If anyone knows about the flood myths of noah's ark and the indian tale of Manu and his fish i need some info.

Question

ID the theme/message
compare/contrast the two
and give the relationship to the present

Answer 1

According to the Bible Noah or Noah was the tenth and last of the antediluvian Patriarchs, best known for the Deluge which came in his time. His story is contained in the Hebrew Bible (Torah)'s book of Genesis, chapters 5-9.

While the Deluge and Noah's Ark are the best-known element of the story of Noah, he is also mentioned as the "first husbandman" and the inventor of wine, as well as in an episode of his drunkenness and the subsequent Curse of Ham. Some analyses of the text of the story have suggested that its present form combines two originally separate sources, possibly relating to two separate stories, and that it contains elements of earlier Mesopotamian mythology, although both of these points are disputed and controversial.

The story of Noah was the subject of much elaboration in the later Abrahamic traditions, and was immensely influential in Western culture.

Flood stories are widespread in world mythology, with examples available from practically every society. Noah's counterpart in Greek mythology was Deucalion, in Indian texts a terrible flood was supposed to have left only one survivor, a saint named Manu who was saved by Vishnu in the form of a fish, and in Zoroastrian myth the figure of Yima saves a remnant of mankind from destruction by ice. Flood stories have been found also in the mythologies of many preliterate peoples, from areas distant from Mesopotamia and the Eurasian continent; the Chippewa Indians legend is one example.[18] Biblical literalists point to these stories as evidence that the biblical deluge, and the Ark, represent real history; ethnologists and mythologists suggest that legends such as the Chippewa have to be treated with great caution due to the possibility of contamination from contact with Christianity (and the desire to shape traditional material to fit the newly adopted religion), as well as a common need to explain natural disasters over which early societies had no control.

With the seventh Manu, Vaivaswata, is connected the very curious and interesting legend of the deluge. The first account of this is found in the Satapatha Brahmana, of which the following is a summary: -- One morning, in the water which was brought to Manu for washing his hands, he caught a fish which spake, and said, "Take care of me and I will preserve thee." Manu asked, "From what will you preserve me?" The fish answered, "A flood will carry away all living beings; I will save thee from that." The fish desired Manu to keep him alive in an earthen vessel, to remove him to a dyke as he grew largers, and eventually to the ocean, "so that he might be beyond the risk of destruction." The fish grew rapidly, and again addressed Manu, saying, "After so many years the deluge will take place; then construct a ship and pay me homage, and when the waters rise, go into the ship and I will rescue thee." Manu did as he was desired, he built the ship, conveyed the fish to the ocean, and did him homage. The flood rose, and Manu fastened the cable of the ship to the fish's horn. Thus he passed over the northern mountain (the Himalaya, as the commentator explains). The fish then desired Manu to fasten the ship to a tree, and to go down with the subsiding waters. He did so, and found that the flood had swept away all living creatures. He alone was left. Desirous of offspring, he offered sacrifices and engaged in devotion. A woman was produced, who came to Manu and declared herself his daughter. "With her he lived, worshipping and toiling in arduous religious rites, desirous of offspring. With her he begat the offspring which is the offspring of Manu."

The story, as told in the Mahabharata, represents Manu as engaged in devotion by the side of a river, and the fish craving his protection from the bigger fish. Manu placed the fish in a glass vase, but it grew larger and larger till the ocean alone could contain it. Then it warned Manu of the coming flood, and directed him to build a ship and to embark with the seven Rishis. He did so, and fastened his ship to the horn of the fish.

Answer 2

It is a myth. Here are several reasons why: 1- As you pointed out, size is a problem. 2- How do they feed everything? That would be a lot of work for 8 people and the carnivores would likely eat the other animals or people. 3- What would the do with all the poop. There would be no way they could keep up with cleaning. 4- Where did the water come from, and where did it go? There is not that much water on Earth, and we have a water cycle, meaning that we have mostly the same water as we did a million years ago. 5- At that time, they didn't even know about most other continents, such as the americas. How did they get animals from those places. 6- Many of the animals involved are highly dangerous. How did they get them all, especially without the invention of tranquilizers, because very few animals would get on the boat willingly. 7- Most plants would be killed by the flood. No plants= no food= starvation! 8-Oh, and two is not enough to make a species live. This is the same issue I have with Adam and Eve. There would also be very little variation in creatures like people [One family=only one race], dogs, or cats.

Answer 3

http://skepdic.com/noahsark.html
For Noah's Ark

http://students.ou.edu/P/Lauren.M.Parsons-1/chapter1.html
Thats the story of Manu...

As for the rest you requested..you have to do your own homework...

Answer 4

im not into comparisons with pagan religions
the truth is in the good book the Bible