I don't think so. There's no reference at all to this and when there has been a biblical miracle, detail is always provided.
Daniel survived the lion's den but detail was given that the mouths of the lions were shut.
Moses and his millions, escaped the Egyptian army, but detail is provided about the Red Sea parting.
Gideon and his 300 beat the Mideonites with their tens of thousands, but detail is provided.
David beat a tall guy, but detail is provided.
No detail is provided for WAY too many animals being on a boat that couldn't possibly float and make it 40 days in those conditions with only 8 people to care for them. It's fine if science is confounded, but in this case, even the Christians are confounded.
We serve a God who confounds all. I doubt that the Scriptures reveal every scientific detail about every event. To demand such is begging the question in my opinion.
We serve a God who confounds all. I doubt that the Scriptures reveal every scientific detail about every event. To demand such is begging the question in my opinion.
So can you cite a miracle where some kind of information isn't given? There may be, but nothing's coming to mind at the moment. It just seems if God were going to use a miracle to save the lives of the animals, he could have made them float for 40 days rather than putting them on a boat. But here, He used practical means to save them, but the story of the practical means is impractical.
I've typically favored the Day Age theory with a local flood. However, I've come to the conclusion that one either believes the Bible... or they don't. Was Jesus born of a virgin? Did Jesus turn water into wine? Did Jesus walk on water? Did Jesus heal the blind, lame, and deaf? Did Jesus raise the dead? Did Jesus rebuke evil spirits? Did Jesus feed 5,000 with two fishes and five loaves of bread? Did Jesus rise from the dead on the third day? Is Jesus alive today? Will Jesus return to judge the quick and the dead? What is one to believe? Either one believes these things or they don't.
All of these are "miracles" regarding Jesus are things that defy any scientific understanding. All include processes and powers that are beyond the scope of science. You have folks that believe every miracle of Jesus but then for some reason they can't believe in a literal six day creation or a global flood. They argue that there isn't enough water on the planet. They argue measurements as you did. They pick at how the animals would have survived in the ark. We're dealing with a supernatural God. The same God who instantly turned water into wine and walked on water when manifest in the flesh managed the flood and all the provision of the ark. If we can believe that Jesus did these things and was raised from the dead... why can't we believe in the creation and global flood?
I'll tell you...
We all have interests. Many find science facinating and the hunt for fresh data and information is exciting. I'm a big National Geographic fan and I love reading about dinosaurs. For this reason I harmonized my faith with my interests via the Day-Age theory. Other folks do this with other interests. Those of alternative lifestyles read the Bible in a way that allows for their lifestyle. Those who are facinated with the apacolyptic choose Post-Tribulationism. Those facinated with history and the notion that Scripture is validated through fulfilled prophecy embrace Preterism. We all choose to put our faith in Scripture and read it the way it suits us. Maybe on some pereferal subjects that's alright. But when it comes to serious subjects we need to stick to Scripture and what it actually says... even if it embarrasses or confounds us.
Today I look at it a bit differently... I either believe the Bible or I don't. If I can't believe in a supernatural six day creation I certaintly can't believe that Jesus rose from the dead or performed the miracles he's recorded as having performed. The scientific community is in constant flux as more data is revealed. It's shifting sand. The Bible isn't. So I accept it as written. I know there are things in this book that blow my mind... but I have chosen to believe. I don't need evidence, don't care for it, nor do I think evidence to the contrary regarding Scripture is worth reviewing.
Being a Christian is much like being a mystic. We believe in things that transcend logic and science. We embrace it. We smile believing that no matter how the deception may fly, in the fulness of time the truth will be revealed and the Bible will stand as the truth. So I abandoned the Old Earth creation theories.... and I embraced the Bible as written. A literal six day creation with a global flood. Is it hard to believe? YES. But that's where faith comes in. I stand on the Word of God through faith not based on evidence.
So can you cite a miracle where some kind of information isn't given? There may be, but nothing's coming to mind at the moment. It just seems if God were going to use a miracle to save the lives of the animals, he could have made them float for 40 days rather than putting them on a boat. But here, He used practical means to save them, but the story of the practical means is impractical.
I didn't say there were miracles in which there wasn't at least some kind of information. I'm saying that I don't believe we are always told EVERY detail of the story. Especially of the details are not relevant to a text's overrall moral and spiritual aim. For example... we aren't told exactly how Jesus fed 5000 with two fishes and five loaves of bread. Did it materialize in his hands as he broke it? Did he just teach the people to share as liberal scholars would tell us? We don't know. How did the elephant survive on the ark? We are not told. So we make guesses. I believe the hibernation theory fits well.
Do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead notofworks? If you do... why do you struggle with the ark and the flood? One impossiblity is as good as another. We either believe the Bible or we don't.
If it was a regional flood, then there wouldn't really be a need for every type of animal to be on board. Nor for any animals at all, actually, unless that region happened to be the only habitat in the world, for certain species.
If it was a world-wide flood covering all the mountains, well, I don't know what to tell ya. Need lots of animals, and lots of water that no longer exists.
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
We all have interests. Many find science facinating and the hunt for fresh data and information is exciting. I'm a big National Geographic fan and I love reading about dinosaurs. For this reason I harmonized my faith with my interests via the Day-Age theory. Other folks do this with other interests. Those of alternative lifestyles read the Bible in a way that allows for their lifestyle. Those who are facinated with the apacolyptic choose Post-Tribulationism. Those facinated with history and the notion that Scripture is validated through fulfilled prophecy embrace Preterism. We all choose to put our faith in Scripture and read it the way it suits us.
You know, this is true, and it's also..... scary.
I've thought a lot about this lately. We all tend to put our own slant on things. If you're of a conservative nature, the conservative viewpoint is going to seem correct to you. If you're of a more liberal mindset, the liberal view will feel right to you.
How do we disengage our own personal preferences when it comes to interpreting the Bible??
I've thought a lot about this lately. We all tend to put our own slant on things. If you're of a conservative nature, the conservative viewpoint is going to seem correct to you. If you're of a more liberal mindset, the liberal view will feel right to you.
How do we disengage our own personal preferences when it comes to interpreting the Bible??
To be honest, it scares me a little.
That's exactly what I thought when I read what Aquila wrote. It's like...."Well, Point A is true and I believe Point B is true. They don't fit. Well, I'll make them fit by believing this theory." I don't care for that.
If two things are equally true, they need to fit, it seems.
I've thought a lot about this lately. We all tend to put our own slant on things. If you're of a conservative nature, the conservative viewpoint is going to seem correct to you. If you're of a more liberal mindset, the liberal view will feel right to you.
How do we disengage our own personal preferences when it comes to interpreting the Bible??
To be honest, it scares me a little.
I think to some degree it's impossible to disengage all personal preferences. We should be aware of when we are imposing personal perferences and be honest about it. I think we should also try not to do this.
We are not promised that we will all agree on everything (even the Gospels disagree on a few points). But we are commanded to love one another and to love this lost world. I know fellow believers who are very liberal and believe that the Bible is far less conservative in some areas. I might disagree, but I love them.
I didn't say there were miracles in which there wasn't at least some kind of information. I'm saying that I don't believe we are always told EVERY detail of the story. Especially of the details are not relevant to a text's overrall moral and spiritual aim. For example... we aren't told exactly how Jesus fed 5000 with two fishes and five loaves of bread. Did it materialize in his hands as he broke it? Did he just teach the people to share as liberal scholars would tell us? We don't know. How did the elephant survive on the ark? We are not told. So we make guesses. I believe the hibernation theory fits well.
Do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead notofworks? If you do... why do you struggle with the ark and the flood? One impossiblity is as good as another. We either believe the Bible or we don't.
I don't see how doubting the Ark story reaches into believing Jesus rose from the dead, but since you asked, yes, I believe He rose from the dead.
I'm able to believe Jesus rose from the dead AND struggle with that Ark story because, in order for one to come back to life, one needs to start breathing again. But in order for a gazillion animals to survive on a boat for 40 days, be fed and watered, and be able to poop and pee and have it all cleaned up and disposed of by eight people......well, it can't be done, unless there was a miracle of some sort. And no miracle is noted in the story.
But since reason isn't working, I'll just tell you that either you agree with me or you're going to hell.
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