The Mission and History
of Dig the Bible
Archaeology is an intriguing subject, but many know very little about it. Biblical Studies is also an interesting subject. The intersection of Biblical Studies and Archaeology is even more fascinating. This web site is dedicated to Biblical Archaeology - where Biblical Studies and Archaeology intersect. It's goal is to help individuals, particularly the lay person, gain a better understanding of the Bible through the use of Archaeology.
The intersection of Archaeology and the Bible is the focus of Dig the Bible. However, the subject matter in some sections of this site will be more concerned with either Archaeology or Biblical Studies.
This site also strives to give more of an overview of Biblical Archaeology instead of a detailed analysis of the subject. Different lines of interpretation will be mentioned and occasionally discussed, but not in great detail.
Dig the Bible's Audience
This web site exists primarily for the lay person that is interested in Biblical Archaeology, or Archaeology or Biblical Studies. It is also hoped that Archaeologists and Biblical Scholars will find this site useful. Since this site wouldn't be possible without them, some sections will be more of use to the scholar than the lay person. However, the primary audience is the lay person - so, there will not be a lot of technical terminology and wording here!
Since this web site exists for the benefit of the audience, your input is greatly appreciated and desired. Just e-mail your recommendations, constructive criticism, kudos, and comments to the author of this site - Digger Doyle.
Just the facts can be a little dry and boring - facts don't mean much until they are interpreted. And interpretation is often a matter of one's perspective. This site takes a conservative approach to the Bible. It does not apologize for this approach or insist that another hold this viewpoint.
The History of Dig the Bible
Dig the Bible started as a Christian Fellowship Net (CFN) Echo on January 9, 1992. An echo is similar to an internet newsgroup, but exists on BBS's (bulletin board systems) instead of the internet. Echos were very popular before the rise of the internet and many people still prefer them to newsgroups (they often have less off topic messages and a more civil tone than newsgroups). If you would like to participate in the Dig the Bible Echo, it can still be found on CFN bulletin boards. Visit the Christian Fellowship Net Web Site and download the most recent JesusBBS list to find a CFN BBS near you.
But, Dig the Bible isn't just an echo. As the internet became more popular than BBS's, it was decided to expand the horizions of Dig the Bible. In late September, work was started on the web site, and the Dig the Bible Web Site was officially born on November 16, 1997.
The moderator of the Dig the Bible Echo and the author of the Dig the Bible Web Site is Doyle Lynch, alias Digger Doyle. Doyle graduated with a BA in Archaeology and Religion from Baylor University in 1990. He did his Senior Research project on The Cleaning and Restoration of Ancient Copper Coins. One of the coins from Israel that he cleaned was used for the buttons on this site. Doyle also participated in one dig (archaeological excavation) at Tel Malhata in the summer of 1990 under the direction of Dr. Bruce Cresson (of Baylor University) and Itzhak Beit-Arieh (of Tel Aviv University). At that dig, he spent much of his time excavating a Hellenistic wall. That is why a stone wall was chosen for the background on this web site (even though it is not a picture of the actual wall excavated). Since 1990, Biblical Archaeology has been a favorite hobby of Doyle's.
How did Doyle come to be called Digger Doyle? In the late 80's, Indiana Jones was a pretty popular movie. As a result, co-workers at Target (where Doyle worked while studying at Baylor) would jokingly ask Doyle if he was going to be an Indiana Jones. One co-worker dubbed him Digger Doyle, and it stuck. Now you know the rest of the story!
So what makes Doyle an expert on Biblical Archaeology? That depends on how one defines expert. If one is an expert because he knows more about a subject than the average person or because he has a degree in the subject, Doyle is an expert (see above). If one is an expert because he knows more than most in his field or because he is right most of the time, then Doyle is far from an expert. Actually, Doyle prefers to consider himself a "arm-chair" archaeologist. He would be very happy to take corrections and updates to information presented in this site from those who know more than him! Just e-mail Digger Doyle.
If you still want to know more about Doyle Lynch, visit his personal home page.
|
