Christianity continued....

Q4: How did Noah care for all the animals?

-It is well known that all animals can survive on a meatless diet. Care must be taken to satisfy their nutritional needs, but it is possible. Some carnivores even choose a vegetarian lifestyle. Creation scientists suggest that God gave the animals the ability to hibernate, as we see in many species today. Many other animals (and perhaps nearly all) are able to enter into a period of relative dormancy or estivation when faced with a danger they cannot overcome and from which they cannot flee. In such a state they require minimal food and exercise, and excrete little. In such a state, aggressive tendencies are ignored. The presence of a common, overwhelming predicament eliminates former predator/prey relationships.

Whether it was supernatural or simply a normal response to the darkness and confinement of a rocking ship, the fact that God told Noah to build rooms (in Hebrew, the word used literally means "nest") implies that the animals were subdued or nesting. God also told Noah to take food for them (Genesis 6:21), which tells us that they were not in a year-long coma either. 

A small group of farmers today can raise thousands of cattle and other animals in a very small space. One can easily imagine all kinds of devices on that Ark that would have enabled a small number of people to feed and care for the animals, from watering to waste removal. 

The animals' comfort and healthy appearance (as at a zoo) were not essential for emergency survival during one stressful year, where survival was the primary goal. Studies of nonmechanized animal care indicate that 8 people could have fed and watered 16,000 creatures. No special devices were needed for 8 people to care for 16,000 animals. But if they existed, how would these devices be powered? There are all sorts of possibilities. How about a plumbing system for gravity-fed drinking water, a ventilation system driven by wind or wave motion, or hoppers that dispense grain as the animals eat it? None of these require higher technology than what we know existed in ancient cultures.

**One final thought on hibernation. The origin of this mysterious hibernation ability has no ready explanation in science. Might we not suppose that the loving Creator endowed animals on board the Ark with this survival mechanism? There was probably no need for such an ability before the Flood. All animals today are descended from those on the Ark and all have inherited it. Since science has no better explanation for its origin, this supposition, which fits all of the facts, should be given due consideration.

Another type of wave may have also affected the Ark during the Flood - tsunamis. Earthquakes can create tsunamis that devastate coastlines. However, when a tsunami travels in deep water it is imperceptible to a ship. 

During the Flood, the water would have been very deep - there is enough water in today's oceans to cover the earth to a depth of about 1.7 miles. The Bible states that the Ark rose "high above the earth" Genesis 7:17). Launched from high ground by the rising floodwaters, the Ark would have avoided the initial detestation of coastlines and low-lying area, and remained safe from tsunamis throughout the voyage.

After several months at sea, God sent a wind (Genesis 8:1), which could have produced very large waves. Open-water testing confirms that any drifting vessel will naturally turn side-on to the waves (broach). With waves approaching the side of the vessel (beam sea), a long vessel like the Ark would be trapped in an uncomfortable ; in heavy weather it could become dangerous. This could be overcome, however, by the vessel catching the wind at the bow and catching the water at the stern - aligning itself. These features seem to have inspired a number of ancient ship designs. Once the Ark points into the waves, the long, ship-like proportions create a more comfortable and controlled voyage. Traveling slowly with the wind, it had no need for speed, but the Bible does say the Ark moved about on the surface of the waters. 

Compared to a ship-like bow and stern, blunt ends are not as strong. have edges that are vulnerable to damage during launch and beaching, and give a rougher ride. Since the Bible gives proportions like that of a true ship, it makes sense that it should look and act ship-like.

"Don't even get me started on Jonah rofl."

The Biblical account of Jonah is often criticized by skeptics because of its miraculous content. These miracles include:

1) A Mediterranean storm, both summoned and dissipated by God (1: 4-16),

2) A massive fish, appointed by God to swallow the prophet after he was thrown into the sea by his ship's crew (1:17),

3) Jonah's survival in the belly of the first for 3 days and 3 nights (1:17),

4) The fish vomiting Jonah upon shore at God's command (2:10),

5) A gourd, appointed by God to grow rapidly in order to provide Jonah with shade (4:6),

6) A worm, appointed by God to attack and wither the shady gourd (4:7),

7) A scorching wind, summoned by God to discomfort Jonah (4:8).

Critics also find Nineveh's repentance (3: 4-9) hard to believe, though it is not technically a miracle. In fact, Nineveh's repentance makes perfect sense given Jonah's extraordinary arrival upon the shores of the Mediterranean and the prominence of Dagon worship in that particular area of the ancient world. Dagon was a fish-god who enjoyed popularity among the pantheons of Mesopotamia and the eastern Mediterranean coast.

Some scholar's have speculated that Jonah's appearance, no doubt bleached white from the action of the fish's digestive acids, would have been of great help to his cause. If such were the case, the Ninevites would have been greeted by a man whose skin, hair, and clothes were bleached ghostly white - a man accompanied by a crowd of frenetic followers, many of who claimed to have witnessed him having been vomited upon the shore by the great fish.

Jonah only needed to create a big enough stir to gain himself admittance to the king who, upon believing Jonah's message of imminent doom for himself would have the power to proclaim a citywide day of fasting and penance. According to the biblical narrative that's exactly what happened (Jonah 3: 6-9). So we see that, given the caveat that Jonah was spewed upon the shore by a great fish, Ninevah's repentance follows from a very logical progression. 

As for Jonah's aquatic experience, while there is no conclusive historical proof that Jonah was ever swallowed by a fish and lived to tell about it, there is some provocative corroboratory evidence. In the 3rd Century BC, a Babylonian priest/historian named Berosus wrote of a mythical creature named Oannes who, according to Berosus, emerged from the sea to give divine wisdom to men. 

Berosus wrote in Greek during the Hellenistic Period. Oannes is just a single letter removed from the Greek name Ioannes. Ioannes happens to be one of the two Greek names used interchangeably throughout the Greek New Testament to represent the Hebrew name Yonah (Jonah), which in turn appears to be a moniker Yohanan. Conversely, both Ioannes and Ionas (the other Greek word for Jonah in the New Testament) are used interchangeably to represent the Hebrew name Yohanan in the Greek Septuagint, which is the Greek translation 

Nineveh was Assyrian. What this essentially means is that Berosus wrote of a fish-man named Jonah who emerged from the sea to give divine wisdom to man - a remarkable corroboration of the Hebrew account. 

............To a lot of non-Christians, I am sure that some of the Bible might come across as silly, mythological, etc... Some people take every single word of every single verse in the Bible literally; and either do not understand the true meaning behind what they are reading is, or think the Bible is a bunch of made-up fairy tales to get people to live right.

With the many comments I have made to the questions posed in here, I have not just backed up my religion and what I believe in by saying "I am right and you are wrong." I have reasoned logically, philosophically, legitimately, etc. Since I have posted so much in here, some people might not have grasped the important concepts I have proven. Here are the points I have proven (So if you would like to see how I proved that particular point, please go back and read it):

1) I have shown that there are no errors or contradictions in the Bible; that the Bible is truth.

2) That God exists.

3) That Jesus is God. 

4) That only Christianity provides an ultimate resolution to the sinfulness of man and the need for redemption.

5) Logically formulated and proved that the ultimate truth about God can be found.

I challenge everything that reads all of these comments to read them without any bias. There aren't any "loop holes" or "grey areas" in Christianity. Unfortunately, even though I have "logically" proven certain aspects of Christianity, that does not, in itself, convince people to believe and trust in God. 

Folks, a part of Christianity is FAITH. Some do not like that because they want to "see" God, or some other aspect that physically proves that God is real. But God has already done that. He sent Jesus to earth so that we ALL might know He is real. 

You can't physically see the wind; but you know it's there. How? Well, you can see the wind blowing through the trees, for example. That is just the same with God as well. If we open our eyes and look around us, we can see God's work in all of our lives.

Who was it that ended up in the belly of a whale?

It was Jonah, he was told by God to go and warn the Assyrians to repent. He was scared because he thought they would kill him.  So he went on a fishing boat and a storm came over them so he jumped in the water because it was a scary God made storm.  Then his crew mates and the boat made it through the storm and a big whale swallowed him up.  Then it spat him out on the beach and he went to Assyria to do what God had told.  Then the Assyrians listened and there was repentance wailing and sackcloth. 

 your  all goiig  to hell for  gambiling!!!!!  in the mean time  whos got colarado +15?

This christian post on a gambling forum reminds me of the "free rides" offered at a spring break destination, South Padre Island.  They would give you a free ride to a club of your choice in a 15 passenger van but when you got in each seat was filled with a person to talk to you about your relationship with Jesus.  We would get in this van after pre-partying for hours.  Oh man was that a buzz kill.  

Maybe I'm just nitpicky here, but my assumption would be that a book written by an omnipotent and omniscient being would have significantly fewer plot holes

My alltime fav bible verse:

Ezekiel 23:20

There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses.

I'll be damned, thats a whale of a story. Them f' ing Assyrians.

  thanks bro you got a good sense of humour.  Did I convert you ? Are you filled with tthe holy spirit ?

  Oh yeah  https://youtu.be/ED6Vo1_fzq4

So you only believe in science when it SUPPORTS your case?

1)  The creation of the world is the most marvelous achievment imaginable

2) The merit of an achievement is the product of (a) its intrinsic quality, and (b) the ability of its creator

3) The greater the disability (or handicap) of the creater, the more impressive the achievement

4) The most formidable handicap for a creator would be non-existence

5) Therefore if we suppose that the universe is the product of an existent creator we can conceive a greater being - namely, one who created everything while not existing

6) An existing god therefore would not be a being greater than which a greater cannot be conceived because an even more formidable and incredible creator would be a god which did not exist

Ergo:

7) God does not exist

A) Somebody who uses logic incorrectly is a moron.
B) The above logical proof, if correct, would be of an earth-shattering magnitude and would subsequently be published in many major science journals.
C) The proof has never been (and never will be) inserted into any credible scientific publication.
D) Since this proof has not met the aforementioned criterion, we can deduce that the proof is incorrect.
E) This proof is most wrong because Ex4Life used logic incorrectly.
F) Ex4Life is therefore a moron.

Now THERE'S a better example of a properly done proof

Hey everybody. Was finally able to get around enough time to focus on answering and explaining alot of questions and comments that I have seen in this thread, as well as other threads I have viewed. As I have done, I will type the questions out, and then answer them to the best of my ability. Please feel free to comment and/or ask more questions.

"Why do bad things happen to good people/Why do some bad people seem to be happy and prosper"

For me at least, this is one of the harder questions/topic for me to answer, because sometimes there is no "human" explanation for some things. My big bro in my fraternity passed away from a ruptured spleen on a slippin slide about 4 years ago. He was a senior in college, Accounting major, and had the rest of his life to live out. I can't explain why he passed away at the time in his life that he did; and I may never know why. But I know everything happens for a reason, and hopefully I can clear this topic up for anybody that has the same question.

Let's ask a question first: Is God cruel?

There is no doubt that God both allows and, at times, causes pain and suffering, but God's goodness cannot be impugned because He commits an act that appears cruel to us. While we can't claim to know His reasoning in every circumstance, we do know several reasons for actions that can appear to us to be cruel, especially if we don't know - or don't bother to find out - the circumstances:

1) To mete out our just punishment: If a punishment is just, can it be considered cruel? What critics do not understand sometimes is that God's love is not diminished when He brings punishment on people. God is able to bring judgment on an evil group of people in order to spare those who are devoted to Him. To allow evil and wrongdoing to go unpunished would indeed be cruel and would indicate a callousness toward the innocent. Even when God told the Israelite's to completely destroy the enemies of God, including women and children, He knew that to let them live would ensure the existence of future generations devoted to evil idolatrous practices - including in some cases child sacrifices on the alters of false gods.

2) To bring about a greater good: Pain and suffering that produce a greater good sometimes can be brought about by no other means. The Bible tells us in James 1:2 that trials and difficulties produce stronger, better Christians, and we should "count it all joy" when we encounter them. God brings these about for our benefit, in order to refine us like gold in the fire of affliction. The Apostle Paul saw his own suffering - beatings, stoning's, shipwrecks, hunger, thirst, cold, imprisonments - as a means of ensuring that he would be ever conscious of his own weakness, would remember always that the power at work in him was from God, not himself, and would never be deluded into relying on his own power. Against nonbelievers, God's justice is vindicated when He causes pain and suffering to them because they deserve it. He demonstrates His mercy to them by warning them repeatedly of the consequences of sin. When, through their own rebellion, they bring upon themselves calamity, this is just punishment, not cruelty. The fact that He lets rebels go on shaking their fists at Him for as long as He does indicates His mercy and patience, not cruelty.

Contrary to the claims of skeptics, there are good reason's for why God allows evil and suffering in the world. We are privileged to know some of those reasons, but we do not always know why God allows evil and suffering. To trust God in spite of not knowing the reasons is not a blind leap of faith. Rather, we trust Him with the things that we do not understand because we see His faithfulness in those actions which we do understand.