I don’t have much problem accepting the possibility some highly motivated and inspired ancient people could have built a vessel sizable enough to carry a whole lot of animals. The proposition that the world as man knew it encountered a cataclysm as severe as Noah’s flood is also plausible in theory. Animals marching two by two to the ark to be safely preserved? Why not? Science observes animals doing some inexplicable stuff.
My problem with the story has to do with God’s role. As I learn to believe less in God and feel more in God the idea of God getting pissed at the entirety of creation over what humans were doing and wiping it all out in order to start over sounds much more like something I might do than the timeless source of love, truth, and creative energy.
Isn’t great flood story completely typical of the egoic mind? The epitome of selfishness? “Things aren’t working out as planned. F-it I’m going to end it, tear it up, throw it away, or haul ass and I don’t care how many innocent people, places, or things get messed up as a result.” And if that weren’t enough to seal it, there’s the part where he comes back after ands says “I promise never to do it again.”
That’s me. That’s people.
God though?
Image above from Marxchivist
I like the part when they all get off the boat and the first thing Noah does is BBQ a bunch of his precious cargo.
So that’s what happened to the unicorns?
I have a question or two. It’s best I put it in question form, so as not to create the idea that I think I know everything. I certainly don’t. Here goes, any way:
What standard do you use to measure man’s goodness with? According to the Bible, from which you got this story, God uses a different measure. He uses Himself as the standard.
Has anyone close to you been taken away through something like murder? Someone was taken from me in that way. Do you think you’d still think man is OK if someone did that to you? BTW, the men who committed the murder came loose. The country I live in allows for that; murderers do as they please, and then come off the hook. It happens often. Who’s going to give these men justice, if man isn’t capable of doing it?
Do you think man deserves anything he has? Do you think that it is a rational argument to say that man is his own captain? Where did Warren Buffett’s skills come from? Did he create his own brain? Did he choose to be who he is? Where did Warren Buffett’s parents get their brains from?
You say that you’re teaching yourself to believe less in God. Or perhaps you mean that through observation, your belief in a higher being is dwindling. This site of yours, it needed someone to create it. Do you think it’s rational to believe that everything around us just popped into existence without external interference?
If you take God out of the equation, who will be in control? Which system should we follow? Who’ll be the one to decide what’s right, and what’s wrong?
Just a few questions. I would subscribe to this comments thread, but I don’t see a subscribe option. Am I missing it?
First off, that isn’t just a few questions, I counted at least a dozen and they are somewhat scattered in context and disjointed. They also seem to be oriented in a complete misunderstanding of the post that apparently prompted them. They would be good questions for an atheist. I am far from being atheist. Maybe you would reread my three paragraphs a little more closely and arrive at an improved comprehension of what I am saying? That would provide a better context for any questions you have for me.
For now I’ll give you a hint to point you in the right direction as far as understanding what I am saying. I have no problem with God. My problem is with one particular story someone made up about God. See the difference? The story about Noah and the Ark is not God – not to me anyway. Criticizing the story is not criticizing God.
My apologies Eric. Where I’m from, a few questions doesn’t necessarily mean two or three, as does doing something now now doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be doing it right now
Perhaps you could add some sort of ‘subscribe to comments’ button? only remembered today that there might be a reply to my comment.
And you’re right, I should have read your post more carefully. Apologies. I’m not here to pick a fight. If it weren’t for you, I’d still be getting tongue bite