So, what was that about camels?

Sharing a laugh about Israeli archaeologist's claim that
 they were not domesticated in the 20th century B.C.
  "We've been working for you a lot longer than that!"

OK, so in yesterday's message, first service, I mentioned a mini-controversy over camels and the Bible. Here's the story:
1. A report was published and publicized of a "discovery" that camels were not domesticated in Palestine at the time of Abraham.  Therefore, the Bible was "anachronistic" in its story-telling, introducing elements that couldn't be true.
[NOTE: literature often contains anachronisms, such as Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" referencing the striking of a clock--Rome had great power, but no clocks!]

2. This report has been widely circulated and added by some to the arguments against the Bible's reliability.

3. Christians have responded, and shown that this discovery is one piece of evidence that is not conclusive.  Further, even if one were to establish that camels were not "domesticated" in Palestine at that time, Abraham was not from Palestine, but Mesopotamia (Iraq), where plenty of evidence DOES exist that camels had been domesticated BEFORE the time of Abraham.  So, controversy over, right?

No.  Just as the evolutionary "proofs" of human development (you know the chart of the progression of "man") are taken as fact although even evolutionists acknowledge it isn't accurate to their theories, this will be one of those stories that we will continue to have to swat down, because there are people who just don't want to believe the Bible and will accept any criticism offered.

If you want to do the homework, here are the links to check:

The original report from a number of sources is here, here, or here.

A Christianity Today response that puts things in perspective is here.

Enjoy!