Posted by Xavier on November 05, 1998 at 11:04:49:
In Reply to: The flood was real & subsequent 250+/- versions around the world explainable posted by Marcelle on November 02, 1998 at 09:24:58:
: : The Bible is a true work. Some parts are figurative and some are literal. There is physical evidence of a worldwide flood in the geology around us. The stories about a world wide flood where some people and animals were spared by being in a boat show up in almost every culture around the earth. (one example: the chinese word sign for ship literally translates to 8 people in a boat) Why were there just 8 survivors? Why was there only 1 boat? Because it was a judgement by God and only those 8 listened and paid attention. The Bible says that Noah was warned, commissioned to build and ark for the preservation of life & preach the coming destruction to others so that they may safely get away also. The accout goes on to say that "Noah did just so". No one other than his family listened.
: Now, consider this...after the flood Noah and his family multiplied...naturally they would relate to thier children what happened to them concerning the flood...after awhile the biblical account proceeds to the account of Babel (early Babylon)...because the people were again becoming bad and were attempting to build this tower to "make a mighty name for themselves" and defy god to destroy them again...god "confused their language and scattered them all over the face of the earth"...they naturally took their customs and flood stories with them.
: But just why were these flood stories and Autumnal celebrations so vile to god? The flood accounts were not bad in and of themselves, but the festivities were a memorial to those who had died at god's hand in the flood. We can see another modern day correlation in the Halloween/All saint's day goings on in all cultures around the world today. Who would really want to memorialize persons judged and condemned to death as wantonly wicked, and executed by God himself?
: Marcelle
: gardenhs@acadia.net
There is NO scientific evidence, including geological, to support the type of worldwide flood referred to in the Bible. A population of 20 or less species is doomed for extinction, according to the bilogical studies and evidence we have today. How would the animals from North and South America, the various islands inthe oceans, Australia, Greenland, etc., swim the vast oceans to get to the Ark? Were there dinosaurs on the Ark and why did none survive? Why do we not find evidence of human remains mixed in with the dinosaurs that were not aboard the Ark? How did Noah fit two (or seven, depending on the Genesis passage you accept) of each of the millions of species of animals on the Ark? The remnants of the supposed Ark that some claimed to have found has been shown to be bunk years ago. Also, the fossil finds, their location in the sediment layers, etc, all clearly dispute a worldwide flood. There have been Egyptian dynasties that have a reign that straddles the supposed time period of the Noah flood, yet they continued for centuries after the flood, undisturbed. There are many ancient civilzations that have been discovered that give NO indication of a worldwide flood. A worldwide flood that would cover the highest point on earth (Mt. Everest) has been calculated to require a steady rain for forty days at a rate of about 6 inches per minute! There is no scientific explanation nor evidence that this tremendous amount of water existed on the earth about 4000 years ago. Just because there are civilzations with similar fables does not make them
true. Many have legends of dragons, sea monsters, man-beasts (Yeti, Bigfoot, etc), but does that mean they must be true? Based on human nature, we tend to expand and exagerate stories as we pass them down. Also the story changes based on the perceptions and recollections of each that communicate the story to the next generation. Some of our holidays are shared with pagan religions because it was intentional. According to historical records, Jesus was most likely born in the spring. Sheperds stood watch over their sheep (as told in the Bible) during the "lambing" period, in the spring. The pagans were already celebrating during Dec 25, so early Christians made their celebration coincide in order to make it easier to convert the pagans and "wheen" them off the pagan rituals. The christmas tree even comes from early Druid tradition.
If you feel that their is true scientific research that proves the validity of the worldwide flood, can you tell me in what scientific journals I can find it? Currently I am unaware of ANYTHING in the realm of scientific discovery or research which can even remotely validate this claim. Please do not direct me to a religious site or book; I am looking for the physical evidence supporting this fable that you claim exists. If it does exist, why has it not been brought to the scientific community? Why do the researches choose not to submit their evidence for scientific publication? Simply put...because it DOES NOT EXIST! Believe the story through religious faith if you so choose, but please do not denigrate your own religion and actual scientific knowledge by attempting to support Noah's Ark through science.