how did they know it was a world wide flood?

Question

when they didn't know at least half of the world existed?

...or did Noah and everyone have keen knowledge of the Americas, Australia, and Antarctica?

Answer 1

Great question! Since at the time the 'whole world' was mainly Europe and part of Africa, how did they know that even Australia was flooded?

I'm sure Christians will explain this away.

Answer 2

I think the flood was fairly localized. Several things lead me to this conclusion:

Humanity at the time was basically only concentrated in one area. It would have been senseless to flood the entire Earth

As far as the people at the time were concerned, the whole Earth was flooded.

There is no way that Noah could have fit two of every animal (and seven of every good to eat animal) on his ark. Not even small proto-animals. It would make much more sense if he were to fit two of every animal from the local biome on his boat

Finally God didn't say he would 'flood the earth.' He said He would never send another flood to destroy all humanity. Teensy semantic difference there.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

Its pretty well understood that it wasn't a world-wide flood... 2 things:

1) The wording is ambiguous... the translation could have been "in all the land"... as in... all the relevant land.

2) The geological and archeological evidence does not support a worldwide flood, not to mention the sheer physics involved are impossible (meaning God had to make the water literally come out of nowhere, and disappear into thin air)

Answer 4

Well, the Bible says that the tops of the mountains were covered. Not hills, actual big tall mountains. How can a local flood cover mountains in just one area? That's dumb. It was the whole earth. There is geographical evidence all over the earth. They have also found fossils of things like giant clams on the tops of mountains. Clams don't climb too well.....

The evidence is there, but nobody talks about it in the science community because that would support something from the Bible and we can't have that now can we?

Answer 5

God told Noah that He was going to flood the earth and destroy all mankind on it except for those few in the ark. Noah may or may not have known what constituted the whole world back then.

Answer 6

this is a good question...it could be said that the "world" that they knew was flooded
I have read zechariah sitchin according to him the flood was caused by the gravitational pull of another planet pulling the ice shelf off of antactica...

there are flood stories all over the world not just in the bible so i believe "someting happened" back then

I would also recommend the book Uriels Machine for more info about this subject
it's by robert knight and richard lomas

check out their site www.knight-lomas.com

Answer 7

I believe that god indicated that he was going to destroy the world.

There are many problems with this story, even if you limit it to a local flood.

Edit:
Be careful of books like "Hiram's Key" by Knight and Lomas or "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" as this sort of book is extremely deceptive. They have a tendency to make an unfounded/unsupported assumption or a hypothesis, repeat several times and then later say that it is a proven fact. At best, these books are a card house resting on a thread and the slightest wind will knock them down.

Answer 8

Good question. Back in Noah's time they didn't even know the world was round and you didn't fall off over the horizon. Imagine how frustrating it must have been to see birds that could fly when you had no wings. No wonder the angels must have appeared to be like birds. Their voices probably came from above.

Answer 9

there was no flood. it's just a story. If the whole world would have flooded, where would the animals get there food from? trees and plants would have died in the flood for the plant eating animals. And last time i checked, no land animal can hold there breath for a couple of days so all the carnivore animals that noah had would have been screwed. i guess the carnivore animals ate the unicorns for food.

Answer 10

God told Noah He was going to flood the EARTH.
What is there not to know?
Noah knew there was EARTH. He lived on earth. Just because he may of not vistited every speck of the earth, does this mean Noah should not of trusted God?
Of course he trusted God! Someone who would of talked back to God, would not of been one to love and trust God.
(Talked back as in the way this question is headed....)

Genesis 6:17
For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.