Jesus "walked on ice"

[Victor]

Interesting article in the paper today. Hope he was wearing non-slip soles. Could have been embarassing...





The New Testament says that Jesus walked on water, but a Florida university professor believes there could be a less miraculous explanation - he walked on a floating piece of ice.

Professor Doron Nof also theorised in the early 1990s that Moses's parting of the Red Sea had solid science behind it.

Nof, a professor of oceanography at Florida State University, said today his study found an unusual combination of water and atmospheric conditions in what is now northern Israel could have led to ice formation on the Sea of Galilee.

Nof used records of the Mediterranean Sea's surface temperatures and statistical models to examine the dynamics of the Sea of Galilee, which Israelis know now as Lake Kinneret.

The study found that a period of cooler temperatures in the area between 1,500 and 2,600 years ago could have included the decades in which Jesus lived.

A drop in temperature below freezing could have caused ice thick enough to support a human to form on the surface of the freshwater lake near the western shore, Nof said. It might have been nearly impossible for distant observers to see a piece of floating ice surrounded by water.

Nof said he offered his study - published in the April edition of the Journal of Paleolimnology - as a "possible explanation" for Jesus' walk on water.

"If you ask me if I believe someone walked on water, no, I don't," Nof said.

"Maybe somebody walked on the ice, I don't know. I believe that something natural was there that explains it.

"We leave to others the question of whether or not our research explains the biblical account."

When he offered his theory 14 years ago that wind and sea conditions could explain the parting of the Red Sea, Nof said he received some hate mail, even though he noted that the idea could support the biblical description of the event.

And as his theory of Jesus' walk on ice began to circulate, he had more hate mail in his email inbox.

"They asked me if I'm going to try next to explain the resurrection," he said.

Reuters

[M.D. Holloway]

and yet another fine example of literal gone array - will anyone ever consider the bible to be entirely an art form and not a historical account?

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Dont professors have better things to do? besides, the FSM can fly. try that, Jesus

[Victor]

"...will anyone ever consider the bible to be entirely an art form and not a historical account?"


No man - that would render the basis of the most powerful religious institution in the world obsolete.

[Tervuren]

Hrm, great, so there are great big waves on a frozen lake.

Jesus must have awesome surfing skills. The instant He steps in the boat, the lake 100% freezes, and the disciples iceskate to the other side, the lake then unfreezes before anyone wakes up, and all the people on the side they came from wonder where He went....

[Moneyguy1]

Just another attempt to rationalize a religious belief (or to disprove it).

A real case of mental masturbation.

Faith is faith. Period. People will believe what they want to believe and as long as that belief brings harm to no one, leave them alone!!

[WolfeMacleod]

That's so funny. Whenever I am asked about my Paganism and if I believe in Jesus, I say "Sure, I believe he existed. I believe he walked on water, and also believe it was winter time"

[Jeff Higgins]

Professor Doron Nof sounds like just another attention whore looking for his fifteen minutes of fame.

[Rick Lee]

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
People will believe what they want to believe and as long as that belief brings harm to no one, leave them alone!!

I concur. Unfortunately, these beliefs have been the motivation for more human misery than all the wars of the 20th century. And plenty of Christians believe it is their sworn duty to proselytize. It's not as violent now as it used to be, but back in the day, getting burned at the stake was one of the easier ways they put down heretics.

[Dottore]

So what does Doron Nof have to say about the immaculate conception?

[TerryBPP]

Originally posted by Rick Lee
I concur. Unfortunately, these beliefs have been the motivation for more human misery than all the wars of the 20th century. And plenty of Christians believe it is their sworn duty to proselytize. It's not as violent now as it used to be, but back in the day, getting burned at the stake was one of the easier ways they put down heretics.

Actually, organized religion has been the cause of viloent war since its upstart. There will always be a radical sect to any religion.

[sammyg2]

Hmmm, what about the disciples who were in the boat following Jesus? It would be pretty hard to navigate on a frozen lake.

The world is full of people who want to try and say the bible is wrong.
Whatever their motivation is, I feel pity for them because they are truly alone and do not know the incredible serenity and peace that can only come from true belief in god. It is their decision and right to feel that way but I wish they could know true faith, just for a split second.

Everyone can believe what they want but I get a little annoyed at those who try and say that I can't or that I am wrong.

Why do you people have the need to attack the Christian faith? Are you threatened by it or think that you don't want someone else to feel peace when you don't?

Besides, I have only met one professor in my life who's opinion was worth the paper it was written on IMO. The rest wrere pompous a$$es who had done nothing in their life except to regurgitate someone else's ideas with just a little spin and then call them their own.
It is rare to find someone from acedemia who isn't totally and completely full of ***** and full of himself, which are often interchangeable.

[TerryBPP]

Originally posted by sammyg2


Why do you people have the need to attack the Christian faith? Are you threatened by it or think that you don't want someone else to feel peace when you don't?

Biggest target.

[thrown_hammer]

My theory states that he was actually walking on mud. I can show thru a pie chart that there was a Mega Drought at precisely the time of Jesus. Although my collogues believe he was carried by tree spirits.

[widebody911]

Why do you people have the need to attack the Christian faith? Are you threatened by it or think that you don't want someone else to feel peace when you don't?

I'll stop when

• xtian asshats stop banging on my door @ 0800 on Saturday morning asking if I want to be saved
• xtian politicians stop trying to create a theocracy
• the thinly-veiled crusades in the ME come to an end
• xtian nutjobs stop trying to demonize science and turn the classroom into a relgious training camp
• xtians in general just STFU about their pity for the non believers, the horror we're going to suffer for no joining their ranks, or how jesus is going to come through with an M-16 to wipe out those who are "left below"

If you guys are really feeling so much peace, then just STFU, enjoy it, and stop poking the beehive of the unbelievers, m'kay?

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally posted by sammyg2
Why do you people have the need to attack the Christian faith? Are you threatened by it or think that you don't want someone else to feel peace when you don't?

Because it's funny as hell. Plus Christians think it's their duty to try to make everyone else think like they do.

Besides, I have only met one professor in my life who's opinion was worth the paper it was written on IMO. The rest wrere pompous a$$es who had done nothing in their life except to regurgitate someone else's ideas with just a little spin and then call them their own.
It is rare to find someone from acedemia who isn't totally and completely full of ***** and full of himself, which are often interchangeable.

That's what you get for hanging out at the local community college.

[Rick Lee]

I mostly agree with Thom. But somehow, the most egregious thing the true believers do that gets me riled up is preach that the Earth is only 8k yrs. old.

There was a funny mention of this on the last Sporanos episode where Christopher wondered how the Garden of Eden could be paradise if Adam and Eve were being chased by dinosaurs.

[kang]

Originally posted by sammyg2
Hmmm, what about the disciples who were in the boat following Jesus? It would be pretty hard to navigate on a frozen lake.

Did you read the article or just the headline? It says “a piece of floating ice surrounded by water.”

[dhoward]

Originally posted by kang
Did you read the article or just the headline? It says “a piece of floating ice surrounded by water.”

Mmmmm......
A piece of floating ice surrounded by The Genlivet....

[Tervuren]

Originally posted by Rick Lee
I concur. Unfortunately, these beliefs have been the motivation for more human misery than all the wars of the 20th century. And plenty of Christians believe it is their sworn duty to proselytize. It's not as violent now as it used to be, but back in the day, getting burned at the stake was one of the easier ways they put down heretics.

Human organized religion can be a horrible horrible thing. Almost all the time, it becomes centered around people, instead of God. Humans forcing someone into saying they beleive, has no basis anywhere I can find. Its not about us at all. But people go on in ignorance. The same thing is happening today, with a lot of "preachers"(or whatever they chose to call themselves) literaly milking people for all their money in exchange for "blessing". People who think its all about them are getting fleeced in their selfishness. Sad sad...