Genesis Flood: Entire earth or local? (Is "godandscience" a cr

[IatePistachiosSigningUp]

Hi. I'm pretty much new here, but I've been reading a lot into the Bible recently. I haven't completely finished reading the Bible, but as I read along I also look into other things on what I read. I don't know if it's been brought up on here before but this is my question: Is the Genesis flood a flood that covers the entire globe, or is it a local flood? Also is godandscience a credible source? I mean it's not a theistic evolution site, and is against evolution and for creationism. I apologize if there's already a topic on this.

This is what's up:

I read an article recently on godandscience.org. It claims that the entire earth was not flooded, but that the rest of the earth became a desert as the water flooded "the earth". The hebrew word for earth can also mean

The hebrew word for earth, אֶרֶץ (erets), can also mean:

b)

land

1)

country, territory

2)

district, region

3)

tribal territory

4)

piece of ground

5)

land of Canaan, Israel

6)

inhabitants of land

So it says that it's talking about the inhabitants of the earth in that time period, which were apparantly not around the whole globe.

Another point it makes is that when it's talking about mountains, the word for mountains can also refer to hills. And the verse that says that it rose 15 cubits above the mountains is really saying that the water rose over hills and that it rose 15 cubits upward and not over.

The word for mountain is הַר (har) and it can mean:

1) hill, mountain, hill country, mount

It also goes on to explain that animals wouldn't have been able to migrate or birds would not have been able to fly away because the animals were indigenous to the areas. It also goes on to talk about how birds would not have survived heavy rain, and wouldn't be able to fly with that. And it says that Noah wasn't sent on a trip rather than making a boat due to the fact God had warned them of a judgement and it makes the point of a warning to the people that were being warned. It also ends by saying that since there are local floods today, that it doesn't contradict the LORD's promise of causing another flood like such due to the fact that he was referring to a flood that would kill of all and not that he would never let another local flood happen.

This is the source:

http://www.godandsci...ml#.UEAu8vUo0aY

My thoughts:

However, I'm still unsure what to believe in, but I believe in a flood of the entire earth. The article doesn't really talk much about the verse that says that the springs of the earth opened:

In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, on the seventeenth day of the second month--on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. <i>Genesis 7:11</i>

What are your thoughts on this? Is this article twisting scripture and meanings of the hebrew words with half-truths? Is it making valid points? Does Genesis 7:11 contradict this article's claims?

Edited August 31, 2012 by IatePistachiosSigningUp

[ncn]

in fact it was only Mesopotamia that was flooded.

Just as the Flood was Global, so will be the Final Judgment.

[ncn]

in fact it was only Mesopotamia that was flooded.

Just as the Flood was Global, so will be the Final Judgment.

I don't think it was global. If it was truely global, every culture on earth would have a flood legend or myth. There are cultures that have no legends or myths of a flood; therefore, it could not be global. There are some things in the Bible that are more allegory. The Great Flood is one of them.

The Bible is the word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16 (King James Version)

¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

Listening to legends or myths is not biblical and you walk in my opinion on thin ice.

[ayin jade]

I don't think it was global. If it was truely global, every culture on earth would have a flood legend or myth. There are cultures that have no legends or myths of a flood; therefore, it could not be global. There are some things in the Bible that are more allegory. The Great Flood is one of them.

Or they do not have a flood story about it in their cultural memory. Just because a culture has no flood myth doesnt mean the flood was not global. Their words are not the word of God. You are placing greater weight on a pagan cultures myth than you are on the bible which is the word of God.

[ayin jade]

The site owner and author of the link you posted Iatepistachios, does not believe in young earth creationism so it could explain why his particular viewpoint is that the flood was not a global flood. He also appears to be catholic. Does the catholic church teach that the flood was not a global event now?

[Jayyycuuup]

in fact it was only Mesopotamia that was flooded.

Just as the Flood was Global, so will be the Final Judgment.

I don't think it was global. If it was truely global, every culture on earth would have a flood legend or myth. There are cultures that have no legends or myths of a flood; therefore, it could not be global. There are some things in the Bible that are more allegory. The Great Flood is one of them.

The Bible is the word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16 (King James Version)

¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

Listening to legends or myths is not biblical and you walk in my opinion on thin ice.

NCN that is because they are not here to tell about it (the myths, cuz they got swallowed in the flood)

[IatePistachiosSigningUp]

in fact it was only Mesopotamia that was flooded.

Just as the Flood was Global, so will be the Final Judgment.

I don't think it was global. If it was truely global, every culture on earth would have a flood legend or myth. There are cultures that have no legends or myths of a flood; therefore, it could not be global. There are some things in the Bible that are more allegory. The Great Flood is one of them.

Thanks for your replies, guys.

Selene, I can see how a local flood could be percieved from the word. However, of cultural myths and legends about floods don't exist; YHWH destroyed all flesh (except for noah of course). How then would other cultures even be able to write about a flood that happened?

[Jayyycuuup]

in fact it was only Mesopotamia that was flooded.

Just as the Flood was Global, so will be the Final Judgment.

I don't think it was global. If it was truely global, every culture on earth would have a flood legend or myth. There are cultures that have no legends or myths of a flood; therefore, it could not be global. There are some things in the Bible that are more allegory. The Great Flood is one of them.

The Bible is the word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16 (King James Version)

¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

Listening to legends or myths is not biblical and you walk in my opinion on thin ice.

Hi ncn,

I agree that the Bible is the inspired word of God, but there are some things in the Bible that is taken as an allegory, and not taken literally. Also, the Holy Spirit would not take over a person's mind and body the way a demon does. A man under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit would still have his human knowledge and free will.

Also, the scripture below is an example of why some things in the Bible is not to be always taken literally:

Ruth 2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

I don't think God our Father has wings. As for the Great Flood, I think God was giving us a message. The message is all the wicked will perish and those who are righteous (like Noah) will be saved. I would think the Great Flood is really a local flood pointing to a global judgement of people who are wicked and righteous.

In Christ,

Selene

Selene your statement contradicts the bible to a tee.... All flesh were effected by the flood, as said in Genesis 9:11-17 "Thus I established My covenant with you:Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth. And God said "This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the Earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh.; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth. And God said to Noah "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth."

[IatePistachiosSigningUp]

The site owner and author of the link you posted Iatepistachios, does not believe in young earth creationism so it could explain why his particular viewpoint is that the flood was not a global flood. He also appears to be catholic. Does the catholic church teach that the flood was not a global event now?

That's another thing that gets me more than the local flood issue. I mean if one day meant a longer period of time that was more than a day doesn't take away the glory and magnificence of the LORD Most High. Another thing is that יוֹם yom can mean 'day' can also mean 'time' or 'year'. So since it doesn't say specifically "in a 24 hour period of time," or something of the such, why couldn't it be a year?

Edited August 31, 2012 by IatePistachiosSigningUp

[enoob57]

What ever floats your boat ... but it wasn't God's Ark!! Love, Steven