believing in Noah´s ark? What about logics?

Question

i may understand that people may believe literally in the bible but what about logics?
If one man (and his family, let´s say 10 people altogether) had to build an ark that can accomodate a couple of each and every animal specie and family (not only two dogs but two german shepherds, bulldogs, rottweiler and so on) with the resources they had at hand (limited) with the tools they had at that time (no cranes, no bulldozers, no lorries), how long would that take them? 100 years?
if you are going to tell me that god helped them then why wouldnt he build the ark himself? in the bible it says that he commanded noah to build the ark.

Answer 1

Hope you will take time to read this.

It is true that encyclopedias refer to over a million species of animals. But Noah was instructed to preserve only representatives of every “kind” of land animal and flying creature. Some investigators have said that just 43 “kinds” of mammals, 74 “kinds” of birds, and 10 “kinds” of reptiles could have produced the great variety of species of these creatures that are known today.

The ark had a carrying capacity equal to that of 10 freight trains of about 25 American boxcars each!


The “kinds” of animals selected had reference to the clear-cut and unalterable boundaries or limits set by the Creator, within which boundaries creatures are capable of breeding “according to their kinds.” It has been estimated by some that the hundreds of thousands of species of animals today could be reduced to a comparatively few family “kinds”, the horse kind and the cow kind, to mention but two.

The breeding boundaries according to “kind” established by God were not and could not be crossed. With this in mind some investigators have said that, had there been as few as 43 “kinds” of mammals, 74 “kinds” of birds, and 10 “kinds” of reptiles in the ark, they could have produced the variety of species known today. Others have been more liberal in estimating that 72 “kinds” of quadrupeds and less than 200 bird “kinds” were all that were required. That the great variety of animal life known today could have come from inbreeding within so few “kinds” following the Flood is proved by the endless variety of humankind, short, tall, fat, thin, with countless variations in the color of hair, eyes, and skin, all of whom sprang from the one family of Noah.

consider the ark itself. The Bible describes a vessel about 437 feet long, with a length-to-height ratio of 10 to 1 and a length-to-width ratio of 6 to 1. (Genesis 6:15) Now, Noah was no shipbuilder. And remember, this was more than 4,000 years ago! Yet, the ark was built with proportions that were ideal for its function as a floating container. In fact, modern naval architects have found similar ratios suitable for structural integrity and stability on the open seas. Although the Bible does not specify the exact length of time Noah spent building the ark, the account allows for construction that took 50 or 60 years.

The three floors plus the wide roof span probably required, in addition to the ‘compartment’ divisions, the use of some wooden columns and beams to support the weight, as well as to give the structure necessary stability. Although the ark was caulked with tar, there would also be need for careful fitting of the timbers to ensure a reasonably watertight construction.

The ark was a rectangular chestlike vessel presumably having square corners and a flat bottom. It needed no rounded bottom or sharp bow to cut rapidly through the water; it required no steering; its only functions were to be watertight and to stay afloat. A vessel so shaped is very stable, cannot be easily capsized, and contains about one third more storage space than ships of conventional design. There was a door provided in the side of the ark for loading and unloading the cargo.

What would building the ark involve? It meant felling thousands of trees, hauling them to the construction site, and cutting them into planks or beams. It meant building scaffolding, making pins or pegs, obtaining tar for waterproofing, procuring containers and tools, and so on. The work may have required negotiations with merchants and payment for goods and services. It apparently called for skill in carpentry so as to fit the timbers accurately and build an adequately strong structure. And just think, construction probably lasted some 50 or 60 years!

As the years passed and the ark took shape, Noah’s faith was fortified. Construction and logistic problems were resolved. Trials were overcome. No opposition could halt the work. Noah’s family experienced God's support and protection. As Noah pressed on, ‘the tested quality of his faith worked out endurance.’ Eventually, the ark was completed, the Flood came, and Noah and his family survived.

The three floors plus the wide roof span probably required, in addition to the ‘compartment’ divisions, the use of some wooden columns and beams to support the weight, as well as to give the structure necessary stability. Although the ark was caulked with tar, there would also be need for careful fitting of the timbers to ensure a reasonably watertight construction.

Since the only functions of the ark were that it be watertight and that it stay afloat, it had no rounded bottom, sharp bow, means of propulsion, or equipment for steering. Noah’s ark was simply a rectangular, chestlike vessel.

in the Bible, Noah is listed alongside historical characters, being cited as a man of righteousness and faith. (Ezekiel 14:14, 20; Hebrews 11:7) Would it make sense for Bible writers to include a mythical figure as an example to follow? No, for this could easily lead those reading the Bible to conclude that faith is beyond the power of humans and can only be displayed by storybook characters. Noah and the other men and women of faith were listed because they were humans with frailties and feelings like our own.

After decades of strenuous work on the part of Noah and his family, Jehovah told Noah: “Go, you and all your household, into the ark, because you are the one I have seen to be righteous before me among this generation.” With faith and confidence in God's word, “Noah went in, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him.” Jehovah shut the door in order to protect his worshippers. When the Deluge came upon the earth, the ark proved to be God’s dependable provision for survival.

Answer 2

"If one man (and his family, let´s say 10 people altogether) had to build an ark...."
Where in the bible does it say only Noah and his family helped build the ark? How come no one applies the same logic when we say Eiffel built the Eiffel tower or the Pharaohs built the pyramids?

"an ark that can accomodate a couple of each and every animal specie and family (not only two dogs but two german shepherds, bulldogs, rottweiler and so on)"
Just where in the bible does it say that "kind" indicates "species and family"? And those are dog breeds, not families.

Answer 3

Firstly, you mention different types of dogs as your example of the excess the animals would bring. However, you seem not to realize that such animals are merely variations within the species. In other words, Noah would only have to take one pair of dogs to perpetuate the entire variety of dogs. The same with other species. Also, he did not take on board insects, fish and numerous other creatures (such as seals, otters, penguins, etc.) that would not be wiped out by a flood.

And yes, it is estimated from biblical evidence, that Noah had about 100 years to build and prepare the ark. If you're questioning the ability of the ancients ability to build fantastic structures, you haven't seen any Discovery, Science or History Channel documentaries on such subjects. Many things that the ancients built are still a mystery to us, yet the evidence that they did them stands before us today, bigger than life.

And yes, God helped him. He didn't do it for him, because it was also a test of faith, but as long as he was willing to continue, God was there to "grease the axle" so to speak.

And the number of people that was saved through the flood was exactly 8 -- Noah, his three sons and all their wives; you don't have to take guesses, the Bible is quite specific on that matter.

Answer 4

I don't think there were two of each breed of dog; I think the dogs could have developed into various breeds after that. It did take Noah a long time to build the ark.
I have been told that the Chinese symbol for "ship" is 8 people in a boat. There were only 8 people that went into the ark.

Answer 5

There were not that many different species on the earth at the time of the flood. Most species we have today began with one set of parents just like we did. You can get many different varieties of animals from one pair. Look at dogs for instance. Scientists agree that all canines come from wolves. But look at the variety. Neither man nor animals had spread that far away from the original paradise. After the flood they all began to migrate. They were supposed to according to God's command. But some people started building the tower of Babel and not moving on as God commanded. That is why God confused their languages so they had to move on. As a side note, many of the animals that did exist during the flood were swept to different parts of the world in the flood waters. If you can imagine how swift and forceful the flood was, you know how easily it was for the animals to be caught up. This was a global flood. Not just local.

Answer 6

There are close to 500,000 different species of beetle in the world, and a mating pair of each would have to have ridden on the ark. Given that the "average" beetle is about 100mm long, 50mm wide, and 30mm tall, that means the volume of the ark taken up by beetles would have been [2 X (1cm x 0.5cm x 0.3cm) ] x 500,000, or one and a half million "cubic centimeters".


Must have been a BIG boat!

Answer 7

Never mind getting the animals into the boat. How do you feed them? You'd have to get enough of other animals for the carnivores to eat, and run around to keep all of them fed every day.

And what about all the sea creatures? Either the flood made the ocean fresh water, or it remained salt water. Fresh-water creatures can't survive in salt water and vice-versa so regardless you'd need tanks of water in the ark for all those types. And of course, distribute them so that the polar bears go the arctic, the marsupials go to Australia, etc.

There are so many holes in this story, I can't believe any full-grown adult could believe it as being a literal historical account.

Answer 8

Hey...if noah could build an ark, then so could we in the 21st century:

http://www.godsark.org/html/the_construction.html

One question I have is why is it that modern technology requires concrete and steel i-beams to build an ark to specs but noah didn't?

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Answer 9

all those issues can be argued or fudged IE some say it was only one type of dog or wolf and they changed from their.

What I want to know is how the heck the Kangaroo got back to Australia after the flood.

If someone can logicaly explain that in the context of a global flood. I will believe.

Answer 10

Think "outside the box."
First, count them, in the text; there were 8 people in the ark.
Perhaps if you read it through thoroughly, you would have many of your questions answered by the text itself.

Genesis 5:32
Noah was 500 years old: and he begat (three sons)

Your 100 year guess may not be far off.

Answer 11

Noah built the ark according to Gods instructions and it took him about 120 years.