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Research Paper - Final Paper
Seth Mcheimer
Mr. Stephen N MacCord
Earth Science
10/20/2023
The Narrative of Noah's Flood: An Exploration of Science and History.
This book explores the origins of the story of Noah's Flood, which has captured human
imagination for centuries. While the Bible describes a world-changing event, modern science
questions its feasibility. Nonetheless, the flood's roots extend beyond the Bible.
The book of Genesis recounts a catastrophic event in chapter 7, verse 11. It mentions that
on the seventeenth day of the second month in the six hundredth year of Noah's life, the
fountains of the great deep burst forth and the windows of the heavens were opened. This event,
which caused a worldwide flood, has been the subject of much discussion and analysis by both
scientists and theologians.
According to David Montgomery, a geomorphology professor, a global flood that
covered the world's highest mountains seems unlikely based on geological evidence.
Montgomery states that there is not enough water on Earth to support such a literal interpretation.
These geological limitations raise doubts about the possibility of such an event, leading to further
investigation into the historical accuracy of the flood.
Scientific investigations suggest that a global deluge is highly unlikely. The Earth's
highest peaks would require an enormous amount of water to be submerged, which exceeds the
planet's available resources. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, if all the water in the
atmosphere were to fall as rain, it would only cover the planet to a depth of approximately 1
inch, which is far from the deluge described in the Bible.
However, in the scientific debate, there is strong evidence indicating that regional floods
influenced the biblical flood story. Some geological events, like the flooding of the Black Sea
suggested by oceanographers William Ryan and Walter Pitman, have been proposed as possible
sources of the flood narrative. They theorized that around 7,500 years ago, the Mediterranean
Sea broke through into the isolated Black Sea, causing extensive flooding in the area.
The theory of regional flooding does not negate the core of the story. It proposes that the
biblical flood account may have been influenced by nearby incidents that were later elaborated
and incorporated into a magnificent, timeless narrative.
In the search for evidence to support the flood narrative, Dr. Robert Ballard, an acclaimed
underwater archaeologist, has provided insights. His exploration of the Black Sea off the coast of
Turkey uncovered traces of an ancient civilization, possibly connected to the time of Noah. The
finding of an ancient shoreline about 400 feet below the sea's surface indicates a major
catastrophic event in the region.
The investigation of Noah's flood from scientific and historical perspectives stresses the
importance of examining the story from various angles. Although scientific evidence challenges
the possibility of a worldwide flood, local events provide reasonable explanations for the flood's
origins. These studies underscore the need to interpret ancient texts within their historical and
geological contexts, leading to a better comprehension of the significance and beginnings of
biblical stories.
The story of Noah's flood remains mysterious and thought-provoking in human history
and cultural heritage due to scientific inquiry and historical analysis.
After the discussion, it is important to consider the biblical verses that describe this significant
event. Genesis 7:17-24 tells the story of the flood and how Noah survived.
"The flood continued forty days on the earth; and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and
it rose high above the earth. The waters swelled and increased greatly on the earth; and the ark
floated on the face of the waters. The waters swelled so mightily on the earth that all the high
mountains under the whole heaven were covered; the waters swelled above the mountains,
covering them fifteen cubits deep. And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, domestic
animals, wild animals, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all human beings;
everything on dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. He blotted out every living
thing that was on the face of the ground, human beings and animals and creeping things and
birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were
with him in the ark."
These verses vividly depict the biblical account of the catastrophe's magnitude, as well as Noah
and the animals' survival in the ark.
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Works Cited
Pester, Patrick. "Did Noah's Flood Really Happen?" Live Science, 14 May 2023,
www.livescience.com/human-behavior/religion/did-noahs-flood-really-happen
.
ABC News. "Evidence Noah's Biblical Flood Happened, Says Robert Ballard." ABC News, 28
Dec. 2012, abcnews.go.com/Technology/evidence-suggests-biblical-great-flood-noahs-time-
happened/story?id=17884533.
Radford, Tim. "Evidence Found of Noah's Ark Flood Victims." The Guardian, 14 Feb. 2018,
www.theguardian.com/science/2000/sep/14/internationalnews.archaeology
.
Trefil, James. "Evidence for a Flood." Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2000,
www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/evidence-for-a-flood-102813115
.
In conclusion after analyzing scientific evidence and biblical narratives, the story of
Noah's flood still sparks interest and reflection. Despite scientific scrutiny, the event remains a
complex and significant part of ancient history.