Would Noah's Ark have floated?

[shunyadragon]

If you accept the story of Noah, then a necessary component would be believing in God and miracles. God could have kept the Ark afloat if it were built of rock.

This represents an interesting theological problem that God simply made everything to work the way the Bible says regardless of the reality of the physical nature of things.

Also, if this were true, why even bring up the question as to whether the design is seaworthy and sound?

[Sparko]

This represents an interesting theological problem that God simply made everything to work the way the Bible says regardless of the reality of the physical nature of things.

Also, if this were true, why even bring up the question as to whether the design is seaworthy and sound?

I didn't bring it up.


are you claiming that God cannot do miracles?

[shunyadragon]

I didn't bring it up.


are you claiming that God cannot do miracles?

I do not believe you can play the miracle card to explain things at one's convenience, and as far as I can see our physical existence is not subject to the miraculous. As far as the possibility of miracles, they're possible, but I do not believe that believing in miracles is a reason to believe in God. Many miracles that are claimed to occur are more anecdotal claims and not clearly demonstrated beyond believing them on faith.

[Cow Poke]

This represents an interesting theological problem that God simply made everything to work the way the Bible says regardless of the reality of the physical nature of things.

Hmmmm... what would we call that... OH YEAH... MIRACLES! Without which the Bible would be "just another book".

Also, if this were true, why even bring up the question as to whether the design is seaworthy and sound?

Curiosity.

[Sparko]

I do not believe you can play the miracle card to explain things at one's convenience, and as far as I can see our physical existence is not subject to the miraculous. As far as the possibility of miracles, they're possible, but I do not believe that believing in miracles is a reason to believe in God. Many miracles that are claimed to occur are more anecdotal claims and not clearly demonstrated beyond believing them on faith.

well if you don't believe in miracles or in a personal God then you wouldn't believe that God told Noah to build the ark in the first place. So your opinion on the matter really doesn't amount to a pile of beans here, shuny.

If God contacted Noah, told him to build the ark, how to build it, caused the animals to go aboard, and then flooded the earth, I seriously doubt keeping the ark afloat would be a problem for him.

[Teallaura]

1) Told Noah what to do - check
2) Told the animals to go with him - check
3) Sealed up the ark - check
4) Started the Flood - check
5) Made sure the ark can float.... Uh-oh...

[Cow Poke]

1) Told Noah what to do - check
2) Told the animals to go with him - check
3) Sealed up the ark - check
4) Started the Flood - check
5) Made sure the ark can float.... Uh-oh...

Or, as Bill Cosby would say....

[deep voice] OOOOOOPS [/deep voice]

[stfoskey15]

I think for most of Genesis 1-11 the question from a Christian perspective is not "Could it happen?" because God could do whatever he wanted, but "Was this event likely given what we know?" Same for whether or not the ark could have floated, the question is that of how likely it is that the Noah's ark story is literal.

Of course, if we use the laws of natural science (as this is the natural science section) it seems unlikely that the literal version of the Noah's ark story is true.

[rogue06]

I do not think the design of the Ark as presented is a viable sea worthy vessel. It may float briefly, but then surely implode, crumble and sink, because of it shear size, and instability of wooden ships this large.

Never underestimate the power of gopher wood

[rogue06]

If you accept the story of Noah, then a necessary component would be believing in God and miracles. God could have kept the Ark afloat if it were built of rock.

Oh and the guy is wrong about cars too. We lift cars all the time just by using a magnet on the roof (at scrap yards), or using cranes and tow trucks without distorting them as he claims.

Cool that you got photos of when they repossessed your car

[Sparko]

Cool that you got photos of when they repossessed your car

I don't believe in ghosts!

[klaus54]

"What floats?"
"A stone?"
"No..."
"A very small stone???"

[rogue06]

"What floats?"
"A stone?"
"No..."
"A very small stone???"

Pumice











Yeah. I know. I stepped on the joke.

Actually, I stomped on it with spiked boots.

[Teallaura]

It's a witch! Burn it!!!!

[robrecht]

Wait, is she a witch if she floats or if she sinks? I always get that one mixed up.