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How many of the stories in the Old Testament can we take literally, how many are simply myth and metaphors telling a much large truth(s)? More specifically, is the story of Noah and the flood literal? Unfortunately too many spend way too much time trying to debate the issues and miss the message. That said, let’s look at some of the internals of the story.

First, there are TWO FLOOD STORIES, written five hundred years apart.

Genesis 6,7, and 8 is a weaving together of a Babylonian flood story that was written around 500BCE and and older Egyptian flood story written around 1,000BCE. The newer version is what’s called the GOD version while the older one is the LORD version. Sometime when you’re bored and listless, copy and paste the interwoven two stories and read them separately. By so doing you will see how they flow as one story and exercise some spiritual integrity.

The GOD, 500BCE, Babylonian version is written as follows: Gen. 6:1-4, 9-22, Gen. 7:7-9, 12-16, and Gen. 8:1, 14-19.
The LORD, 1,000BCE, Egyptian version is written as follows: Gen 6:5-8, Gen. 7:1-6, 10-11, 17-24, and Gen. 8:2-12, 20-22.
The two flood stories are similar to the two creation stories wherein Gen. 1 was written by the Priestly class in 500BCE and Gen. 2-3 was written by the Yahweh class around 1,000BCE. But, I digress!

But, is it literal? My answer is, yes in part. Historical evidence tells us that the last ice age was around 10,000 years ago and the receding and melting glaciers raised the level of the Mediterranean Sea, Agean Sea, Marmari Denizi breaching the small land mass now known as the Bosporous Strait and massively flooding the Black Sea. The Bible is not a science or history book, but it does contain “some” of both. It’s a spiritual book- a story book!

Was there a flood? Yes. But it was a local flood and the flood was a combination of heavy local rains and the water from below, or springs from below (depending upon the translation you use) that were as a result of the massive and quick rising of the Black Sea, which would be similar to a damn breaking and everything down stream being flooded.

But was the story embellished? Sure. Tell me. If the whole earth was under water for 315 days, how could a dove find and fly back with a fresh olive leaf (Gen. 8:11). I know, I know, don’t ask questions. Just follow what the church says and believe the unbelievable, the unimportant. Just BELIEVE!

How about LIVE? How about living the subjective spiritual life that will produce objective changes and transformation in our lives. Let’s take the first two letters out of BE-lieve and just BE who we’re called to be- spiritual being who use the brains and intellect that God gave us to enjoy our brief time here in the third dimension.