Theology and Science· 2026Q1
Miracle or Physical? Possible Nature of the Burning Bush in Exodus
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- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
The biblical "burning bush that was not consumed" was likely caused by the von Linné optical illusion, not a supernatural event.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- The Burning Bush event in Exodus is analyzed for its potential natural causes.
- Previous explanations involving physical phenomena and specific plants are reviewed.
- The paper proposes the von Linné optical illusion as the most probable cause.
- This suggests a natural, rather than supernatural, explanation for the biblical event.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Moses seeing a “Burning bush that was not consumed” (Exodus 3.1–2) is part of the founding history of the Hebrews. The event might have been a supranatural miracle or the idea could have been based on a physical phenomenon or a plant in our conventional world. I review the various physical causes and plants that have been suggested and conclude it was probably due to the previously ignored von Linné optical illusion.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Theology and Science, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Religious studies
Religious studiesArts and Humanities