old testament, a great read...but?

Question

listening to the radio this morning and this christian guy was actually trying to rationally explain in terms of logistics, how each pair of species and all the food that would be needed, could fit onto noahs ark.

what planet are these people on and why do we have them on the radio. we dont interpret stories of king arthur as literary fact but as literary devices, albeit based on factual events and peoples. if religeon is to provide people with a framework of ethics and codes of behaviour it can in most cases be of no negative consequence to others but this tradition of warping peoples minds to the point that they cease to function rationally and independantly is surely dangerous.

Answer 1

i agree. it really makes you think the thought, "do not listen to this person". no wonder they keep losing so many followers.

as for dangerous, yes, there is danger when people lose their rational and freethinking faculties and personally i think that this kind of fundamentalism is something we should challenge.

it also strikes me that this god had a plan to reveal its teachings to the world in the form of a book to one group of people in one part of the world a long time ago and hope for the best. this plan in retrospect was of course flawed as other books were out elsewhere and revised versions of the origonal competed for attention leading to a situation where the sucess of these books was based on political boundaries.

i do enjoy reading these stories and this is one of my favourites. can i recommend the "enuma elish", the sumerian creation epic, precursor of the later adam and eve story. the original goes into much more detail.

Answer 2

What we call the old testament is a selection of the literature of the ancient hebrew people. It includes some theological studies that are still valid today. It includes some history, but this was written at a time when literal truth was not allowed to get in the way of a good story. It includes the psalms which were the hymns of the day. There's some 2,500 year old science. There are a number of books of wise sayings. There's quite a lot of prophesy. There is some moralising religious fiction (although this have been demoted to apocrypha by some denominations). There's even a long bawdy poem.

Reading the old testament is a very useful exercise. Quoting bits of it out of context is not. Unfortunately, some Christian denominations regard the bible as some kind of icon and miss the point of most of it.

Answer 3

Hi, I am Rational Spirituality,

Since you are not really asking a question, but are offering a statement, I can only say that I agree with your argument.

If, in turn, you are seeking a logical and a rational explanation about God and the Universe, you may find it interesting to read "Rational Spirituality" on the Dhaxem website. Conveyed from the Source only in February 2006, it is already a major force amongst the thinking people.

Answer 4

But people believe the story of Noahs Ark as 100% truth. That he took every species and food and what not on the Ark for 40 days and 40 nights.

If they would read it completly they would see that Noahs only took some 'clean' Animals and some 'dirty" animals. Also if they would really read the story they would learn that Noahs and his family were on the Ark for one year, yes it rained for 40 days and 40 nights but he water took a year to 'drain'.

Answer 5

I'm not a christian. but its weired that you dint believe that the old testament is true since it can all be explained.If you are a christian and you dint believe that one story is true how do you differentiate between the others. ill give you a link on some of the arguments over evolution and gods creation. http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/qa.asp
and here's a link to a book called 20 most asked question on Genesis. http://www.worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/ow/2c20b208a84610e3a19afeb4da09e526.html
you have to pay for this one but its efing interesting. you can try getting a free one from somewhere, but i cant find one.do you self a favour and read it or go to the first link and read that you'll be amazed what can be explained.

if god exists, anything is possible. remember that!

can i just say that the answer below is piss, cause if you believe in god none of his methods of teaching is"flawd". god is supposed to have unlimited power and knowlege.

Answer 6

The facts of Noah's ark have been mathematically proven to be correct. The great danger is people ignoring God's word. You obviously have no understanding that the Old Testament leads to the New Testament, and that many of these accounts, what you call fables, have a much deeper meaning that what you are reading on the surface. If fantasy is your interest, then stick with King Arthur. I am sure that God will allow you take take a copy of it with you when he kicks you off the cliff into the lake of fire. I bet it will be a great read then, huh.

Answer 7

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deluge_(mythology)

quote:
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The story of a Great Flood sent by a deity or deities to destroy civilization as an act of divine retribution is a widespread theme in myths. The stories of Noah and the ark in Genesis, Matsya in the Hindu Puranas, Deucalion in Greek mythology and Utnapishtim in the Epic of Gilgamesh are among the most familiar versions of these myths. A large percentage of the world's cultures past and present have stories of a "great flood" that devastated earlier civilization.
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Answer 8

Noah is not fiction, the creatures would have been babies or at an age where after 370 days would be at their breeding peak.

2 of each KIND!!! There would not have been what we know now as every type of dog, there would have been only one pair, all other types were breed after from them.

There were no German shepards on the ark for Germany didn't exist then, as an example. ok if not write [e-mail]

Answer 9

Jesus quoted Noah so that adds authenticity. The ark was not a row boat but a huge ship and also as God caused the flood God also gave Noah the planning. God already worked out for Noah what was needed, Noah just carried out God's will.

Answer 10

The story of Noah is the only story that is believed by all main religions and noted in religious books other than the bible. I think that gives the "story" some strength...as most religions cant agree on most things!