Posted on 02/12/2021 10:32:01 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Much more important than Hershel’s numerous individual campaigns was his uncanny understanding of the American public’s endless fascination with old-fashioned “biblical archaeology.” And that was at the very time when many of us professionals were trying to separate the two disciplines of archaeology and biblical studies. Our purpose, of course, was to create a more serious dialogue, to move beyond the old amateur and sterile monologue. In time, we professionals accomplished our agenda, at least in part. But Hershel also accomplished his agenda. And he did it brilliantly, popularizing our complex excavations and esoteric research for a mass audience that we scholars could never have reached. Unfortunately, many professionals don’t even try to do that.
(Excerpt) Read more at biblicalarchaeology.org ...
This is the Digest ping as well.
HERSHEL SHANKS
On Friday, February 5, 2021, HERSHEL SHANKS of Washington, DC. Beloved husband of Judith Weil Shanks. Devoted father of Elizabeth (Andrew) Alexander and Julia (John Paskowski) Shanks. Dear brother of Leah (Lee Wilensky) Gordon. Loving grandfather of Charles and Nancy Alexander. Funeral services will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Biblical Archaeology Society, www.biblicalarchaeology.org. Arrangements entrusted to TORCHINSKY HEBREW FUNERAL HOME, 202-541-1001.
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Published in The Washington Post on Feb. 6, 2021.
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?n=hershel-shanks
Fascinating guy. We subscribed to BAR for several years.
RIP Herschel. You broke through a lot of doors.
I thought John Moses Browning invented the BAR? (Chuckle).
RIP (I hope). He wasn’t religious or wasn’t during the many years I subscribed to BAR. He didn’t care whether a find supported common interpretations of the Bible or not. He liked to follow where the evidence went. I appreciated that attitude in the many issues of BAR before they grafted the theology journal onto it (at which point I dropped my subscription).
I let it go after the new editor took over. Is that about when you are referring to?
Thank you. I understand, yes, there was a lot of that. They gave many pages to the Materialists and those skeptical for the sake of being so. Their ticket to fame. Like that Crossan fella, so annoying.
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