How did a local Mesopotamian flood become a Global Catastrophe?

Question

The translation 'Whole world' used in English versions of the Bible is nonsense. No one in the Middle East several thousand years ago could speak with any authority about North America, Australia or anything much beyond the horizon that his own eyes could see.

Is it illiteracy? Lack of reading comprehension. This seems to be a common problem with American Christians.

If you read a two thousand year old book, and one of the statements that the book makes is that something is going to happen in the immediate future, that is our past. It either happened or it did not, there is no possibility of it happening 'immediately' a few dozen centuries later.

If you read a book from Norway written in the 8th century and see words that are translated as 'Whole World', try to remember that their 'whole world' was a very small place and consisted of only the lands that they had visited while raping and pillaging. It doesn't mean they were referring to China.

*Star*.....I'm a recovered Christian. Not even a 'recovering one'. I actually made it out of the dark tunnel and out into the light.

You nailed it, fra59e. It wasn't even their own story.

Answer 1

The geological record shows a shift in the magnetic poles and a tilting of the axis only a few degrees about the time of the recorded flood. This would have been enough for the oceans to flood the land masses. Nevermind the cause, the geological and historical records say it happened.

Answer 2

It could be global but it needs detailed investigation. Hindu's "Matasia Avtar or Prophet" made his appearance in the same circumstances and weather conditions. According to the Hindu mythology in Satyuga Matasia Avtar appeared in the form of a big fish from the ocean before the most righteous king of that time and asked him to go to the top of a mountain where a large boat along with other necessaries is kept for him. He told him the time of the "Parley" or the great flood and said that he will push the big boat over the flood water for the time the normal conditions return again. But I do not know whether the timings of the Noah's flood and the appearing of the Hindus Matasia Avtar are the same or different. If some body knows the way to calculate the timings, the truth can be unveiled. I have answered just out of curiosity due to the resemblance of the circumstances and conditions of the both myths.

Answer 3

The Euphrates, unlike the Nile, is not well enclosed beween banks. This means that when it floods, the waters spread to the horizon. In a world of people who didn't travel farther than they could walk, this meant that "the whole world" was submerged.

So they wrote the Epic of Gilgamesh, the story of a faithful man who obeys God and builds an ark and so survives the flood along with the few humans and animals he takes aboard.

The Israelites went to Babylon as captives. While there they learned to read and write, so they started compiling their own literature. They took the Gilgamesh story and made it their own, with Noah in place of Gilgamesh.

Answer 4

Ooops! God forgot about the rest of the world that he created. He only told his chosen people about their own little corner (or circle) of the earth.

He obviously only destroyed people and cities in the middle east because those people were his favorites.

The mongol hoards weren't Gods favorite children so he didn't need to punish them, kind of like the neighbor's brats. You don't punish the neighbor's kids for ransacking your yard because their dad is much bigger than you are. You just tend to your own kids and punish them instead.

Answer 5

Genesis 1:6,9 and 2 Peter 3:5, 6, 7 explains how the whole earth became flooded. Don't you have faith in God?
The Holy Scriptures (Bible) IS the Word of God. God never lies because He cannot.

Answer 6

And, behold, I even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, TO DESTROY ALL FLESH, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and EVERY THING that is in the earth shall DIE. - Genesis 6:17.

So a local Mesopotamian flood destroyed every living thing in the whole earth?!!? That sounds pretty illiterate.

Please get your noggin back in the Bible and more importantly read it with a humble and contrite heart and God will reveal himself to you. I promise.

Answer 7

Your arguement is irrefutable logic

And that's why the christians will ignore it.

They'll say "because it's inspired by god, it's different" or something along those lines.

It's an excellent point you've raised.

Answer 8

why do you care so much about Christianity......thats good though, your asking questions. I hope you become christian since your very interested in it.