Current Events

A Colorado couple researching the shroud dispute radiocarbon dating of the alleged burial cloth of Jesus, and Oxford has agreed to help them reexamine the findings.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-turin17-2008aug17,0,3478153.story

For more on the Shroud of Turin see:

Latest Developments on the Shroud of Turin: Part I

Latest Developments on the Shroud of Turin: Part II

When it comes to the spiritual life of teenagers, the statistics are not very encouraging. According to a recent study by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, after three years in college, the number of students who frequently attend religious services drops by 23 percent. The research also confirms that 36 percent rated their spirituality lower after three years in college.

http://familyactionorganization.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/why-students-abandon-their-faith/

Dr. Bryant Wood's work on Jericho is well known. YouTube has some video footage of Dr. Wood discussing the evidence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU6sW74HvZs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mB02Ab0zFc&NR=1

For more on Dr. Wood's research on Jericho, please visit our web articles here:

The Walls of Jericho

Did the Israelites Conquer Jericho? A New Look at the Archaeological Evidence

Extra-Biblical Evidence for the Conquest

Recommended Resources for Further Study

Bible and Spade CD-ROM	Second Great Battle of Jericho DVD	Giving the Sense

The Associates for Biblical Research has been represented as a vendor at the ICC 2008 conference, held every four years in Pittsburgh, PA. Many attendees have shown great interest in the ministry of ABR, purchasing merchandise, asking alot of questions about archaeology and the Bible, and signing up for the ABR Newsletter. Rick Lanser, Henry Smith and ABR volunteer Trent Schneider have been spreading the word about the ministry and the important apologetic task given to the ABR staff and board.

"What do you mean 'Noah's Ark isn't on Mt. Ararat?'"

Israeli archaeologists have unearthed a seal impression belonging to Gedaliah son of Pashur, who served as an official in the reign of Zedekiah (598–588 BC).  Gedaliah, along with three other officials, came to Zedekiah to demand the death of the prophet Jeremiah for predicting that Jerusalem would fall to the Babylonians (Jer 38:1–4).

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331162371&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull

After 154 years of excavations in the ancient city of Sardis, where the first gold coins were made, new artifacts continue to be unearthed, adding to the richness of Turkey’s legacy as a crossroads of civilizations. 

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=147956&bolum=100

ABR recently had a booth at the 4C's Conference (Conservative Congregational Christian Conference) in Buffalo, NY. Ben Felker served as an ABR volunteer at this event. Ben is enrolled in Wheaton College's undergraduate archaeology program. Ben indicated that many visitors expressed an interest in the ABR ministry and the time was fruitful. Please pray for Ben as he continues in his Biblical archaeology studies.

The Conservative Congregational Christian Conference website is:

http://www.ccccusa.com/index.html

The Board of Directors of the Associates for Biblical Research has approved our return to the archaeological excavations at Khirbet el-Maqatir, Israel, 16 km (about 10 miles) north of Jerusalem. This excavation will be conducted under the direction of ABR Director of Research, Dr. Bryant Wood. Topography, fortifications, and pottery finds all suggest that Kh. el-Maqatir is a candidate for the Ai of Joshua 7-8. The excavation is scheduled for May 20-June 6, 2009.

Read more: Excavations at Khirbet el-Maqatir: The Search for Joshua's Ai

ABR website articles bearing on the location and historicity of Joshua's Ai:

The Rise and Fall of the 13th Century Exodus-Conquest Theory

Further Considerations on the Location of Bethel at El-Bireh

Locating Biblical Bethel

Beth Aven: A Scholarly Conundrum

Israel's Origins

"The Cites are Great and Walled Up to Heaven"

From Ramesses to Shiloh: Archaeological Discoveries Bearing on the Exodus-Judges Period

In a recent article in the online magazine Slate, prominent atheistic journalist Christopher Hitchens thinks he has found the knock-down argument against creationists and intelligent design supporters: the eye-less salamander. This article by CMI's Dr. Jonathan Sarfati is a good example of how one ought to unpack and refute atheist arguments.

http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/5924/

The oldest surviving copy of the New Testament, a 4th century version that had its Gospels and epistles spread across the world, is being made whole again — online. The British Library says the full text of the Codex Sinaiticus will be available to Web users by next July, digitally reconnecting parts that are held in Britain, Russia, Germany and a monastery in Egypt's Sinai Desert.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,388182,00.html

The official Codex Sinaiticus website:  http://www.codexsinaiticus.org/en/

For more on the Codex Sinaiticus, see "Who Owns the Codex Sinaiticus?" in the Spring 2008 issue of Bible and Spade.