Episode 133: (3) Re-Cycled & Re-Interpreted Flood Motif Theory

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来自 University of Alberta 的课程

Science & Religion 101

33 个评分

University of Alberta

Science & Religion 101

33 个评分

This course examines the nature of both science and religion and attempts to explore the possible relationships between them. The primary purpose is to dispel the popular myth that science and religion are entrenched in a never-ending conflict. As a result, this course argues that if the limits of both science and religion are respected, then their relationship can be complementary. Topics include: Science and Religion Categories and Foundational Principles, Definitions of Science and Religion, Science-Religion Models and Relationships, Intelligent Design and Natural Revelation, the Galileo Affair, Geology and Noah’s Flood, Evolution and Darwin’s Religious Beliefs, the Modern “Evolution” vs. “Creation” Debate, the Problem of Evil, and Interpretations of the Biblical Accounts of Origins in Genesis 1-11. The course employs a Constructive Teaching Style in order that students can develop their personal views on the relationship between science and religion and on each of the topics listed above. St. Joseph's College is a Catholic, undergraduate, liberal arts college on the University of Alberta campus. It is an independent institution that is affiliated with the University of Alberta.

从本节课中

Geology & the Biblical Flood

Over the 20 years that I have taught this course, I have found that religious students struggle the most with the topic of Noah’s flood in the Bible (Genesis 6-9). The first half of this section is a brief history of geology, beginning with the worldwide flood as the central paradigm and ending with its complete elimination from science. This is another example of science powerfully impacting religion. In the second half, the three basic views of the biblical flood are presented—Global Flood, Local Flood, and Re-Cycled & Re-Interpreted Flood Motif Theory. In particular, the challenging topic of whether or not Noah was a real person in history is explored. We also consider the notion that the biblical flood (Genesis 6-9) is composed of two original sources (Jahwist and Priestly sources).

Episode 117: Key Thoughts. Biblical Texts on the Flood6:11

Episode 118: Biblical Texts on the Flood (Continued) Brief History of Geology & the Biblical Flood4:10

Episode 119: The Early Church & the Flood. Flood Scholarship4:07

Episode 120: Flood Scholarship (Continued). St. Augustine on the Flood4:23

Episode 121: St. Augustine on the Flood (Continued)5:51

Episode 122: The Middle Ages & the Flood. The Early Modern Period & the Flood5:27

Episode 123: The Early Modern Period & the Flood (Continued)4:57

Episode 124: Niels Steensen & Principle of Superposition. Global Flood Theories5:43

Episode 125: The Beginning of Geology. James Hutton & Principle of Actualism4:37

Episode 126: Catastrophism. Adam Sedgwick’s Recantation5:05

Episode 127: Conclusion: The Beginning of Geology. 19th Century Modern Geology4:43

Episode 128: 19th Century Modern Geology (Continued) The Anti-Geologists3:53

Episode 129: 19th Century Modern Geology (Continued) The Harmonizers4:55

Episode 130: Conclusion: Brief History of Geology & the Biblical Flood7:00

Episode 131: What about Noah’s Flood? (1) Global Flood Theory7:37

Episode 132: (2) Local Flood4:19

Episode 133: (3) Re-Cycled & Re-Interpreted Flood Motif Theory5:34

Episode 134: Re-Cycled & Re-Interpreted Flood Motif Theory (Continued)5:28

Episode 135: Origin of the Biblical Flood Account (Gen 6-9)4:39

Episode 136: Evidence for Two Sources in Biblical Flood Account (Gen 6-9)9:24

Episode 137: The BIG Question: Who Was Noah?5:28

Hermeneutics 13B: The Heavens & Ancient Astronomy (Part I). The Firmament8:33

与讲师见面

Denis Lamoureux
Associate Professor
St. Joseph's College

Episode 133.

The third and final approach to Noah's flood is the recycled and

reinterpreted flood motif theory.

This is the position held by a majority of Old Testament scholars.

To help you understand this view of flood, let me ask some questions.

Where do civilizations first appear?

The answer is on the banks of rivers.

For example, Mesopotamian civilization arose next to the Tigris and

Euphrates rivers.

And Egyptian civilization emerged along the Nile.

Next question, what do these rivers do?

Answer, they often flood their banks.

And in doing so, they deposit sediment rich with nutrients for agriculture.

Another question,

how would a flood that destroyed a community be perceived by ancient people?

It would have been seen as the judgment of the god or gods.

For example, how are destructive storms and thunder and

lightning perceived by ancient people?

Many would see these as divine interventions from an upset god or

gods just overhead.

Here are a few more questions.

What would happen if ancient people experienced a flood

that destroyed their community?

Undoubtedly, survivors would tell flood stories and interpret the event.

Take for example the survivor stories of the 2004 tsunami In Southeast Asia.

Many of these had theological interpretations,

claiming that God saved their life.

Another answer to this question is that these flood stories would become

part of the oral tradition of the community.

In other words,

these accounts would be part of the history-of-the-day In these communities.

Let's now get a bit more specific.

How would a worldwide flood be interpreted by the Hebrews?

Answer one, it would be understood to be a releasing of water

from the heavenly sea of the waters above.

Quote 17, sights Genesis 7:11.

On the first day of Noah's flood the flood gates,

literally the windows of the heavens were opened.

In other words, these are the gates or

windows in the firmament through which the flood waters fell to the Earth.

The Hebrews would have also viewed a worldwide flood as a return to the dark,

watery, chaotic pre-creative state in Genesis 1:2.

This is the reversing of the second day of creation

when God separated the waters above from waters below.

During the flood, these heavenly waters are released.

And in this way Noah's flood is a de-creation event.

In conclusion, it's important to underline that flood accounts have

real historical events behind them of an actual destructive flood.

And of actual people who survived and told their story and

interpretation of the event.

Let's now turn our attention to some archeological and historical evidence that

is related to these real historical events behind flood accounts.

We have previously examined this diagram of flood accounts across the world on

page 28 in the handouts.

But, did you notice something about the geography

of where these flood accounts appear?

For example, this region is around the Mississippi River, which is well known for

flooding its banks.

The West Coast often has flash floods off the mountains and

it's also susceptible to Pacific Ocean tsunamis.

The flood accounts in these islands are in undoubtedly due to tsunamis

like the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia.

And particularly important for our purposes

are four flood accounts that have been discovered in ancient Mesopotamia.

There are over 300 flood accounts worldwide.

And they appear in regions that are susceptible to flooding, like rivers,

tsunamis and flash floods near mountains.

Therefore, flood accounts across the world are not

accounts of Noah's flood passed down through Noah's three sons.

But they originate from the common experience of flood events

throughout the world.

For our purposes,

we will focus on the four flood accounts in ancient Mesopotamia.

These include the Sumerian Flood,

the Flood Tablet, the Epic of Atrahasis, and the Epic of Gilgamesh.

You will note that these accounts were composed

roughly between 2000 and 1600 BC/BCE.

It is also worth noting, that in three of these accounts, the flood hero comes

from Shuruppak, a town on the Euphrates River that is susceptible to flooding.

So it is reasonable to suggest that real floods at Shuruppak,

probably lie behind these Mesopotamian flood accounts.

End of episode.

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