The story of Noah’s Ark in The Bible is widely read as an allegory and discoveries of a stunning range of species of wildlife raise questions, for those who believe in the account as literal truth, about how they all crammed aboard.
The total number of species of animals and plants on the planet, according to biologists, may well range up to the tens of millions. About 1.8 million have been identified so far – many of them are plants and fish that Noah did not take along to escape the flood, according to the Book of Genesis.
Even the Ark, with its three decks, would have quickly filled if Noah took at least two of all living creatures as God instructed Noah in the Book of Genesis.
Modern maritime standards are that cows, for instance, need about 2 square metres each on ocean voyages in pens of about half a dozen. The Ark was about 140 metres (460 feet) long — the world’s biggest container ships are now almost 400 metres long.
One 2004 poll showed that 60 percent of Americans read the story of Noah’s Ark as literally true.
Some creationists say that the instructions to Noah to take along all ”kinds” of animals might indicate a broader grouping than “species” — perhaps just one pair to represent cows, buffaloes or yak. And maybe insects, of which there are many thousands of species, managed to survive on floating uprooted trees? Noah might have taken along juveniles, or God might have induced a type of hibernation.
What do you think?
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Jack, I’m not trying to force my opinion on others. I’m simply replying to Ben’s comment about his opinion, and I’m showing Ben the fallacy of human relativism.
For example, if everyone on earth thinks their personal opinions are right without actually seeking out the truth or logic behind them, then are they really looking for the truth then? If my “truth” says that no one else besides the race I’m from lives, then I guess it’s right to act out my “truth” by murdering other races if we go according to human relativism.
Jack, you champion free speech, and yet you put down what I wrote. Isn’t that a contradiction to what you wrote? Or does free speech only apply to people who are like-minded as the one who claims free speech?
- Posted by Gregwho on earth is this Greg character to force his opinion on others. i personally agree with Ben, so why is it so important for Greg to put down his comments. free speech Greg. you believe Noah´s ark existed, I don´t. lets leave it there. no one wants to hear your opinion on Ben, i do not care if he exists or not, but you´re obviously so narrow minded that you can´t handle people disagreeing with you.
the boat would have been massive, did he leave all the fish to just swim about in the flood waters or did he build tanks for them on board. if he did leave them in the water around the boat then how did he make sure there were only two of every kind?
- Posted by jack stevensonthere is a little bit more truth in that than you would ever realise greg
- Posted by Ben the AntichristI was also surprised by the 60 percent figure in that link, reckoning it sounds high. According to a Gallup poll, 31 percent of the American adult population believe the Bible is the “actual word of God and is to be taken literally word for word”; another 47 percent said it was “inspired by word of God” and 19 percent rated it “ancient fables, history, legends recorded by man”.
- Posted by alister doylehttp://www.gallup.com/poll/27682/OneThir d-Americans-Believe-Bible-Literally-True .aspx
Ben, since you say that you’re perfectly entitled to say that you’re right with little explanation because it’s your opinion, then if MY opinion of you is that you don’t exist and that I’m perfectly entitled to MY opinion without giving you an explanation, then I guess you don’t exist then.
- Posted by Gregwhy are we still talking about obviously made up bronze age myths in 2008?
- Posted by MarkAll the story shows is that the people who wrote the old testament had a strange fascination with almost total extermination.
If it is all true then so does God…
in my opinion - all of YOUR opinions are wrong. and i feel perfectly entitled to say that with very little explanation because its MY opinion. and i know im right . thankyou
- Posted by Ben the AntichristNoah’ ark is in the Ararat range in Turkey poss Mt judi, but has not been found yet. (its a troublesome area close to kurdish iraq with difficult terrain and frequent earth quakes- hence not found yet). Someone mentioned Jonas (younas)-his descendants are alive today in the Taradouant area of Morocco near the Atlantic coast.Jesus’s wider family descendants are everywhere around us today (the jews), Mohammed’s family through his children are everywhere around us today. Incidentally the last two religious figures mentioned above are cousins from centuries earlier because of their shared forefather Abraham. There is proof in people and places of God’s infinity, why do people find it so hard to beleive!
- Posted by jm-ukOne thing that I think should be made clear (it usually isn’t) is what the term “myth” means. “Myth” does not mean “not true.” A myth is an explanation of how something came to be. All cultures have these explanations of how the members of the culture came to understand things the way they do.
The Noah’s ark myth is a very meaningful one to me, but it’s chief meaning to me is as one man’s spiritual awakening. His spiritual awakening in a world hostile to monotheism doesn’t isolate him. It’s others who are isolated. Just as other religious figures withdraw to the mountains for their religious experience, Noah’s isolation is on the waters (and water is a religious symbol in so many cultures). After a time, the dove’s gift of the greenery shows him it is now time to move into the world again.
The myth may be based on an inundation that happened in the region (I think it’s present day Iraq). That seems likely considering that the flood shows up in the Epic of Gilgamesh, a work older than the Bible, I understand. (And in that myth, it’s interesting that the gods are sick and tired of these squabbling humans and are seeking to destroy them–reminds me of the humans today squabbling over land, religion, “truth” rather than trying to celebrate those parts of their cultures that they share.)
The spiritual message of the stories in the Bible are always of more importance than whether they are literally true. It seems to me that’s why Jesus is always telling the apostles not to talk about his–the magic becomes more important than the spiritual truth.
It disturbs me most of all when folks hold the attitude that “either you hold the same understanding that I do (a literal belief in everything in the Bible), or you’re not a religious person.” I am a church-going Christian, always seeking ways to do good and build unity with others. I love learning about other religions and their practices, which is why I read the Faith Blogs.
- Posted by Denise