Noah's Ark: Wouldn't it Stink? (Lighthearted)

[Christian Soldier 777]

Well, there still is no evidence that the flood actually existed, and the fact that the Bible says so isn't really evidence.

There is no evidence that proves it didn't happen.

 

[zlyssa2]

Well, there still is no evidence that the flood actually existed, and the fact that the Bible says so isn't really evidence.

There is no evidence that proves it didn't happen.

Actually, there is. Besides, that's not how evidence works; the person making the claim that something did happen has to provide the evidence. There's no evidence, technically, that an invisible unicorn doesn't stalks me at night, but that doesn't make it reasonable to believe that one does.

Anyways, enough of that, let's get back to the more lighthearted topic . Real or not, it sure would have stunk on the boat...

 

[Christian Soldier 777]

Actually, there is. Besides, that's not how evidence works; the person making the claim that something did happen has to provide the evidence. There's no evidence, technically, that an invisible unicorn doesn't stalks me at night, but that doesn't make it reasonable to believe that one does.

Anyways, enough of that, let's get back to the more lighthearted topic . Real or not, it sure would have stunk on the boat...

Actually I was trying to be silly, since you were being lighthearted,,,,but since you want proof... How about the fact that....Jesus said, "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." Unless you think Jesus was lying and tells fairy tales? The Ark was approximately the size of 2 football field and was 3 stories high so it was not a little boat. The bible makes it clear in Genesis 7:2, that Noah was to, "Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate," This way they had clean animals to eat while they were on the Ark. There also is nothing that implies that the animals were adults, so they all could have been babies and that would help with room. But these answers would require more faith then facts, so how about the Scientific theory called Hydroplate Theory ??? by Dr Walt Brown of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT.

A world-wide flood explains the following:
- Extinction of the dinosaurs
- Why the prehistoric world had large animals/plants and now it does not
- The origin of the Grand Canyon and other canyons
- The existence of the mid-Oceanic ridge
- The formation of the continental shelves
- The formation of ocean trenches
- Magnetic variations on the ocean floor
- The formation of submarine canyons
- The formation of coal and oil
- The existence of frozen mammoths
- The formation of major mountain ranges
- The phenomenon of parallel rock stratas
- Marine fossils found on mountain tops

I believe it really happened and it stunk really bad

 

[zlyssa2]

Actually I was trying to be silly, since you were being lighthearted,,,,but since you want proof... How about the fact that....Jesus said, "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." Unless you think Jesus was lying and tells fairy tales? The Ark was approximately the size of 2 football field and was 3 stories high so it was not a little boat. The bible makes it clear in Genesis 7:2, that Noah was to, "Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate," This way they had clean animals to eat while they were on the Ark. There also is nothing that implies that the animals were adults, so they all could have been babies and that would help with room. But these answers would require more faith then facts, so how about the Scientific theory called Hydroplate Theory ??? by Dr Walt Brown of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT.

A world-wide flood explains the following:
- Extinction of the dinosaurs
- Why the prehistoric world had large animals/plants and now it does not
- The origin of the Grand Canyon and other canyons
- The existence of the mid-Oceanic ridge
- The formation of the continental shelves
- The formation of ocean trenches
- Magnetic variations on the ocean floor
- The formation of submarine canyons
- The formation of coal and oil
- The existence of frozen mammoths
- The formation of major mountain ranges
- The phenomenon of parallel rock stratas
- Marine fossils found on mountain tops

I believe it really happened and it stunk really bad

Haha, it certainly would have stunk really bad!

 

[Archie the Preacher]

Something else just occurred to me.

Consider - aside from the animals - four married couples. Four men and four women. One mother in law and three daughters in law. One man and three sons.

They were all cooped up on that ark (probably more of an ocean going barge than a ship) for the better part of a year, as I recall. There are no reports of homicides or serious physical attacks.

Now that's a miracle, bunky.

 

[zlyssa2]

Something else just occurred to me.

Consider - aside from the animals - four married couples. Four men and four women. One mother in law and three daughters in law. One man and three sons.

They were all cooped up on that ark (probably more of an ocean going barge than a ship) for the better part of a year, as I recall. There are no reports of homicides or serious physical attacks.

Now that's a miracle, bunky.

Hm, perhaps, though it made it sound like they all got along. I'd think the smell would be much harder to deal with

 

[HappyJe]

Remember that people in the past had a different perspective on how they lived life.

We're a lot more sensitive to smells and scents (people didn't bathe regularly in ancient times and there weren't toilets - they used to have people called 'gong cleaners' who literally wheelbarrowed excrement from people's houses into a communal pit). What we think as horrid smells, was tolerable by their stands.

I think there were probably more people aboard the ship than is hinted at (otherwise the descendants from the ark would eventually become incestuous blood lines a few path down) - anywhoo - more people on the ship, means more people to tend to the needs of the animal. And remember that some of the animals take care of the others, like dung beetles which eat poop (same with earthworms).

 

[zlyssa2]

I don't think 2 dung beetles could have taken care of it

 

[HappyJe]

lol there's other creatures like worms and bacteria that also aide in breaking down waste into soil. Overall I think most of the bible is just allegorical stories that we should use to understand and provide direction in life and not take them as literal fact (there's a number of stories that provide a good message, but realistically can't be taken as literal fact - nor do I think its intended to be).

 

[zlyssa2]

Perhaps, like i said, whether it was real or not, it's hard to imagine what the smell would be like on an arc like that. Two worms, two beetles, etc would not enough to break down poop from say, big cats fast enough. And big cat poop would not take long at all to stink up the boat to a horrendous extent.

 

[MWood]

NOTE: This thread is not for a discussion of whether Noah's ark literally existed or did not. Also, I'm rather new to these forums, so if this is the wrong spot for this thread, feel free to move it, mods .

___________________

Most Christians were taught the story of Noah's Ark as a child. Many were fascinated by it, but few bothered to think about the logistical details.

As an adult who now works at a zoo (in large part as a cage cleaner) in pursuit of my zoology degree, I have a WHOLE new perspective on the story. Most pet owners have some experience with the...more unpleasant parts of caring for animals. I knew zoo work would be dirty work, but this didn't deter me from going in and getting my hands dirty.

What I wasn't prepared for, at least not at first, was that cat and dog waste was NOTHING compared to some of these animals. Some examples? The smell of fresh tiger feces, up close, is just astounding. I have a strong stomach, and it can literally make me feel sick at times. Male foxes, especially during mating season, have musky, territory-marking urine that doesn't wash out of anything with a choking stench that could gag a maggot. My love for animals has not vanished, but I didn't know they could be -that- smelly until I started working at a zoo!

So think about the situation on the ark! I can barely stand the smell from some of the big cat enclosures - and again, I have a strong stomach and they are cleaned fairly regularly. Can you imagine being on a boat with over 50 big cats (there are at least 25 species of them, 2 for each gender), and hundreds of other animals? I'm really not sure how anyone could handle the smell. It wouldn't matter how diligently you cleaned up after them or how you managed the waste. The ark would have absolutely reeked. And I'm not talking about something that "smells like dog poop" here. I'm talking about a smell that would instantly induce nausea in almost everyone on that boat.

So...what do you think? Whether the story is true or not, I thought this was an interesting side to consider. Do you think God blocked Noah's nose up to protect him? Was the smell all part of His divine plan?

Thanks for reading!

This is really funny! And you are right, the stench would have been unbearable. So give all of this some thought. They were on the ark for more than a year. If your going to pooh you first have to eat. Where are you going to store all the fresh meat for the carnivores? Where are you going to store all the herbs for the herbivores. The ark was not big enough for all the animals and all the food for them.
What about all the fresh water that it would take for all these animals? How much water would it take just to wash up and clean up the ark for over a year? Remember, when Noah and his family entered the ark God closed and sealed the door. So you couldn't go outside for water, you were sealed inside until God opened the door.
Do you remember that the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years? Do you remember reading that their clothes nor their shoes wore out? Do you think that God thought about this beforehand? If you believe in God you have to believe in faith. Remember you have never seen God so you have to believe in faith. And with this same faith you have to believe in the word of God being true. If you think that any part of it is not true, then how can you believe any of it? Is there a God that created all things , or isn't there?

 

[JesusMartyr]

The phrase "beasts of the field, creeping things of the earth and fowls of heaven" is certainly an intriguing phrase...
But thankfully we see that phrase referring to common unclean men of heathen origin regularly, or we'd still be left with the smell

(Gen 1:24) And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after its kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after its kind: and it was so.

(Gen 1:25) And God made the beast of the earth after its kind, and the cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the ground after its kind: and God saw that it was good.

God is letting us know His "language" of meaning in this topic, letting scriptures interpret themself...

(Ecc 3:18) I said in mine heart, It is because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are but as beasts.

When O.T. Israel continued to sin against God, He scattered them into the world and they became "one" with the inhabitants of the world in obscurity. That is what this verse means...

(Jer 31:27) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.

The "calling out" (ekklesia) of them, is the promised Gospel. This would result in the bringing in of all of us into the New Covenant Marriage of Israel to Her Husband Jesus Christ. A Marriage Covenant and regathering of those scattered "beasts" is the prophecy here...

(Hos 2:18) And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the land, and will make them to lie down safely.
(Hos 2:19) And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.

And of course, the full meaning revealed here to Peter when he was given the vision to preach to Israel scattered in the nations to gather them in the New Covenant Gospel message...

(Act 10:11) and he beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth:
(Act 10:12) wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and fowls of the heaven.
(Act 10:13) And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat.

(Act 10:14) But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean.

(Act 10:15) And a voice came unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.

So there it is, common/unclean man = "beasts of the field creeping things of the earth and fowls of heaven" unto which Israel was scattered in unbelief, and gathered in Faith and Righteousness, by the Gospel as preached by Peter to the "gentiles" (nations)...

The true meaning finally dawns...

(Act 10:28) and he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and yet unto me hath God shewed that I should not call any man common or unclean:

There it is

MAN, common, unclean. Pretty clear huh.

So no, other than the seven clean animals taken on the ark for food and sacrifice later, there were no "animals" on that boat for obvious reasons, as well as scriptural clarification of true meaning. Isn't Jesus wonderful in giving us such pure clarity out of His Word

 

[zlyssa2]

The phrase "beasts of the field, creeping things of the earth and fowls of heaven" is certainly an intriguing phrase...
But thankfully we see that phrase referring to common unclean men of heathen origin regularly, or we'd still be left with the smell

(Gen 1:24) And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after its kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after its kind: and it was so.

(Gen 1:25) And God made the beast of the earth after its kind, and the cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the ground after its kind: and God saw that it was good.

God is letting us know His "language" of meaning in this topic, letting scriptures interpret themself...

(Ecc 3:18) I said in mine heart, It is because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are but as beasts.

When O.T. Israel continued to sin against God, He scattered them into the world and they became "one" with the inhabitants of the world in obscurity. That is what this verse means...

(Jer 31:27) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.

The "calling out" (ekklesia) of them, is the promised Gospel. This would result in the bringing in of all of us into the New Covenant Marriage of Israel to Her Husband Jesus Christ. A Marriage Covenant and regathering of those scattered "beasts" is the prophecy here...

(Hos 2:18) And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the land, and will make them to lie down safely.
(Hos 2:19) And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.

And of course, the full meaning revealed here to Peter when he was given the vision to preach to Israel scattered in the nations to gather them in the New Covenant Gospel message...

(Act 10:11) and he beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth:
(Act 10:12) wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and fowls of the heaven.
(Act 10:13) And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat.

(Act 10:14) But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean.

(Act 10:15) And a voice came unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.

So there it is, common/unclean man = "beasts of the field creeping things of the earth and fowls of heaven" unto which Israel was scattered in unbelief, and gathered in Faith and Righteousness, by the Gospel as preached by Peter to the "gentiles" (nations)...

The true meaning finally dawns...

(Act 10:28) and he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and yet unto me hath God shewed that I should not call any man common or unclean:

There it is

MAN, common, unclean. Pretty clear huh.

So no, other than the seven clean animals taken on the ark for food and sacrifice later, there were no "animals" on that boat for obvious reasons, as well as scriptural clarification of true meaning. Isn't Jesus wonderful in giving us such pure clarity out of His Word

I'm talking about the concept of Noah's Ark as it is commonly understood.

 

[zlyssa2]

This is really funny! And you are right, the stench would have been unbearable. So give all of this some thought. They were on the ark for more than a year. If your going to pooh you first have to eat. Where are you going to store all the fresh meat for the carnivores? Where are you going to store all the herbs for the herbivores. The ark was not big enough for all the animals and all the food for them.
What about all the fresh water that it would take for all these animals? How much water would it take just to wash up and clean up the ark for over a year? Remember, when Noah and his family entered the ark God closed and sealed the door. So you couldn't go outside for water, you were sealed inside until God opened the door.
Do you remember that the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years? Do you remember reading that their clothes nor their shoes wore out? Do you think that God thought about this beforehand? If you believe in God you have to believe in faith. Remember you have never seen God so you have to believe in faith. And with this same faith you have to believe in the word of God being true. If you think that any part of it is not true, then how can you believe any of it? Is there a God that created all things , or isn't there?

Interesting points!

 

[JesusMartyr]

Oh, I see, this is in the "joke" category, sorry for giving the true meaning of it here. Yes, it is a joke to think the account of Noah's Ark as "commonly understood" was remotely possible.

 

[ScottyBoyyy]

I for one believe in the reality of the flood, Jesus even likened his return to that of the days of Noah. But ba k on topic, I'm sure it did smell, after all the animals including Noah and his family had to to expel their waste. Taking as long as he did to build the ark, I'm sure a place to poop was thought out. Also considering how the world at large died, it probably stunk even worse outside the ark.

 

[zlyssa2]

I for one believe in the reality of the flood, Jesus even likened his return to that of the days of Noah. But ba k on topic, I'm sure it did smell, after all the animals including Noah and his family had to to expel their waste. Taking as long as he did to build the ark, I'm sure a place to poop was thought out. Also considering how the world at large died, it probably stunk even worse outside the ark.

I doubt it, in the ark it would have been more compact.

 

[zlyssa2]

Oh, I see, this is in the "joke" category, sorry for giving the true meaning of it here. Yes, it is a joke to think the account of Noah's Ark as "commonly understood" was remotely possible.

Haha, yep. So what do you think the smell would be like?

 

[Nelliebell]

Howdy,
Interesting topic you got here with different interesting views.
I believe the Bible is true. Genesis 1:6 - 8 mentions that God separated the water and put the sky between the two separate bodies of water.
Some scientists learned that the atmosphere enveloping the earth was different however many years ago it was before Noah's day. They believe there was a lot more moisture above the skies back then.
As regards for the smell, I like the reply where the food was not as tainted with chemicals like some foods are nowadays.
I believe God had a plan that was unthinkable to us in regards to all that smell, food & water supply, etc. His thoughts are not our thoughts, nor his ways are our ways.
God is marvelous and amazing at all he created. How the whole world was in harmony before man put a wrench into the balance nature of the world.
We may not know until Noah explains it to us.
God bless you guys and gals.

 

[Mesme]

Haha, thanks for sharing this!