Expert: John J. Shea - 12/19/2007

Question
Dear Mr. Shea,
There are some groups of evangelists that argue that archaeology in some way probes bible or supports it. They have web pages, documentaries, etc. But in the academic world, even Kenneth Kitchen, leader of the maximalists, thinks that the Pentateuch was written during centuries. Can they be sure about it? Are the groups that defend entirely the bible, in your opinion, not scientifically serious?

Answer
Sebastian
This is, as you can image, a controversial issue.  I will give you my opinion based on what I have read as a professional archaeologist and what I have discovered in the course of my excavations. I am a Paleolithic (Stone Age) archaeologist.  That I find anything at all when I dig contradicts so many parts of Genesis that I have lost count.
I believe that there is no scientific evidence to support a literal reading of anything in the Pentatuech, Genesis, Exodus, Moses, Joshua and Jericho, none of it.  In fact, in nearly every case where there is a factually-verifiable claim in the Pentateuch, it is contradicted by scientific evidence (physics, geology, paleontology, archaeology).  The only "gray areas" (ie. things not provably wrong) are events that could not reasonably be expected to leave evidence and ones involving the actions of supernatural entities.  Historical scholars who specialize in biblical texts generally agree that the Pentateuch was first compiled from previously-existing sources in around 500-1000 BC, with most scholars leaning more towards a later, rather than early date.  In a nutshell, the Pentateuch is the origins myth of the Jewish people, more or less the same as the Elder Eddas are for the Norse or Hesiod's compilations are for the pre-Christian Greeks.  Like most myths, it has some elements that reflect historical events, but it also contains a lot that is fantasy, or rather, the best explanations the human authors of these accounts could think of, living as they did in a pre-scientific age.
For a good critical overview of archaeological evidence for the Old Testament, see
Cline, E. H. (2007). From Eden to Exile: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Bible, The National Geographic Society, Washington.
Dr. Cline is a biblical historian, and a more authoritative source than I am.
I do not consider the bible-defenders scientists.  A real scientist makes it clear what it would take to prove their argument wrong.  Bible-defenders don't do this because they know that the facts necessary to refute a literal reading of the Pentateuch have been known for decades.  A real scientist isn't afraid to be proven wrong, and a real Jew/Christian/Muslim doesn't require scientific proof to justify their faith.
Sincerely,
John Shea