Where are the current ripples from Noah's Flood?

[The Barbarian]

So people can quote Mark Twain? THE HORROR! THE HORROOORRR!

Again, your persecution complex is showing.

Mark Twain was making fun of the literalist interpretation of the Bible that he grew up knowing. That's not a reflection on Christianity as a whole. The Church has never declared the Bible to be a literal account in every verse.

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

Mark Twain was making fun of the literalist interpretation of the Bible that he grew up knowing. That's not a reflection on Christianity as a whole. The Church has never declared the Bible to be a literal account in every verse.

It's really only independent and minor groups of American Christians, usually varieties of Protestantism, that declare it as a literal account in every way and form.

 

[AV1611VET]

Mark Twain was making fun of the literalist interpretation of the Bible that he grew up knowing. That's not a reflection on Christianity as a whole. The Church has never declared the Bible to be a literal account in every verse.

Mark Twain is an affront to every Christian martyr.

 

[Astrid]

I am saying that its historicity was assumed but not seen as necessary by all theologians and a variety of opinions existed. There were, and are as well, various schools of thought on divine inspiration. Any particular view of Genesis can only be called a "misinterpretation" if it fails to support essential Christian doctrine.

If the historicity of “flood” is integral to Christianity
thats really too bad, as there most clearly was no flood.

 

[AV1611VET]

If the historicity of “flood” is integral to Christianity that's really too bad, as there most clearly was no flood.

Every jot & tittle of the Bible is integral to Christianity in its own way.

 

[The Barbarian]

Mark Twain is an affront to every Christian martyr.

Having been raised as he was, he would not recognize the Christianity of the martyrs of the early Church.

 

[AV1611VET]

Having been raised as he was, he would not recognize the Christianity of the martyrs of the early Church.

That's no excuse.

But for the record, AI Overview gives this scenario of his life:

1. Religious skepticism: Twain's reading of Thomas Paine at a young age introduced him to religious skepticism.
2. Rebellion against orthodoxy: Twain rebelled against orthodoxy later in life.
3. Satirical works: Twain used satire to expose religious hypocrisy in many of his works.
4. Unpublished writing: Twain's unpublished writing, including Letters from the Earth, expressed doubt and scorn for conventional Christianity.
5. Search for truth: Twain's search for truth led him to question the existence and nature of God, the divinity of Christ, and the veracity of the Bible.
6. Hope: Despite his doubts and anger toward God, Twain expressed hope that peace and wholeness would prevail.

 

[The Barbarian]

Having been raised as he was, he would not recognize the Christianity of the martyrs of the early Church.

That's no excuse.

It gave him an entirely wrong idea of Christianity. Ironically, in Innocents Abroad, he speaks approvingly of the faith and behavior of Christian monks in an isolated location, who actually lived their Christian faith. Twain confesses that he went there prejudiced against them, but their Christian behavior won him over.

 

[AV1611VET]

Ironically, in Innocents Abroad, he speaks approvingly of the faith and behavior of Christian monks in an isolated location, who actually lived their Christian faith. Twain confesses that he went there prejudiced against them, but their Christian behavior won him over.

Wow.

Sounds to me like this guy was a regular Saul of Tarsus.

Hell-bent on confronting Christians everywhere.

Let's hope he got saved before it was too late!

 

[The Barbarian]

Wow.

Sounds to me like this guy was a regular Saul of Tarsus.

He was just honest enough to admit that his prejudices in this case, turned out to be wrong.

 

[AV1611VET]

He was just honest enough to admit that his prejudices in this case, turned out to be wrong.

Hmmm ... interesting.

He admitted he was wrong, yet academia still uses his definition.

Interesting indeed.

 

[dlamberth]

Any particular view of Genesis can only be called a "misinterpretation" if it fails to support essential Christian doctrine.

It seems to me that belief in Noah's Global Flood sits on a different shelf than "doctrine".

 

[The Barbarian]

He admitted he was wrong, yet academia still uses his definition.

Never saw that one in the professional literature. Lots of times in other places, though.

 

[The Barbarian]

It seems to me that belief in Noah's Global Flood sits on a different shelf than "doctrine".

Yes. The nature of the flood story and the time and extent of the flood are not essential Christian doctrines. There is wide disagreement among Christians on this issue, and it's not a salvation issue at all.

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

Never saw that one in the professional literature. Lots of times in other places, though.

Remember: if anyone has anything negative to say against Christianity, to him that instantly makes them an academic/part of academia.

Don Quixote needs a windmill I mean giant to tilt at after all.

 

[David Lamb]

It seems to me that belief in Noah's Global Flood sits on a different shelf than "doctrine".

But the word "doctrine" simply means "a teaching". If you'd said, "doctrine essential for salvation", I would agree.

 

[Astrid]

But the word "doctrine" simply means "a teaching". If you'd said, "doctrine essential for salvation", I would agree.

What does it teach?

 

[David Lamb]

What does it teach?

I believe that Genesis teaches that God said He would flood the earth, that He told Noah to build an ark to keep himself, his family and the animals in it safe from the Flood.

 

[Astrid]

I believe that Genesis teaches that God said He would flood the earth, that He told Noah to build an ark to keep himself, his family and the animals in it safe from the Flood.

Just that, a simple narrative, no deeper meaning?

 

[David Lamb]

Just that, a simple narrative, no deeper meaning?

Yes, there is more. It is an example of God's holiness, and of His judgment and punishment of sin, as well as of His grace, for we are told that Noah found grace in the Lord's eyes. It also teaches the great power of God. The promise associated with the rainbow after the flood reminds us that we serve a God Who keeps His promises. We learn from Noah the importance of obeying God. I am sure there is much more that the account of the Flood teaches and exemplifies.