I’m pretty sure that’s not the thread I was thinking of, because it was before my time, but I may be wrong—maybe somebody linked to it in a later thread and I read it that way.  But I have a vague memory of actually taking part in such a thread (joining in the anti-Ameryk hue and cry, of course).

We’ve had several discussions about this, here are a couple more.

George E. Anderson

Martin Read

Thank you, oh thank you, Dr. Techie, for posting those references to earlier discussions. Reading “The Straight Dope” on the merkin way of life made the whole discussion come to life for me. I’d never heard of Cecil Adams before joining this forum (I’ve led a sheltered life). The man who wants to eradicate world ignorance would have my vote for President of anything at all.

George E. Anderson

Ah yes, the Velikovsky guy!  That’s the one I was thinking of; thanks, Doc.

Yeah, George was polite enough (just barely), but he lacked only a tinfoil hat to epitomize the Compleat Crank. (Or for all I know, maybe he didn’t lack one.)

Is the level of literacy known in biblical times? Lowly members of Roman subject races wouldn’t have been literate but lowly Roman soldiers were (as their graffiti on Egyptian monuments attests). I think it is agreed that Hebrew carpenters and fishermen were not because of their backgrounds so we have no direct words from such people which has led to all sorts of problems of interpretation of supposed events. The writings of contemporary historians have survived, however.  It’s even more marked in Islam where they freely admit the Prophet was illiterate and his words accurately memorised for several generations till a penman showed up. That’s the Holy Lands for you.