GENESIS: Snoopy's Short & Snappy Review

[Mendalla]

There is substantial evidence for a great flood or two at the end of the ice age. This flood covered low lying lands around the world. Divers found middens in fairly deep water on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The flood story has roots going back about 10,000 years. The Cain and Abel stories possibly go back 6000 to 7000 years.

Even recently, look at that landslide induced tsunami I posted about in Earth & Our World. Imagine being a Neolithic person witnessing something like that.

But, yeah, the rise in sea level at the end of the last glacial period is something that humans around the world would have experienced. Along with things like flash floods when glacial dams burst (there's evidence for one of those in the US Mid-West, for instance).

 

[paradox3]

Even recently, look at that landslide induced tsunami I posted about in Earth & Our World. Imagine being a Neolithic person witnessing something like that.

Proof of God's wrath for sure!

 

[Waterfall]

There is substantial evidence for a great flood or two at the end of the ice age. This flood covered low lying lands around the world. Divers found middens in fairly deep water on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The flood story has roots going back about 10,000 years. The Cain and Abel stories possibly go back 6000 to 7000 years.

We tend to trivialize the idea that long ago civilizations were capable of understanding or knowing how big the world was IMO. So many seem to be certain that when the ancients talk about a world wide flood in these ancient texts that they must be referring to their immediate world, but then sometimes archeology surprises us and and shows that often we've underestimated the abilities of some ancient peoples to actually know they are using an accurate description.

 

[Mendalla]

We tend to trivialize the idea that long ago civilizations were capable of understanding or knowing how big the world was IMO. So many seem to be certain that when the ancients talk about a world wide flood in these ancient texts that they must be referring to their immediate world, but then sometimes archeology surprises us and and shows that often we've underestimated the abilities of some ancient peoples to actually know they are using an accurate description.

To be clear, what Jim is referring to is not a "worldwide flood" as sometimes pictured for Genesis, but flooding on a large scale in multiple areas due to the glaciers melting and retreating. So their actual experience was still of their immediate world from which they extrapolated because they had no way of knowing what was happening elsewhere. In fact, the last time the entire world was literally under water was on the order of 3 billion years ago and that's still not entirely confirmed. There are exoplanets that appear to be entirely covered in water.

 

[Waterfall]

We tend to trivialize the idea that long ago civilizations were capable of understanding or knowing how big the world was IMO. So many seem to be certain that when the ancients talk about a world wide flood in these ancient texts that they must be referring to their immediate world, but then sometimes archeology surprises us and and shows that often we've underestimated the abilities of some ancient peoples to actually know they are using an accurate description.

To be clear, what Jim is referring to is not a "worldwide flood" as sometimes pictured for Genesis, but flooding on a large scale in multiple areas due to the glaciers melting and retreating. So their actual experience was still of their immediate world from which they extrapolated because they had no way of knowing what was happening elsewhere. In fact, the last time the entire world was literally under water was on the order of 3 billion years ago and that's still not entirely confirmed. There are exoplanets that appear to be entirely covered in water.

" Because they had no way of knowing what was happening elsewhere"
I personally think it MAY be possible they did....which would be why this story exists in other areas of the world.

 

[jimkenney12]

The flooding was all around the world, but only places that were less than a couple hundred metres of elevation above the ocean at that time. For people who lived in places like what is now sea north of Australia, it was most of their world.

 

[Mendalla]

The flooding was all around the world, but only places that were less than a couple hundred metres of elevation above the ocean at that time. For people who lived in places like what is now sea north of Australia, it was most of their world.

Exactly. And it's what we are going to see again at the rate things are going. Some of those islands are already prepping.

 

[unsafe]

How can we walk with God?

Well ---I think you have answered your own question in your statement here ----

paradox3 said
Snoopy is not seeking any arguments about whether or not he is a true Christian. Or about whether or not he has the indwelling holy spirit. Who cares? Dogs don't worry about these things.

 

[paradox3]

Your faith commitment is formidable @unsafe. I am so glad to have you with us in this discussion. We might just be an echo chamber without you.

 

[BetteTheRed]

I'm thinking I'm more interested in the reason why humanity was condemned by the flood. Some of it, 'sons of god' and 'Nephilin' seem to almost refer to intra-species intercourse, and I wonder if a root of part of this ancient myth might be the extinction of other species of human, and a hypothetical reason - 'evil'.

 

[paradox3]

The thing that really interests me is that God found something worth redeeming in humanity and in creation.

God could just have easily started over once again, no?

 

[BetteTheRed]

God could just have easily started over once again, no?

And of course, "God" actually does. This planet we live on will die in a few billion years, but are we arrogant enough to think that our little Earth is the centre of the only sentient life in our/all Universes?

And now I wonder about the evil of the animals? Only one pair of each sentient being that is an earth dweller is to be saved? Obviously, all water dwellers get a pass...

 

[Delightful Life]

I'm thinking I'm more interested in the reason why humanity was condemned by the flood. Some of it, 'sons of god' and 'Nephilin' seem to almost refer to intra-species intercourse, and I wonder if a root of part of this ancient myth might be the extinction of other species of human, and a hypothetical reason - 'evil'.

I think Revjohn explained to me why God would ask people to Genocide other people?

He asked me what do we do with Cancer?

 

[paradox3]

Good Morning! Here is Genesis 7.

Snoopy's Snappy Review: Floodwaters!

Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 7 - New English Translation

The LORD said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, for I consider you godly among this generation. You must take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, the male and its mate, two of every kind of unclean animal, the male and its mate, and also seven pairs of...

www.biblegateway.com

The Great Flood arrives as expected. This chapter tells the story twice which is interesting. Were two different versions of the story circulating before they were written down?

The details are not identical but the basic storyline is the same. Noah and his family enter the ark along with a reproducing pair of every kind of animal. A fearsome & devastating flood occurs but the inhabitants of the ark survive.

Now, this is not Snoopy's favorite bible story. The loss of animal and human life is difficult to contemplate. But at the same time, the tale offers a glimmer of hope. Like a single candle shining in the darkness we might say.

God could so easily have destroyed all of creation and considered it a failed experiment. But God found something worth preserving.

God found value in the diversity of animal life which pleases this beagle to no end!

We cannot underestimate the importance of one righteous human being either.

 

[Waterfall]

I think Revjohn explained to me why God would ask people to Genocide other people?

He asked me what do we do with Cancer?

Try to save them?

 

[Waterfall]

Good Morning! Here is Genesis 7.

Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 7 - New English Translation

The LORD said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, for I consider you godly among this generation. You must take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, the male and its mate, two of every kind of unclean animal, the male and its mate, and also seven pairs of...

www.biblegateway.com

The Great Flood arrives as expected. This chapter tells the story twice which is interesting. Were two different versions of the story circulating before they were written down?

The details are not identical but the basic storyline is the same. Noah and his family enter the ark along with a reproducing pair of every kind of animal. A fearsome & devastating flood occurs but the inhabitants of the ark survive.

Now, this is not Snoopy's favorite bible story. The loss of animal and human life is difficult to contemplate. But at the same time, the tale offers a glimmer of hope. Like a single candle shining in the darkness we might say.

God could so easily have destroyed all of creation and considered it a failed experiment. But God found something worth preserving.

God found value in the diversity of animal life which pleases this beagle to no end!

We cannot underestimate the importance of one righteous human being either.

One has to ask if it was a successful way to resolve this problem. Humans continued to do harm (as well as love one another) to one another, animals and nature. So what did it solve,
other than prove God can do this if he wants to.

 

[paradox3]

One has to ask if it was a successful way to resolve this problem. Humans continued to do harm (as well as love one another) to one another, animals and nature. So what did it solve,
other than prove God can do this if he wants to.

Could the purpose of the myth be to explain that God has decided to persist with us? God will promise this later in the story.

 

[Waterfall]

Could the purpose of the myth be to explain that God has decided to persist with us?

Later in the story, God will promise never to try to destroy life on earth again.

Could be, but if one believes the eventuality of the earth being destroyed by fire, this all knowing God would already know most are going to fail again. Or he lowers the standards of righteousness.

 

[paradox3]

Does it say in the bible that the earth will be destroyed by fire? Or is this a scientific hypothesis?

 

[Waterfall]

Does it say in the bible that the earth will be destroyed by fire? Or is this a scientific hypothesis?

I had to look it up....2Peter 3
And I believe revelation also.