPoint presentation depicting two cities that have been excavated near the Dead Sea. Helieves that Bab edh-Dhra is the historic site of Sodom, and Numeria, a mere five miles away, Gommorah.
The two cities, Wilkerson explained, are located on fault lines which made earthquakes likely in biblical times. Although the area is now a barren desert, Wilkerson explained that 4,000 years ago, it was a lush area of rolling Oakland hills, much like Paso Robles is today. However, no evidence has been uncovered that indicates the cities were seeped in debauchery, as the Bible claims. Nor is there evidence that Lot existed.
Within the city that Wilkerson believes is the Sodom mentioned in the Bible, there were burial chambers called Charnel houses, where the dead were piled in one-room tombs along with various belongings.
Wilkerson’s main argument for the city being Sodom, beside its location, was the fact that the charnel houses showed evidence of burning on the roof. This, said Wilkerson, is evidence that the city was destroyed in as it described in the Bible.
In the archaeological dig that unearthed Numeria, which Wilkerson believes to have been Gomorrah, it was discovered that that city had also been destroyed by fire. There was a heavy layer of ash when the city was destroyed.
The most popular theory among scientists is that a large earthquake caused a font of oil to be released, and was somehow ignited, creating an oil fire that razed the city. Wilkerson disagrees, saying, “Oil just doesn’t behave that way.”
Wilkerson contends there are two possible theories about how the cities were destroyed. The first – a lightning storm, the other – there was a meteor shower, which would jibe with “eyewitness accounts of fire raining down on the cities from heaven.”
To prove his theory, Wilkerson would like to find a professor to assist him in a dig that would search for mini-meteorites. He has written grants to obtain funding for the search; however, he conceded that securing funds at this time is a difficult proposition.
The next in the three-lecture series will be held this evening, Aug. 11, at 6:00 p.m. at the Kernville United Methodist Church on the corner of Big Blue and Siretta.
This lecture will be on the topic of “King David and the Golden Age,” and will consider whether King David and King Solomon actually existed. For more information, call the church at (760) 376-2751, or Dr. Gregg Wilkerson at (661) 391-6081.
Comments
13 comment(s)justanopinion wrote on Sep 1, 2010 10:17 AM:
tabbitha wrote on Aug 27, 2010 4:27 PM:
celia wrote on Aug 20, 2010 5:07 PM:
Really, I do find this interesting and am not bashing Christianity.I actually respect our friends at the Methodist church. I'm just suggesting that stories in the bible are just that; stories. Fact, there was a fire. The rest is a story. It's not that hard. "
tabbitha wrote on Aug 18, 2010 1:19 PM:
observant wrote on Aug 17, 2010 7:14 PM:
to OK wrote on Aug 13, 2010 5:15 PM:
celia wrote on Aug 12, 2010 12:03 PM:
Grow Up wrote on Aug 11, 2010 4:11 PM:
Im Pagan wrote on Aug 11, 2010 12:11 PM:
Truth of course wrote on Aug 11, 2010 11:11 AM:
AS it says in scripture, shake the dust off your feet and move on to other people and citys who are believers, you have done the duty of informing them, if they do not listen that is their fault, you have done as you have been commanded to do....forgeddaboutthem! "
Ok wrote on Aug 11, 2010 9:03 AM:
GT wrote on Aug 11, 2010 8:43 AM:
hoodooman wrote on Aug 11, 2010 7:42 AM:
It is sad how many people believe the bible is gods word. Some truth, some myth and a desire to control people by fear, prejudice and propaganda are the main tenets of Judaic/Cristian writings.
How many people of faith understand the story of creation was largely lifted from earlier Sumerian writings?
The story of Lot being righteous and giving his daughter over to rapists is a very odd thing. He steps over her body on his way out. "