I know this is a potentially derogatory question, and I apologize. What I am wondering, there are two instances of approved incest in the bible (several other cases are mentioned but are either not approved or are outright rejected). The first was Adam & Eve's children populating the earth. The second case was Noah's family populating the earth.
My question is this: Using the specific example of Noah's family to populate the earth, does this imply that the Bible condones incest?
Once again, I apologize for the sensitive nature of this question.
2006-07-06 11:15:32 · 13 answers · asked by imrational 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This question is very interesting. A little known fact by most of today's population is that our current definition of incest is differenty from what it was in biblical times. This view changed because the royal line in England a few centuries back was becoming riddled with health problems and birth defects due to an overabundance of inbreeding. There was a decree from this time period that prohibited the intermarrying of any brothers or sisters as well as any first cousins. This viewpoint spread to the general population, and that is why today there is such a social stigma against this type of marriage. Biblically speaking though, I believe incest was defined as marrying of having sexual relations with a parent.
2006-07-06 11:23:50 · answer #1 · answered by beanie_baby_88 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The Bible is for sure full of contradictions and I am a full on atheist. However, my atheistic views came through a great deal fo stud of the Bible. While I can not speak to the story of Noah, and would say that the Bible version certainly did condone it with the story. I can only say with that story it was a retelling of the story of Gilgamesh and possibly just added the incest to explain life on Earth now.
However, there is a huge mistake that is made in the story of Adam and Eve that those who just skim the story or never read the Bible seem to just accept blindly. Does ANYONE read where the sons of Adam and Eve go out from their parents to a city???!! No? Read the Bible then. SO that would give you the simple explanation that Adam and Eve were indeed the FIRST but not the ONLY humans created. Two huge different things. I always get bent when I hear Christians spewing the A&E story and glossing over that they were not the ONLY ones created. Somehow the two sons of Adam mated with whom? Eve?
Blind following the blind indeed.
Thanks for reading!
2014-01-14 05:42:39 · answer #2 · answered by Troy 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Incest In The Bible
2016-10-18 03:40:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Incest was not forbidden, and if you believe the account of Adam and Eve, wouldn't have been a problem in early history. The biological problem with incest is that it compounds genetic defects that are usually recessive. If humanity was originally created perfect, then no genetic defects, no problems with incest at first. It wouldn't be until genetic defects cropped up that there would be a problem. Incest was banned by Levitical law that came long after Noah was in the ground.
2006-07-06 11:25:46 · answer #4 · answered by strausseman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In order to repopulate Earth yes. However incest is NOT mentioned in Ten Commandments either. So does God condone it I would assume yes. Incest was a BIG part of Egyptian lore as bloodline was to be maintained. Many times Brothers married Sisters etc. If you look at bible even Sol's daughters bedded their Father thinking all of mankind had been killed.
2006-07-06 11:23:12 · answer #5 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Just because stuff happens in the Bible doesn't mean it's necessarily right. Take David and Bathsheba and the rest of that story for example. What David and Bathsheba did wasn't right, but it's in the Bible.
Of course, in the stories you are talking about, did these people really have much of a choice in the matter? It was either that or go extinct altogether.
2006-07-06 11:20:37 · answer #6 · answered by bachlava_9 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually Noah's sons were married before they entered the ark and God separated the men and women inside the ark until the flood was abated (land was found) so that no children could be born inside. Shem married Sedeqetelebab, Ham married Ne'elatama'uk and Japheth married 'Adataneses according to the Book of Enoch which was considered to old to be incorporated into the Bible. The fact that their wives were not mentioned does not mean they weren't married, just that the fact wasn't important. How large and confusing would the Bible be if all the little facts had been included? And there would be no reason for faith.
Also, you must realizine that in Mammals it takes 10 generations for Genetic defects to "set in permanently" and 5 generations in plants (biology). And Noah was at the limit (the 10th generation from Adam).
2006-07-06 11:46:13 · answer #7 · answered by AdamKadmon 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Pft, can just look at adam and eve for that. It amazes me that so many christians are so afriad of evolving from an animal, but they're perfectly alright with being the product of heavy incest. Twice.
2006-07-06 11:19:29 · answer #8 · answered by The Resurrectionist 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, it was Noah, his wife, Noah's three sons and their wives. They were married before the flood, so there's no insest unless they were sleeping with their mother.
Now Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel is a whole other story...
2006-07-06 11:26:56 · answer #9 · answered by Kenny ♣ 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just one of many contradictions you will find dont forget the book of judah found in a new york bank vault.
2006-07-06 11:24:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋