Is there a scientific explanation for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah?

Answer 1

The area where these two cities were thought to be shows evidence of volcanism in the past, and it is also on a fault line. Sulphur deposits can be found there today. Thus, one likely scientific explanation would be some kind of volcanic eruption. In no way does this support the widely believed story that god destroyed these two cities what it does support is that volcanic activity may have occurred here and that the people of that time simply did not know what was happening to thought immediately that a god/s most have been displeased with these cities.

Another View:

Yes. There is a scientific explanation for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. There has been a great deal of study and archeological research on this subject.

The five cities of the valley are recorded in the Ebla tablets as well as in The Bible. The location of Sodom is believed to be Bab-edh-Dhra and Gomorrah is believed to be at or near Numeira. The other three cities would reside similarly at the mouths of wadis near the sea. Destruction debris at both Bab-edh-Dhra and Numeira has been recorded as being about three feet thick.

The region of the Dead sea is known, now and in ancient history, for its natural petroleum deposits. In the past the Romans called the sea "Lake Asphaltitus" because of the natural bitumen that would come up from deposits in the fault line beneath the lake. Bitumen is a heavy viscous oil mixture combined with sulfur and other metals, minerals and toxic chemicals. At the time of the Genesis 19 account there were "slime pits" or bitumen pits in the valley.

The Jordan Rift is an unstable area with a great deal of thermal energy as demonstrated by the hot springs on both sides of the sea. While the Dead Sea no longer shows evidence of vast bitumen deposits there are still oil slicks that rise to the surface from time to time. A great deal of evidence confirming this can be found in historical accounts.

Geologist Fredrick Clapp formulated the theory that pressure from an earthquake could have caused bitumen deposits to be forced out of the earth through the fault line that exist precisely at this site. If natural deposits of sulfur were forced into the air, the dust would have been extremely flammable. If natural heat ignited existing sulfur deposits at the time of an earthquake the results would result in localized cataclysmic rain of fire, tar and burning sulfur.

In the Genesis account, Abraham looked out towards the cities and saw smoke like a great furnace. This would be consistent with a large petroleum fire.

Sulfur balls are commonly found today in the area. Moreover their condition shows that they self-extinguished in the ash and dirt.

Answer 2

In spite of the best efforts of pious commentators, there is no known record that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah ever existed. However, there is a scientific explanation of why the tradition arose.

The area to the east of the Dead Sea has experienced volcanic activity, which was usually explained in some way or another by divine anger. The Dead Sea is the most saline permanent body of water in the world, and a tradition that Lot's wife became one of these salt deposits is easily explained by the mere existence of salt deposits.