Christians: Do you take the story of Noah's Ark literally OR metaphorically (question for atheists inside)?

Question

Where is the archaeological evidence supporting the story of Noah's Ark?

Atheists' Q: Why do you think some Christians are quick to accept these "new" findings of the so-called ark as the real deal?

Answer 1

Atheist /agnostic.



There are "Christian" organisations which are quick to use any rumour, any news report, any unfounded assertion which just might be true to support their teachings. Despite the fact that the names of their organisations sometimes include the word "research" they will do this without any investigation of the rumour.



Twenty years or so ago American pastors were screaming about organised Satanic ritual abuse of children. This became widespread and the FBI took it seriously enough to investigate. They found no cases at all, not one. You can probably find the story on the net including a public statement from the retired FBI officer who headed the investigation.



Several years ago another story broke, the borehole to hell supposedly in Finland, or Siberia, or somewhere. A Norwegian prankster supplied one of these organisations in California with a clip from a Norwegian newspaper supposedly supporting the story. The California group promoted it as proof of the existence of the borehole. In fact, the clip was about the doings of a small town mayor in Norway. You can find this on the net too. It should have been fairly easy to find a Norwegian speaker in California, or even a Norwegian - English dictionary. Yet it seems they didn't even try.



In 1993 CBS screened a TV show about the discovery of Noah's ark. This show was made by Sun Pictures at the behest of the Institute for Creation Research. It was based around a piece of American pine soaked in teriyaki sauce and microwaved by actor George Jammal. The LA Times exposed the hoax a few months later. This one is thoroughly documented on and off the net.



I have concluded from these stories and from other things that these organisations are basically liars and are in it for the money they can extract from the fundamentalist churches, the pastors and the congregations. There does not seem to be any other reasonable explanation.

Answer 2

In the various parts of Victoria Australia that I have lived in (nearly all within the Kulin nation area - ie area of the first peoples of the middle of Vic) Christianity was the main religion with many denominations . The overwhelming views & teachings of the Noah story were that the story as written in English texts is a very liberal (irony!) explanation of something calamitous that could very well have occurred. "All the animals" at this ancient time meant all the land animals in that region - ie the known world of that era - not the entire globe. This story teaches the ethic of 'care for life' - ie that our survival & happiness & other species survival & wellbeing is intertwined. No Christians I know now or then, believed that all animals derived from the Ark animals. Only children are supposed to believe in the literal interpretation of this and most other Bible stories, until they accept the weight of the moral story inside the textual framework. I suppose that some people are struggling to grow up. Summery Answer: I estimate that in Australia over 90% of people raised as Christians realize that morals on 'care for the community of life on Earth' are the most important aspects of the Bible stories, including Noah & the Ark . The USA may well be more along the lines of 70% or less .

Answer 3

That is quite possibly one of the most ridiculous stories anyone was ever expected to believe as a literal truth.



Some of the many problems: Where did the water go after the flood? Where did the fecal matter go during the voyage? How did animals from all the continents get to the ark? Where was all the food for the journey stored? What did the animals eat when they got off the ark, since they wouldn't be able to eat each other for generations? How did fresh water fish survive being inundated with salt water when water levels rose worldwide? How did so many animals fit on the ark (many were in pairs of seven, not two), how does Noah's small family account for all the human genetic diversity in the world?



In addition, what sort of god drowns everyone? That god either made a mistake, in which case it was not omnipotent, or it was cruel, which seems likely given the disregard for life seen so often in the Bible, as with the killing of every Egyptian firstborn son.



The story is also predated by the Mesopotamian story of Ziusudra and the flood.



Atheist

Answer 4

I take it as literal and do not get to carried away with stories of someone discovering the Ark half way up a mountain.



Very few people read for themselves the account of the flood in Gen 6



The Ark was rectangle (it didn't have to go anywhere)with 3 floors .

About the size of a football pitch

There were 8 people on the Ark

Two of every Kind of animal. Not two lions, two leopards, two cougars. Just two cats

Scientists today agree that all dogs, for instance, came from the wolf.

Seven of domestic animal

Archaeological evidence is found right round the earth. usually explained away as local floods.

Sudden drop of temperature as the water canopy above came down freezing animals with undigested food in their stomachs.



Bible believing Christian

Answer 5

As a Bible-believing Christian, I understand the story of Noah's ark neither as literallay true, or as an extended metaphor. Noah's ark, like the other 300 ancient flood stories, was told by ancient Hebrews to express the idea that, regardless of the calamity, God's provision and care extend to God's children, even when evil behavior has provoked God. It carries a threat of punishment balanced with a promise of reassurance, balanced in God's hands. It is genuine *mythos* and as such, speaks to who we are in relation to God. One of the things that is so wonderful about Scripture, is that there are choices for understanding that Scripture that are neither literal, nor metaphorical, and which actually make sense. We Bible-believing Christians have done a very poor job of understanding and explaining our beloved Scriptures.



And, there is no "archaeological evidence," silly. That would be stupid in the world of mythos. And, besides, what would a bunch of nomadic desert dwellers know about *floods*? The story was obviously written with a sense of humor, tongue in cheek. Too bad you've only heard the story at the hands of a Christian dullard.

Answer 6

Why do you think some Christians are quick to accept these "new" findings of the so-called ark as the real deal?



They have a large portion of their life tied around the veracity of the biblical texts as a precondition for their religion (and thus a lot of their world view) being correct.



edit:



"ya you know that thing you call the ice age thats the flud"



The ice age ended over 10K years ago, which is long before the flood in the bible is supposed to have happened.

Answer 7

I accept it as literal being that it is written as a historical narrative not a legend. Also, Jesus referred to Noah and the flood as if they really happened, and since I believe Jesus is God this validates my conclusion that Noah and the Ark were real. However just because some people climbed a mountain and found some wood in a block of ice, doesn't mean I automatically accept it as the ark.

Answer 8

I literally take Noah's Ark as a story. Fiction. Written by a man.



Other religion.

Answer 9

When I was religious I remember being a cherry picker. Any scientific findings that had anything to do with the Bible I accepted right away, but I rejected the big bang and the theory of evolution because it didn't match up with a literal interpretation of the Bible. I already believed the Bible to be true but I didn't know enough about science to know what I was rejecting so I just believed what I was told.

Answer 10

Yes



Christian, (Assembly of God)



Why ?



Creation in the 21st Century - World Before The Flood 1 of 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPNJE17DALc



Creation In The 21st Century -- From Where did these Layers Come (From) 1 of 3 (Global Flood)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZyoXQJ5Al0



Hiperbaric Conditions Before Noah's Flood(1/5)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS7QtW2isPw&feature=related



Creation In The 21st Century -- Noah's Ark and Jesus 1 of 3 (Parallel)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQg67H4GK1o



Creation in the 21st Century - Caught by the Flood 1 of 3 (Sedimentary Fossils)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNRlxe94OKw



Questions and Answers about the Worldwide Flood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeZBpVNeaB0&feature=related



http://www.carm.org/was-noahs-ark-possible



http://www.carm.org/questions/about-bible/could-noahs-ark-hold-all-animals

Answer 11

Look, people believe in flying saucers and ghosts, and a long time ago people were called heretics and burned at the stake by their churches because they believed the earth was not flat, and the earth was not the center of the universe.



People will believe what they want do, even when you give them empirical evidence to the opposite.

Answer 12

There would have to have been 2 of every animal existing on earth within a few miles of the Ark... somehow, I don't think they have kangaroos in that part of the world.

Atheist.

Answer 13

It's true, literally. I don't know all the details but I know it wasn't a metaphor. I believe it's true because the Bible says it's true and I have faith. Others will use this as their reason not to believe in God. I guess that's an idea though. Pick a lame excuse to not believe in a being you truly know exists and then hope you never have to actually face Him. I call it the Close-your-eyes-really-tight-and -pray (just not to God) plan.



Will it work? Time will tell.

Answer 14

Yes, I take it literally...as for people finding it I don't think they will because God doesn't intend to have to prove Himself,we must believe on faith alone. I believe the proof is already there we must accept it because we trust and believe in God.....I am a Christian a Christ follower

Answer 15

Atheists A: They always are. I've heard of these "findings" every several years since I first became aware that there are such things to be concerned about. The Shroud of Turin, too.

Answer 16

I take almost all stories of the bible metaphorically. I think they were meant to be like that, but people took them seriously. I'm Christian Agnostic.

Answer 17

I am a christian and I take it very literally.Because I know that it did happen.Just like may 21, 2011 will happen in 12 months and 9 days. Learn more at www.ebiblefellowship.com.

Answer 18

I asked a similar question here. Look at some of the ridiculous answers:



https://answersrip.com/question/index?qid=20100507161428AACW1C1

Answer 19

I think it's a story explaining a local natural disaster.

Answer 20

They are supposed to take it literally or else the whole Bible can be deemed metaphor.

Answer 21

People like to hear things that support their preconceptions. It's human nature.



Atheist.

Answer 22

I don't really think anything.



They can accept anything they want. I'll just be over there, doubting it.



Nothing to get my undies in a bunch over.

Answer 23

we take it as a metaphor.....otherwise there would be no adam and eve would there?......and Jesus...well we certainly don't want to believe that he came over on some kind of boat.....lol

Answer 24

I think it literally never happened

Answer 25

ya you know that thing you call the ice age thats the flud

Answer 26

http://www.carm.org/questions/about-bible/could-noahs-ark-hold-all-animals



http://www.allaboutgod.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?zoom_sort=0&zoom_query=noah%27s+ark