Sodom and Gomorrah: History or Allegory?

According to one of the earliest stories of the Bible, two cities, Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their inhabitants were destroyed some 5,000 years ago for not living up to the ethical standards of God.  But, did these ancient cities actually exist?  And if so, were they actually destroyed by fire and brimstone or is this purely a cautionary, anagogical tale as many stories of the Bible are thought to have been?  These are the questions believers and scholars alike have asked for centuries.  Read more . . .