Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Bree · 02-13-2002, 10:46 AM

I was accosted by a Fundie in class today who swears that the Flood was caused by God popping a balloon with a pin.

Okay, so maybe that's not exactly it.

She said that pre-Flood all the water on Earth was suspended above the atmosphere in a sort of giant water balloon. When God got pissed off he decided to pop the ballon with a pin, let all the water come crashing down, and kill everyone and everything.

She swears that this is a "scientifically proven" theory that has an actual name, but was unable to provide me with it. I was wondering if anyone here's heard of it.

My question is, what is the scientific evidence for this theory? Did they find the big water balloon?

Utnapishtim · 02-13-2002, 11:03 AM

Yeah there is scientific proof for that theory...I found the evidence the other day while digging a hole in my back yard...

Sorry I don't know the name of such a preposterous myth.

hezekiah jones · 02-13-2002, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bree:
My question is, what is the scientific evidence for this theory?

I believe it's known as the "<a href="http://www.google.com/custom?hl=en&cof=&sitesearch=www.talkorigins.org&q =%22vapor+canopy%22&btnG=Google+Search" target="_blank">vapor canopy</a> theory," and the scientific evidence for it is an animated .gif file somewhere on the internet.

Late_Cretaceous · 02-13-2002, 11:08 AM

That's not a theory, in fact it makes mockery of the word theory.

DireStraits · 02-13-2002, 11:56 AM

It's the vapor canopy theory all right. Go here to see why it really is preposterous.

<a href="http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/canopy.html" target="_blank">http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/canopy.html</a>

Also tell your friend that nothing is ever "proven" in the empirical sciences, and that her theory is not scientific since it requires supernatural intervantion to work.

Coragyps · 02-13-2002, 12:12 PM

Bree, run as fast as you can! Your fundie acquaintance is in reality a foul, apostate heretic! Talking about popping balloons, when we all know that ol' YHWH opened the windows in the firmament instead!

Dr Rick · 02-13-2002, 01:23 PM

Fundies seem to have a more difficult time arguing the 'whys' rather than the 'hows' of Biblical atrocities. If you want to shut her up, rather than debate the putative mechanisisms of the ridiculous but nonetheless unfalsifiable flood story, ask her about the morality of such a heinous act. Why did God have to kill babies and animals for the sins of adults? Was that really fair to them? Should we do the same to the pets and families of convicted criminals, and if not, why not?

bluefugue · 02-13-2002, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Should we do the same to the pets and families of convicted criminals, and if not, why not?

Sheesh, even I know the answer to that one. No, we should not do the same, because vengeance is God's alone, thou shalt not presume to step in the shoes of the almighty Yahweh, blah diddy blah blah blah...

The evilutionists have been refuted again! When you go up against Baby Jesus you'd best have more ammo than that, Dr. Rick!

Dr Rick · 02-13-2002, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by IesusDomini:
<strong> ...No, we should not do the same, because vengeance is God's alone, thou shalt not presume to step in the shoes of the almighty Yahweh, blah diddy blah blah blah...</strong>

Silence, heathen: the authorities can punish wrongdoers in the name of God:

Romans 13:4: For [the ruler] is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

Undercurrent · 02-13-2002, 07:11 PM

This one's even been disavaowed by most creationists after years of having it pointed out that either:

The flood was not quite ankle-deep or,
The gravitational potential energy of the water before the flood was so great that the energy released in its falling would raise the temperature of the earth to the boiling point of lead.

m.

02-13-2002, 10:46 AM	#1
Bree Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Twin Cities, USA Posts: 3,197	What is the name of this theory... I was accosted by a Fundie in class today who swears that the Flood was caused by God popping a balloon with a pin. Okay, so maybe that's not exactly it. She said that pre-Flood all the water on Earth was suspended above the atmosphere in a sort of giant water balloon. When God got pissed off he decided to pop the ballon with a pin, let all the water come crashing down, and kill everyone and everything. She swears that this is a "scientifically proven" theory that has an actual name, but was unable to provide me with it. I was wondering if anyone here's heard of it. My question is, what is the scientific evidence for this theory? Did they find the big water balloon?

02-13-2002, 07:11 PM	#10
Undercurrent Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 2,362	This one's even been disavaowed by most creationists after years of having it pointed out that either: The flood was not quite ankle-deep or, The gravitational potential energy of the water before the flood was so great that the energy released in its falling would raise the temperature of the earth to the boiling point of lead. m.

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02-13-2002, 11:03 AM	#2
Utnapishtim Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 330	Yeah there is scientific proof for that theory...I found the evidence the other day while digging a hole in my back yard... Sorry I don't know the name of such a preposterous myth.

02-13-2002, 11:08 AM	#4
Late_Cretaceous Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Alberta Posts: 1,049	That's not a theory, in fact it makes mockery of the word theory.

02-13-2002, 11:56 AM	#5
DireStraits Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 81	It's the vapor canopy theory all right. Go here to see why it really is preposterous. <a href="http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/canopy.html" target="_blank">http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/canopy.html</a> Also tell your friend that nothing is ever "proven" in the empirical sciences, and that her theory is not scientific since it requires supernatural intervantion to work.

02-13-2002, 12:12 PM	#6
Coragyps Veteran Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Snyder,Texas,USA Posts: 4,411	Bree, run as fast as you can! Your fundie acquaintance is in reality a foul, apostate heretic! Talking about popping balloons, when we all know that ol' YHWH opened the windows in the firmament instead!

02-13-2002, 01:23 PM	#7
Dr Rick Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: USA Posts: 5,393	Fundies seem to have a more difficult time arguing the 'whys' rather than the 'hows' of Biblical atrocities. If you want to shut her up, rather than debate the putative mechanisisms of the ridiculous but nonetheless unfalsifiable flood story, ask her about the morality of such a heinous act. Why did God have to kill babies and animals for the sins of adults? Was that really fair to them? Should we do the same to the pets and families of convicted criminals, and if not, why not?

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