Switzerland
Is the Bible true? Greek archaeologist offers insight, advice to Christians
Does modern archaeology disprove the Bible?
Lydia Evdoxiadi says no, and she cautions Christians and non-believers alike to consider critically books that question the Bible’s authenticity.
Evdoxiadi, a church member who grew up in Athens, Greece, holds a doctorate in archaeology from one of the world’s most respected schools in the field, University College London. She does field work across the Middle East for universities, museums, cultural foundations, tourism organizations and other groups.
Evdoxiadi, who lives in Geneva, Switzerland, is troubled by conversations she’s had with Christians who say their friends have stopped attending church or synagogue after reading books that deny the accuracy of the Old Testament.
Particularly contentious is the 2001 book, “The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology’s Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts.” Authors Neil Asher Silberman and Israel Finkelstein argue that there is no archaeological evidence for Abraham, Moses or any of the Jewish patriarchs and that Jerusalem was nothing more than a “modest highland village” at the time of David and Solomon.
Such books tend to “present research results with a sledgehammer,” Evdoxiadi said. “Every book represents a point of view on a range of possibilities. The more reluctant the author is to discuss other views, the more reluctant you should be to believe the validity of the work.”
Evdoxiadi encourages Christians to discuss questions that arise from such books with church leaders and invite experts to speak to their religious communities.
Several religious groups have invited Evdoxiadi to speak and write articles on Middle East archaeology.
The church member can be reached at [email protected].
Lydia Evdoxiadi says no, and she cautions Christians and non-believers alike to consider critically books that question the Bible’s authenticity.
Evdoxiadi, a church member who grew up in Athens, Greece, holds a doctorate in archaeology from one of the world’s most respected schools in the field, University College London. She does field work across the Middle East for universities, museums, cultural foundations, tourism organizations and other groups.
Evdoxiadi, who lives in Geneva, Switzerland, is troubled by conversations she’s had with Christians who say their friends have stopped attending church or synagogue after reading books that deny the accuracy of the Old Testament.
Particularly contentious is the 2001 book, “The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology’s Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts.” Authors Neil Asher Silberman and Israel Finkelstein argue that there is no archaeological evidence for Abraham, Moses or any of the Jewish patriarchs and that Jerusalem was nothing more than a “modest highland village” at the time of David and Solomon.
Such books tend to “present research results with a sledgehammer,” Evdoxiadi said. “Every book represents a point of view on a range of possibilities. The more reluctant the author is to discuss other views, the more reluctant you should be to believe the validity of the work.”
Evdoxiadi encourages Christians to discuss questions that arise from such books with church leaders and invite experts to speak to their religious communities.
Several religious groups have invited Evdoxiadi to speak and write articles on Middle East archaeology.
The church member can be reached at [email protected].
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