Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Paul2 · 08-09-2007, 09:01 AM

Question: Why did god send the flood?
Answer: It's a literary device called poetic justice with a mix of symbolism. The evil were punished (drowned, apparently, because noah had the only boat), and the good and noble were rewarded. The water signifies a cleansing and the animals, a rebirth. It's not a historical text, it's a story with a deeper meaning than what is on the surface.

deadman_932 · 08-09-2007, 09:01 AM

Imagine the world was flooded for a year. Imagine you have to feed a boatload of animals for a year.

Wouldn't that leave marks, geologically? Wouldn't a flooded earth make it impossible to find grass? How would your cows live?

KittyKatBlack · 08-09-2007, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jemand

If I were you I'd try to act as fundy as I could and ask to go to a public school as a "witness." Then leave home and never come back at 18.

I'm thinking about going back to public school next year, but I will never escape my family. They're all crazy...

deadman_932 · 08-09-2007, 09:04 AM

Yes, the flood myth was local and not global. No flood at 2800 or whatever BC, Nothing supports it

deadman_932 · 08-09-2007, 09:05 AM

P.S. youre safe here.

jemand · 08-09-2007, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KittyKatBlack

I'm thinking about going back to public school next year, but I will never escape my family. They're all crazy...

Don't just think. DO IT! Education is your free pass out.

Selsaral · 08-09-2007, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KittyKatBlack

The book says that, and it seems to imply that it's proof there was a flood.

I guess I don't understand. Many stories in the bible resembles other myths, and that somehow indicates it's actually true?

KittyKatBlack · 08-09-2007, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jemand

Quote:

Originally Posted by KittyKatBlack

I'm thinking about going back to public school next year, but I will never escape my family. They're all crazy...

Don't just think. DO IT! Education is your free pass out.

I probably can't this year, since my moms already bought all the books and stuff.

Donnmathan · 08-09-2007, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KittyKatBlack

Quote:

Originally Posted by Selsaral

I think a decent angle to come at this topic would be to put it into perspective. Not just the perspective of various related flood myths, but the perspective of ancient folktales. Cultures all around the world are filled with mythological stories like this, usually passed down from oral tradition. From Gilgamesh, to Homer, to the Egyptians, stories of global floods, gods, talking animals, and other fantastic things are common.

The story of the flood in the bible, and other stories like the Tower of Babel greatly resemble the common myths of other societies.

The book says that, and it seems to imply that it's proof there was a flood.

One could point out that since many early cities were built at or near places that could easily flood (river deltas, river banks, sea and ocean shores, etc), they'd have good reason to have flood legends in their mythologies. However, the accounts are different enough in major details to give the lie to any idea about them having a common source. Well, except the Gilgamesh version, which is where the Hebrews copied Noah from anyway...

ETA - Likewise, the Tower of Babel and similar myths are all constructs that explain why, if the locals are the "chosen of god/the gods", there are other people the next valley over that don't speak quite the same dialect.

KittyKatBlack · 08-09-2007, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Selsaral

Quote:

Originally Posted by KittyKatBlack

The book says that, and it seems to imply that it's proof there was a flood.

I guess I don't understand. Many stories in the bible resembles other myths, and that somehow indicates it's actually true?

It mentions two other flood myths, and seems to say that if other religions say there was a flood then it must be true.

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08-09-2007, 09:01 AM	#21
Paul2 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,088	Question: Why did god send the flood? Answer: It's a literary device called poetic justice with a mix of symbolism. The evil were punished (drowned, apparently, because noah had the only boat), and the good and noble were rewarded. The water signifies a cleansing and the animals, a rebirth. It's not a historical text, it's a story with a deeper meaning than what is on the surface.

08-09-2007, 09:01 AM	#22
deadman_932 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Altadena, California Posts: 3,271	Imagine the world was flooded for a year. Imagine you have to feed a boatload of animals for a year. Wouldn't that leave marks, geologically? Wouldn't a flooded earth make it impossible to find grass? How would your cows live?

08-09-2007, 09:04 AM	#24
deadman_932 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Altadena, California Posts: 3,271	Yes, the flood myth was local and not global. No flood at 2800 or whatever BC, Nothing supports it

08-09-2007, 09:05 AM	#25
deadman_932 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Altadena, California Posts: 3,271	P.S. youre safe here.

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