To ask a stupid question? Noah's Ark

[Besttimelftheyear]

So I am not religious, but I would say I was brought up Christian. I would say my parents were non practicing Christians, but I was taught bible stories as truth and facts. The logical adult in me now says that most of the events can be explained quite simply.

Onto the question. Noah's Ark, is there any evidence of a global flood? Noah was supposed to have taken two of each animals onto the boat while the earth was flooded and wiped out everything else.

Surely this was simply a regular flood like we see today?

What are peoples beliefs or knowledge on this?

I believe there probably were floods, yes.

Other Mediterranean cultures have flood myths (Deucalion's flood, Gilgamesh).

Yes there probably were floods but would the idea of global actually be worldwide or would it have been more concentrated to the area of the world Noah or anyone else from that time knew

It was a local flood. In those days they didn't know of the existence of most of the world.

If there were actual evidence of a global flood, the zealots would be pushing that information constantly.

I had a similar religious upbringing to you and I’m often fascinated by the reality behind Old Testament stories. I remember reading somewhere that there was a huge flood somewhere in the Middle East about 8,000 years ago and have always wondered if that was Noah’s one. I mean it’s not the “whole world” but surely people would have believed the “whole world” to be much smaller than it actually is back then? I think similar things about the plagues of Egypt.

It’s more about symbolism than actual events. Noah’s Ark is a story of redemption, salvation. The flood is God’s wrath. The Ark is protection; God’s love for and protection of the righteous Noah. The dove represents the Holy Spirit, returning with the olive branch of peace after the flood. New hope, new creation. It’s as if the dove returns to deliver God’s peace and goodwill to mankind.

Lucy Cousins, who made the Maisy Mouse children’s books, made a beautiful one about Noah’s Ark.

This is quite interesting https://www.google.com/amp/s/abcnews.go.com/amp/Technology/evidence-suggests-biblical-great-flood-noahs-time-happened/story%3fid=17884533

But do I believe a man built a boat and took two of every animal on it? Err, no.

flood narratives are very common in lots of different cultures.

remember they were often from a time when most people spent their whole lives within a 5 / 10 mile radius of where they lived because of the ease of travel so, for example, if there was a massive tsunami, it could easily seem like the whole world had flooded.

I don’t think practicing Christians are obliged to believe in the literal truth of Old Testament stories like Noah’s flood. Even medieval Christians tended to take these as allegories of sin and redemption ( cf Jonah and the whale).

I'm sure I've seen a documentary about the black sea being created by a massive flood when the sea levels in the med rose, and that that's thought to be responsible for various tales of ancient massive flooding.

They didn't have 'global' in the way we know today. So the floods that happened could have affected the whole country/ planet or not. Nobody would really know. But it would have seemed pretty apocalypse- tastic to those involved.

I'm a Catholic. Do I believe there was a righteous man called Noah? Yes. Do I believe he built an ark and put a whole bunch of people and pets on it? Yes. Do I believe God's wrath and mercy were involved in a big ass flood, yes but was it global? Meh probably not.

Thank you.

That's what I thought really, that the story has truth, but it would have seemed like a global flood to those living there at the time. How could they possibly have known.

Although God was supposed to have sent a message to Noah.

My parents aren't religious anymore but it's still like they are too afraid to question the word of the bible.

I was always taught (Catholic school) that it was metaphorical rather than literal, just like Adam and Eve. Floods would have been familiar, and presumably just like today a traumatic event where some would show great kindness.

Or what @SerenityNowInsanityLater said much more eloquently!

It probably didn't happen. There's an awful lot in the Bible that probably didn't happen.

I'm sure I remember reading something (may be wrong) that said there is a hill in Turkey? Where they say Noah's ark landed after the floods.

There are flood myths from all other the world, many of which are very old (the Bible as we know it incorporated many preexisting stories). At the end of the last ice age, all the water that was previously held in glaciers melted. This caused sea level to rise dramatically.

The humans that were there at the time will have witnessed massive areas of land dissappear under the ocean, within a human life time. (Eg. There used to be land between England and the Netherlands). The story of something so dramatic/ terrorfying, would likely be passed down in oral history, with the story evolving.

Boats were already in use at the time, so it's not unlikely that someone put animals onto a boat when escaping the flood. Obviously not two of every animal, but maybe two of ever type of domestic animal they kept, so they could re-establish their farm.

I'm both a Christian and an ancient history nerd. I recently heard this podcast on History Hit's Ancients about Noah's ark and the flood;
https://castbox.fm/vb/707977250

There's tons of evidence of localised floods historically. I'm more dubious about 2 of every animal given that they tend to eat each other! So I take the symbolism position broadly on the old testament.

Your local CoE church will probably do a three evening course called Hope Explored which is a great place to ask questions and learn more.

I suspect the whole story is based on folk memory passed down over hundreds of generations. Somewhere between 6000 and 15000 years ago sea levels rose around 130 metres after the end of the last ice age which would have caused many floods and dramatically reduced landmass. Over time these would have developed into the many flooding myths we see around the world. The story of Noah is most likely based around these preexisting myths updated by the abrahamic tradition to emphasize the power of their god.

There wasn't a flood over the whole world that has been scientifically shown, but there was a flood over all that area of the world, so it would have seemed like the whole world.

These are two possible suggestions, both of which are interesting:
Yes, Noah's Flood May Have Happened, But Not Over the Whole Earth | National Center for Science Education (ncse.ngo)

Evidence for a Flood | Smithsonian (smithsonianmag.com)

And just to note, it wasn't two of every animal. Some of them were 7 pairs - mostly the ones that would have been used as food if my memory is correct!

Mount Ararat, which used to be in Armenia.

As others have said. There were floods but not globally. I'm mainly commenting so I can find this later to read the links and podcasts

Can't remember where I read it but once read possible explanation for lots of bible stories it was fascinating! The other one I remember clearly was there is evidence of a tsunami for Moses parting of the sea

It wouldn't be every animal in the world though, just every local domesticated animal. Sheep, goats, cattle, different birds, camels perhaps.

It's a pretty hideous story really. Just drown anyone who does something wrong. I wouldn't wish drowning even on the worst criminal let alone the entire world except one family. The fact that one family is saved doesn't make it ok!

It always amazes me how these stories are considered suitable for children.