Japan tsunami and biblical flood

[ninerbuff]

After watching how devastating the tsunami was in Japan these past couple of days, it's it totally possible that an event like this happened during biblical times and due to the same type of perceived destruction, that the exaggerated "world flood" scripture could have been conceived?

[Pegg]

Originally Posted by ninerbuff

After watching how devastating the tsunami was in Japan these past couple of days, it's it totally possible that an event like this happened during biblical times and due to the same type of perceived destruction, that the exaggerated "world flood" scripture could have been conceived?

if all the people of the 'inhabited' earth were destroyed in the Mesopotamian flood, then the survivors would certainly have viewed it as 'the whole world'

i've often wondered if the scritpures could mean the 'inhabited earth', as in the area of land where people inhabited, as opposed to the entire globe. In any event, all flood legends describe the event as killing everyone alive except those on the vessel

[Mestemia]

sure.
Well, at least it could until you get to Genesis 7:20.

[gnostic]

Originally Posted by ninerbuff

After watching how devastating the tsunami was in Japan these past couple of days, it's it totally possible that an event like this happened during biblical times and due to the same type of perceived destruction, that the exaggerated "world flood" scripture could have been conceived?

I can believe that such disaster could affect the coastal areas, with off-coast earthquake and tsunami could ripple out from the centre (epicenter) to other nations on the other side of the Pacific.

However, the bible says the flood covered mountains; the highest mountains as I recalls.

Tsunami couldn't cause that, no matter how big an earthquake in the sea or ocean. Mount Ararat is 5 km high. Also there's not enough water for it to cover mountains.

[gnostic]

Originally Posted by pegg

if all the people of the 'inhabited' earth were destroyed in the Mesopotamian flood, then the survivors would certainly have viewed it as 'the whole world'

i've often wondered if the scritpures could mean the 'inhabited earth', as in the area of land where people inhabited, as opposed to the entire globe. In any event, all flood legends describe the event as killing everyone alive except those on the vessel

Well, there is still a matter of the Ark landing on or near the peak of Mount Ararat.

Originally Posted by Genesis 8:4

...and on the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.

How do you explain that, if only the Mesopotamian basin is flooded?

If you are right, then the location of Mount Ararat is wrong.

[fallingblood]

If we take that a major flood did occur, one that was very devastating, to which people started saying it flooded the whole world (in exaggeration), it isn't a long stretch to then exaggerate about how even the mountains had been covered with water.

[Riverwolf]

Originally Posted by ninerbuff

After watching how devastating the tsunami was in Japan these past couple of days, it's it totally possible that an event like this happened during biblical times and due to the same type of perceived destruction, that the exaggerated "world flood" scripture could have been conceived?

I believe one of the theories is that the deluge of the Black Sea was the inspiration for many of the flood stories from that region.

[outhouse]

Originally Posted by ninerbuff

After watching how devastating the tsunami was in Japan these past couple of days, it's it totally possible that an event like this happened during biblical times and due to the same type of perceived destruction, that the exaggerated "world flood" scripture could have been conceived?

The flood story probably originated when the euphates overflowed in 2900BC as recorded in the first of 3 sumerian flood myths.

There a man loaded his farm animals on a barge because the water in the fields were rising and he could not get them to high ground in time. He survived an event that must have killed many many people in his time.

the story has grown from there.

on a side note the noah story originates from the exact location of the sumerian flood

im sure every tsunami before written knowledge would have been blamed on angry gods or spirits and the people would have had another person or group to blame for said destruction.

[outhouse]

Originally Posted by Riverwolf

I believe one of the theories is that the deluge of the Black Sea was the inspiration for many of the flood stories from that region.

Oral tradition would have had a hard time making that far back in time with such small tribes and nomatic peoples.

[Riverwolf]

Originally Posted by outhouse

Oral tradition would have had a hard time making that far back in time with such small tribes and nomatic peoples.

It's just one of many theories.

But you'd be surprised how persistent oral tradition is, especially considering the fact that the Mesopotamian civilization was quite prosperous, far beyond the "small tribes and nomadic peoples" stage.