Noah’s Ark

[FaithT]

Are Catholics obligated to believe in a literal Noah’s Ark? Because I just saw a segment on our news that featured the zoo caretakers and how much they feed the animals. It would seem to me it would be impossible to have kept all the animals fed.

 

[AlexB23]

Are Catholics obligated to believe in a literal Noah’s Ark? Because I just saw a segment on our news that featured the zoo caretakers and how much they feed the animals. It would seem to me it would be impossible to have kept all the animals fed.

All you have to believe in is Jesus and the Gospel, but it is good to believe in the Scripture as well, along with Church tradition.

Noah's Ark was a miracle of engineering.

 

[AlexB23]

Also, let me feed this question into my AI. It is hooked up to a shortened form of the Catechism, along with the Bible and other documents. It should give an answer better than I can, cos I have only been in the Catholic faith since 2022, before that, I was nondenominational.

 

[RileyG]

It's my understanding, Noah's Ark is more of a metaphor rather than a true historical event. However, we must believe in a literal Adam and Eve, which is compatible with scientific evolution.

 

[Michie]

What Does the Church Teach about Noah's Ark?

Dear Catholic Exchange: My daughter's 6th grade catechist told the class that the Noah's Ark story of the Bible is a “myth.” What is the Catholic belief? I watched a documentary on the Discovery Channel that showed part of what they thought was the Ark. The teacher told her it couldn't be true...

catholicexchange.com

Ark

Ark is a generic term which, in the Bible, is applied to two different objects: the one, the refuge in which, according to the Biblical narration, Noe was saved from destruction in the Deluge; the other, a piece of the tabernacle and temple furniture.

www.catholic.com

 

[AlexB23]

Alright, @FaithT , this is what the AI had to say:

No, Catholicism does not require believers to hold a literal interpretation of Noah's Ark. The focus is more on understanding the symbolic and spiritual meaning that the story conveys about God's covenant with humanity and His promise to never destroy all life by flood again. This is different from some Protestant fundamentalist interpretations, which may emphasize a strict adherence to a literal account of events in the Bible, including Noah's Ark.

AI below.

 

[FaithT]

Alright, @FaithT , this is what the AI had to say:

No, Catholicism does not require believers to hold a literal interpretation of Noah's Ark. The focus is more on understanding the symbolic and spiritual meaning that the story conveys about God's covenant with humanity and His promise to never destroy all life by flood again. This is different from some Protestant fundamentalist interpretations, which may emphasize a strict adherence to a literal account of events in the Bible, including Noah's Ark.

AI below.

View attachment 351643

Ok thanks. I used to go to the Lutheran LCMS and they interpret it literally.

 

[FaithT]

What Does the Church Teach about Noah's Ark?

Dear Catholic Exchange: My daughter's 6th grade catechist told the class that the Noah's Ark story of the Bible is a “myth.” What is the Catholic belief? I watched a documentary on the Discovery Channel that showed part of what they thought was the Ark. The teacher told her it couldn't be true...

catholicexchange.com

Ark

Ark is a generic term which, in the Bible, is applied to two different objects: the one, the refuge in which, according to the Biblical narration, Noe was saved from destruction in the Deluge; the other, a piece of the tabernacle and temple furniture.

www.catholic.com

It's my understanding, Noah's Ark is more of a metaphor rather than a true historical event. However, we must believe in a literal Adam and Eve, which is compatible with scientific evolution.

Thanks you two!

 

[FaithT]

What Does the Church Teach about Noah's Ark?

Dear Catholic Exchange: My daughter's 6th grade catechist told the class that the Noah's Ark story of the Bible is a “myth.” What is the Catholic belief? I watched a documentary on the Discovery Channel that showed part of what they thought was the Ark. The teacher told her it couldn't be true...

catholicexchange.com

Ark

Ark is a generic term which, in the Bible, is applied to two different objects: the one, the refuge in which, according to the Biblical narration, Noe was saved from destruction in the Deluge; the other, a piece of the tabernacle and temple furniture.

www.catholic.com

Thanks!

 

[Michie]

You’re welcome!

Thanks!

 

[FaithT]

What Does the Church Teach about Noah's Ark?

Dear Catholic Exchange: My daughter's 6th grade catechist told the class that the Noah's Ark story of the Bible is a “myth.” What is the Catholic belief? I watched a documentary on the Discovery Channel that showed part of what they thought was the Ark. The teacher told her it couldn't be true...

catholicexchange.com

Ark

Ark is a generic term which, in the Bible, is applied to two different objects: the one, the refuge in which, according to the Biblical narration, Noe was saved from destruction in the Deluge; the other, a piece of the tabernacle and temple furniture.

www.catholic.com

Isn’t the encyclopedia article Noe’s ark saying something different from The Catholic Exchange?

 

[Michie]

Isn’t the encyclopedia article Noe’s ark saying something different from The Catholic Exchange?

No. The person presenting the question was asking for clarification.

The Catholic encyclopedia clarifies in more detail.

 

[FaithT]

No. The person presenting the question was asking for clarification.

The Catholic encyclopedia clarifies in more detail.

So then we must believe the story as literal or not?

 

[Michie]

So then we must believe the story as literal or not?

The Church clearly states we are free to interpretation throughout the creation story. I do not think it’s entirely literal.

Explaining the Faith - Noah's Ark: What You Didn't Know

The story of Noah’s Ark employs a great deal of figurative language to express an absolute truth about God and our relationship with him. Father Chris Alar, MIC, explains what we can learn from the true story of Noah and the great flood and how the Ark prefigures the Church.

www.thedivinemercy.org

 

[FaithT]

The Church clearly states we are free to interpretation throughout the creation story.

Good. Thanks!

 

[Michie]

Be sure to check out the video.

 

[AlexB23]

Ok thanks. I used to go to the Lutheran LCMS and they interpret it literally.

I am not sure, I do believe in Noah's Ark, but the flood could have been localized, but we can all interpret things differently. As long as we believe the Gospels literally.

 

[FaithT]

I am not sure, I do believe in Noah's Ark, but the flood could have been localized, but we can all interpret things differently. As long as we believe the Gospels literally.

I used to just believe the flood was local but after seeing the news tonight and how much food it takes to feed the zoo animals I’m having doubts about lots of Noah’s story.i watched most of that video Michie posted….it was long.

 

[AlexB23]

I used to just believe the flood was local but after seeing the news tonight and how much food it takes to feed the zoo animals I’m having doubts about lots of Noah’s story.i watched most of that video Michie posted….it was long.

That is good. Well hey, we both believe in Jesus, and that is all that matters, my friend. When we get to Heaven, God will reveal everything to us.

 

[AlexB23]

We have a Noah's Ark in my state. It is a water park. I do not remember going, or maybe have gone only once.