Animals into the ark two by two? Not if you believe the BBC

The Sunday Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | 03/07/04 | Chris Hastings

[Pokey78]

The Biblical story of Noah's ark is a "great myth", devoid of any scientific or historical credibility according to a new BBC programme about the great flood.

Noah's Ark, which has been produced by the Corporation's religion and ethics division, argues that there is no evidence to support the idea of an ark, a global flood or even a man called Noah. It claims that the story in the Book of Genesis was a fabrication inspired by the story of King Gilgamesh, who was caught up in a flood while trying to transport his own livestock.

Gilgamesh, who was King of Uruk in Babylonia in around 2,700 BC, had a shaved head and wore make up as well as a kilt. He bore no resemblance to the traditional image of Noah as displayed in countless paintings.

He and his family were stranded at sea when a freak flood swept them from the river they were in. Unable to drink seawater they stayed alive by drinking the beer that they were transporting.

Jeremy Bowen, the programme's presenter, tells viewers: "It is time to forget the original story and start again. The traditional notion of the Noah story does not pass any sort of rational or historical test. Maybe it was not meant to, maybe it was made up."

In the programme, Bowen interviews a number of scientists and historians who dismiss the idea that the world was engulfed by a global flood. They say that there is not enough water in all of the world's oceans to support a torrent of such proportions. Bowen further concludes that even 40 days and nights of continuous rain would not have produced enough water.

Recent claims that the flooding could have been caused by a comet bursting onto the earth's surface are also dismissed.

Bowen and his team also contradict traditional notions about the ark itself, saying that such a huge ship - two thirds the size of the Titanic - would have not been possible with the level of technology available at the time. Loading so many animals onto a single vessel would have taken 35 years, it claims.

They conclude that the Noah story was invented by Jewish scribes who embellished the story of Gilgamesh to evoke an all powerful and vengeful God.

Noah's Ark will be shown on BBC1 on Sunday March 21 at 7.00pm.

[MonroeDNA]

It's a great fantasy.

[mollynme]

there is not enough water in all of the world's oceans to support a torrent of such proportions.

And of course there is no God to make all of this happen.

[Semi Civil Servant]

I think recent events have shown that the Beeb is 'a "great myth", devoid of any scientific or historical credibility'.

[AmishDude]

I love how they say Genesis stuff was a "myth" and go on to say "but here's how it really happened."

[jocon307]

"[T]hey stayed alive by drinking the beer that they were transporting."

My kind of people! And is it true that Gilgamesh is a historical, rather than mythical, person? That I did not know.

[Young Werther]

I read about a "flood story" told and celebrated by the Mandan Indians of North Dakota! The following link takes yoy to a site with a plethora of flood stories.

Floods Around the World!

[aimhigh]

Unable to drink seawater . . .

Liberals are so stupid. It was raining. And rain water is drinkable.

[mhking]

From BBC.co.uk:

Noah's Ark
BBC One
Sunday 21st March, 7.00 - 8.00pm




According to the Bible, Noah was a holy man who saved humankind on a wooden ark two thirds the size of the Titanic.

Throughout the world, children are familiar with this well-loved tale of animals loaded onto an ark, two-by-two, before a giant flood destroys life on earth. But is there any truth to this incredible story?

In Noah's Ark, Jeremy Bowen searches through ancient history for traces of the life and times of the man who inspired the story. Using state-of-the-art computer generated graphics and dramatic reconstructions, the programme re-creates how Noah's ark could have looked, tests if it was possible for the animals to have boarded two by two, explores geological evidence for a worldwide flood and searches for the remains of the ark itself.

Archaeological evidence does suggest that the story could actually be a simpler tale based on real historical figures and events. Clay tablets discovered in Iraq reveal a story that is remarkably similar to that of Noah in the Bible. Several epics tell of a Sumerian King who survived a massive flood in Mesopotamia. The story is supported by geological evidence for flooding in the area around 5,000 years ago.

Could this story have provided the inspiration for the Jewish priests who wrote the Book of Genesis 2,000 years later? Jeremy Bowen says: "When they first heard the story, how could they fail to recognise its moral power? If humankind falls short of God's laws there's a dreadful price to pay. Behind that moral message lies one of the world's greatest stories."

[muawiyah]

The BBC's cadre of professional leftists are getting a 2-fer here, one of which is probably unknown by most Americans.

Remember, virtually every society on Earth has or has had a "great flood" story. The Hindus have the story of Ma-nu, that is, Noah, It has all the same number sets that the Biblical Noah account has, and a large boat,

Without recounting the entire thing, it's worth remembering that British snobbery regarding Hindu India and it's ancient stories is alive and well at the BBC, and those old boys don't count it a good day unless they get to insult Indian culture and history.

Somebody there is going to get a bonus this year for this one.

[SedVictaCatoni]

Liberals are so stupid. It was raining. And rain water is drinkable.

There's nothing in the article to suggest that it was raining during Gilgamesh's putative flood.

[LiteKeeper]

Was the Flood Global?

Problems With A Global Flood?

The (second) greatest catastrophe of all time

How did all the animals fit on Noah's Ark?

The flood of Noah and the flood of Gilgamesh

[IpaqMan]

Apparently, great flood stories exists in many cultures around the world. It would make sense to believe either there were a lot of local large floods or one universal flood.

[Gritty]

I don't know why we should suddenly believe the BBC on this story.

We can't believe them on anything else!

[jimtorr]

And is it true that Gilgamesh is a historical, rather than mythical, person?

I have also heard the Gilgamesh flood story described as the worlds first novel.

[whereasandsoforth]

I love naysayers. They are so "worldly". My God can create anything he wants. I also love how they often speak of God in the past tense. No faith there!

I was caught in a flood in Dallas back in 1988. It rained seven inches in forty-five minutes. I believe in water. I believe in God.

[SedVictaCatoni]

Apparently, great flood stories exists in many cultures around the world. It would make sense to believe either there were a lot of local large floods or one universal flood.

I think it's most likely that there was one very large localized flood a long time ago, and that the story was so impressive (and so easy to visualize, because most cultures have experienced flood) that it propagated worldwide. My money's on the speculated Black Sea flood; it would have been long enough ago that the story could spread through population migrations.

[Teacher317]

They conclude that the Noah story was invented by Jewish scribes who embellished the story of Gilgamesh to evoke an all powerful and vengeful God. Noah's Ark will be shown on BBC1 on Sunday March 21 at 7.00pm.

What? No stories about how showing this film will cause a rash of anti-Semitism? No wailing about how historically inaccurate it is? No calls for the BBC to not show it? Hmm.

[camas]

BS i have a nail from the ark. it is located about 200 feet above the black sea about 10 feet under ground and about 1000 yard?? from the black sea in turkey.

[RightWhale]

Sounds like nothing new here.