the arc and evolution

[conleymon]

the bible itself admits to evolution. tens of millions of species could not fit into the arc, let alone four of each. so either the story is a fable, or evolution has to be a viable phenomena.

[upallnite]

Not only viable but it would have to work very fast. Far faster then what I have seen any secular claim.

[Confused]

This comes from a previous thread Cmass started in this forum about what assumption one must make to validate the Ark. It may answer some of your questions:

Cmass wrote:
What assumptions must be made. Part 1:

What scientific and engineering assumptions must we make about the story of Noah's Ark that would render the story a true fact?
* Can we make assumptions that are based soundly in science that could render the story plausible?
* What gaps in the story must we fill in?
* Christians, what assumptions have you made about the flood story that has kept it alive for you over the years?

We could discuss the science of the flood - but I think it would help to concentrate on one thing at a time: In this case the ship itself and it's ability to contain all the animals 2 by 2 and deal with waves and being shipwrecked on a mountain etc...

Confused Wrote:

Ok, lets tackle this one at a time:
Here are the pros and cons I have found:

1) Unfortunately, the ark was made of cypress wood and pitch. A 450 ft long boat could hardly float under its own weight under calm waters let alone if we added the bulk to be carried on the ark and put it under extreme conditions. It would require iron reinforcement and constant pumping for it be effective (neither of witch existed back then). Also the pitch used wouldn't make it leak proof. Not to mention that any wooden vessel must be allowed to swell for a period of time in water before it would be considered sea worthy. The ark had no such time. http://blogs.salon.com/0001561/stories/ ... Flood.html.

2) The intial size of the the ark was 450 ft long, 75 ft wide, and 45 ft high. According to calculations in The Genesis Flood, by Whitcomb and Morris, 1961, page 69, the Ark could hold the equivalent of 522 standard two-decked railroad stock cars. Now, it would be possible to hold the animals mentioned in Genesis if the animals god sent to Noah were not full grown. To carry the no more than 35,000 estimated individual vertebrate animals, the average size being that of a sheep, would require no more than 146 such railroad cars. So it might be possible to carry these animals. Also, it the animals were not full grown, they would require less feed. Westarkchurchof christ.org/library/noahsark.htm. Unfortunately there is the inconsitency of the amt of animals brought onto the ark, some quote a male and female of each species, while other say 7 pairs of each "clean animals" male and female, and for "unclean animals" only a male and female. Don't know what is considered clean vs unclean, but it could significantly effect the amount of animals on board.

3) Getting the animals on the ark: Fortunately for Noah, he did not have to search the world and capture them. God caused these animals and birds to come to Noah. (Gen. 6:20).

4) Not enough space for food and supplies. If we estimate that only 146 of the 522 standard two-deck railroad stock cars were required for animals, then it is easy to see that there is enough space for food.

5) Water: well, if it rained enough, it would be easy to dilute the salt water to make it drinkable for the ark occupants, also it is possible to collect the water needed during the rain.

6) caring for animals: once again, if they were not full grown, then we don't have the worries of aggression, especially related to when they go into heat, and if god can calm the seas, why not animals as well. There is also the possibility that natural sedatives could have been given, but for all these animals to be caged up for the 40 days of rain/flood and then the 150 days it took for the waters to recede, I fail to see how noah, his wife, his three sons, and his three sons wives could have cared for them all.

7) Also, the close quarters increases the likelihood of disease. It would have spread quite quickly. How this could have been prevented would require more safety measures than Noah had available.

8) Genesis says that once god started the rains, he sealed noah and the animals etc in the boat, but after the waters receded, somehow Noah, and Noah alone supposedly opened this alone. Not possible for a single man.

9) Genesis implies it took 7 days to load all the animals, the food, and people. I am not sure even with the help of divinity this would be possible.


These are examples of both pros and cons. While it is possible to rectify the animal situation, the ark itself cannot be scientifically built with the resources available then and still be sea worthy.