America’s problems caused by Egyptians coming here and worshiping Baal says Wingnut “historian”
The worship of this guy was responsible for everything bad in America says wingnut “Historian!” Image via Tour EgyptWhat our problems weren’t “caused” by the gays or abortion?
Right Wing Watch points out that Fundamentalist “Christian Historian” John Benefiel insists our problems all started when ancient Egyptians came here and dedicated this land to Baal.
So we are to believe that God is punishing us because someone came here in the past and dedicated this land to a false god? So why exactly would God punish people for this when they had nothing to do with it? Why would it give Satan the right to destroy the “Christian nation” of America? At least when the religious right, blames the gays, feminists, abortionists, and secularists, for America’s problems, they’re usually blaming our problems on what people are doing now.
Also the evidence he sites for the Egyptians coming here in the first place, is rather underwhelming. I have to ask, if the Egyptians came here, why didn’t they conquer the natives and build pyramids in America? At the very least, If they hadn’t intended to colonize this land, why haven’t we found any evidence that they traded with the native Americans? Also why dedicate this land to one of their Gods if they hadn’t intended to colonize it? Why is it that I ought to take their “spiritual archeology” seriously?
Also if the Egyptians were going to dedicate this land to one of their gods, why Baal? Baal was one of the many Canaanite gods. He was not from Egypt, at least not originally. He was an import. Like Benefiel, I’m not a historian, but unlike him, I don’t claim to be. However, based on what I know, I don’t think Baal was ever the most popular god overall in ancient Egyptian. If the polytheistic Egyptians actually had come to America, prior to Columbus, wouldn’t they have been more likely to have dedicated this land to one of the gods that we normally think of when we think of ancient Egypt? Say the supreme god in the traditional Egyptian pantheon, Amun-Re?
I’m guessing Benefiel only said Baal because, he’s is mentioned in the Bible and often associated with evil nowadays. Most people today don’t think of the well known ancient Egyptian gods like Amun-Re as evil.
Off course Benefiel would probably tell you that all other gods besides the god of the Bible are really demons anyway.
