The First Press Releases advertising this site were sent today 2003/09/24, and it is hoped that the forum section of the site will soon be buzzing with readers comments.
While I appreciate emails, I think it is not always necessary to send them personally to me, you are welcome to post them here for everyone to read and comment upon.
NOTE ALSO: The Articles section has been enlarged since the site first went online. Take a look. The Law and Archaeology Israel Josephus Newsletters Press Releases Member Articles Stories from China Social Commentaries and so on. Worth a Look at
I received an email from someone suggesting that R.P.BenDedek is a crackpot to insist that we trust all the chronological data in the Bible. They insist that the bible has been re-written so many times by so many self interested groups throughout history, that one cannot take any of it 'literally'.
This is however, exactly the point of the 'King's Calendar'. The history was changed, but the chronological data although changed, remained true (although hidden in a false timetable).
The following excerpt comes from Chapter One Endnote Nine (9) under the third heading entitled:
Redactorial Opinion
The 'King's Calendar' premise that historical chronological data was altered by way of an artificial chronology to suit the purposes of sectarian interest, is not at all inconsistent with the many and various theories to come out of the school of 'Higher Criticism'.
Grant.M. (1984) The History of Ancient Israel. New York. Charles Scribner's and Sons Chapter 14 onwards, provides a great deal of enlightening information in relation to 'redactorial historical revisionism'.
The 'King's Calendar' hypothesis merely extends such 'commonly accepted' opinions, and transfers them from narrative text to chronological data designed to accomplish peculiar and sectarian redactorial interest and 'interpretation'.
In fact, Grant's (1984 p.191/192) comments in relation to Nehemiah, echo similar conclusions reached by Wise et.al.(1996) in relation to the mind set of the Dead Sea Sect community members.
Whilst there appears every indication that the artificial construct originates with the progenitors of the Essenes, current academic uncertainty in relation to Essenes, Qumran, and Dead Sea Sect make it difficult to make definitive or absolute assertions.
So you see,I don't argue for 'blind faith' acceptance of the 'literal correctness' of the Biblical Record. I do say that it is because the records were altered, that the true chronology was hidden from us.
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R.P.BenDedek - Administrator.
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R .P. BenDedek
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THE KING'S CALENDAR IS UNCONVINCING
Posted on: 12/17/03 at 16:56:02 AEST
OR SO WROTE someone who now wants his name removed IN AN EMAIL TO ME. [link removed]
When comparing texts, one should not mix literary genres. Plato's Republic cannot be looked upon in the same light as Machiavelli's The Prince (though many make this mistake). Plato's book was primarily concerned with ethics and metaphysics. The politics were used as an analogy. He explicity said within the book that his "ideal society" could never exist on earth. Machiavelli's book, on the other hand, was a primer of techniques (moral and immoral) to gain and wield political power.
Similarly, religious books are not the same as history books. As it turns out, the Old Testament is an extremely reliable source of history but it was not created for that purpose. The early church did not canonize them for that purpose. The writers did not write them for that purpose. To properly interpret any work, one must perceive the mind and intent of the writer. It would be unfair to place the criteria of our worldview (and its emphasis on dates) on these Old Testament writers when, clearly, their purpose was to record the actions of the kings of ancient Israel as they related to the Law Of Moses.
C.S. Lewis said in his book Experiment In Criticism, " The first demand any work of art makes of us is surrender. Look. Listen. Receive. Get yrouself out of the way. There is no good asking first whether the work before you deserves such a surrender, for until you have surrendered, you cannot possibly find out."
You claim to have found foulplay (though you offer no proof on your site) when all you may have discovered is a difference in perspectives. I admit that I haven't read every single page on your site but what I've read thus far is quite unconvincing.
MY REPLY TO HIS EMAIL
I take it from your tone that you have decided I am a 'Bible' knocker! In fact I demonstrate that the chronological material is thoroughly reliable.
As for unconvincing, if you know anything about Chronology, you will see from Appendix Chart 5, that I have now 'solved' so many of the alleged 'impossible impasses' in Biblical Chronological History.
There is no one in the world who doubts 'foulplay' as you put it (redactorial adjustment), and the fact that the records DO NOT FIT HISTORY demonstrates this. Your use of the word 'perspectives' is to my way of thinking a nice and Terribly 'inoffensive way' of saying, I don't want to believe that the bible is anything but perfect.
It was through FAITH and perseverance that I entered the journey of discovery, and it was by holding onto the belief that if the mundane things in Scripture could not be trusted, then neither could anything else, that I persevered so long.
You no doubt think I am either a crackpot or one of the ungodly. I'm neither. I'm a realist and my 'faith' is not shattered by challenge.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?????
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R.P.BenDedek - Administrator.
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R .P. BenDedek
Administrator
Forumposts: 80
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Comments: 58
My own comment
Posted on: 12/16/05 at 05:10:22 AEST
Thanks to the members who use the internal messaging system to give me your thoughts.
However, I'd really like to see this section used more often.
Because of malicious and pornographic postings Comments are restricted to members.
To become a member, just go to the home page and join. The worst that can happen is that you will receive Newsletters (if you sign up for them).
HAVE YOUR SAY!
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R.P.BenDedek - Administrator.
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R .P. BenDedek
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Forumposts: 80
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Comments: 58
Re: Your Comments rather than emails
Posted on: 08/19/06 at 05:01:22 AEST
ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THIS ARTICLE?
TITLE: Destroy Homosexuality in the USA: Kill Gay Children. by R.P.BenDedek.
"Overthrowing Democratic America."
Many people in the USA are concerned about the influence of Homosexual free expression, on their children. Many people don't want homosexuality raising it's ugly head in a traditional moral society, but what can they do about it?
The Problem with the USA is that this stupid "democratic" principle of a right to free speech and action (within the bounds of the law), combined with a complete rejection of God and morality, has turned America into another Sodom and Gomorrah.
It seems to me that the best way to cure this moral disintegration of society is to introduce some new laws. I would propose the following:
Anyone who does not follow the state sanctioned religion should at least be taxed and disbarred from civil service or better yet, executed.
Anyone who does or says anything against the state or has any connection to anyone whose political views are not those of the Government, should be either imprisoned or executed.
As Feminism is one of the more obnoxious of societal disorders plaguing America, Feminist organisations should be disbanded and stripped of power and the women forced to shut up and return to a traditional lifestyle.
Gays should simply be shot! And if by chance one encounters a child of any age whose behaviour in any way suggests that they may be gay, then those children should be killed as well.
It is all quite simple No?
The next time the libertarians start whinging and bitching about what a fascist state the USA really is, draw these points to their attention, remind them that such laws do not exist in the USA, and inform them that these are the solutions currently being employed by the very people that their Anti-American propaganda supports.
Eleven-year-old Ameer Hasoon al-Hasani was kidnapped by policemen from the front of his house last month. He was known in his district to have been forced into prostitution. His father.. found him, shot in the head. A copy of the death certificate confirms the cause of death.
Homosexuality is seen as so immoral that it qualifies as an 'honour killing' to murder someone who is gay - and the perpetrator can escape punishment.
August 13, 2006: The Taliban war on children is having some success, with up to 500,000 children being deprived of schooling because of attacks on schools and teachers, and threats to parents who send their children to government schools. The Taliban only approve of religious schools, run by the Taliban.
It's time for citizens to patriotically support their country, in order to protect their hard won civil rights. One does not have to approve of everything the government does, but one should also not act in such a way that on the world stage, justification is given for it's enemies to attack it.R.P.BenDedek
================================================================== This article and/or photographs may be freely reprinted providing this box is included and all links herewith (and within the article body) are made/remain active. (c)2003-2006 R.P.BenDedek.
About the author: R.P.BenDedek (from Brisbane Australia) is the author of 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran' at http://www.kingscalendar.com In addition to his academic articles, in which he sets forth Apologetics for and the results of his discovery of an "artificial chronological scheme" running through the Bible, Josephus, the Damascus Documents of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Seder Olam Rabbah. He writes photographic 'Stories from China' and social editorial commentaries, both on site, and as a contributing newspaper columnist http://magic-city-news.com/cat_index_33.shtml He currently teaches Conversational English in China. Visit http://www.kingscalendar.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi for more information. ===================================================================
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R.P.BenDedek - Administrator.
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Avoice
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Re: Your Comments rather than emails
Posted on: 08/01/09 at 21:11:04 AEST
I cannot help but agree with you RP. The greatest danger from anyone committing what the Bible calls sin is that the sinner browbeats those who prefer to follow biblical guidelines and commandments, calling them haters and "uncomfortable with" their own bodies and homophobes. It seems as though only the obedient and law abiding need to be politically correct.
The promiscuous and the homosexual are allowed to say anything they want about the straight and narrow while the straight and narrow must bite their tongues on their own opinions and values.
It is frustrating to live with a freedom of speach for them while I, an american citizen, must bite my tongue in the face of liberals and their subsets or suffer the consequences. In their version of free speach it is we conservatives who are insane while they pursue risky behaviors that threaten their own lives and that of others.
I'm fairly outspoken and I have faced many persecutions as a white straight person who happens to be conservative.
It feels like the lowest common denominator wishes to drag everyone else down with it. My words may be stronger than needed, but I've dealt with this nonsense since I was a teenager. Then it was the average to below average students persecuting those who sought to better their grades so they could earn their way to college. Now it is those who insist that others squelch their moral values and opinions about them.
I longed for a way to resolve these issues as a teen and now I'm in my 50's and no better off. My husband has lucked out to find conservative and less PC people to fellowship with, me I'm a writer and artist and who can I fellowship with that is conservative in those professions especially on the west coast side of the country.
You may not realize how valuable this forum is to the likes of me. My best friends are people I've met on the internet and one lady married to a coworker of my husband.
I agree with you whole heartedly that the liberal side needs to be as tollerant of us conservatives as we are required to be of them.
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The means are the ends
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Avoice
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Re: Your Comments rather than emails
Posted on: 08/01/09 at 21:14:38 AEST
I've said it before and I'll say it again. The King's Calendar is the most sensible document on the chronology of the Bible I've ever had the pleasure to read.
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