Favorite bible story

I discovered an interesting dichotomy today in looking for the best known Bible story. One list I found was hands down the story of Noah and the ark. Another list claimed the birth of Jesus is the best known story. I would say it depends on the sample. If it is only nations with a significant Christian population, I’d agree with the Nativity. But there are other cultures in the world that have their own versions of a great flood and single hero who stands in and saves a few. I do know from personal study of ancient writings and serious research there are a lot more issues with the story of the flood than the story of God being born in the form of a child.

So many serious problems with the ark it makes the story as we have it explained from a King James translated point of view nearly ridiculous. No craft ever made could house all the animals, if even only two of each kind. Never mind the food they would need. Never mind the carnivores would eat most of the herbivores before they needed a second or third meal anyway. Not mention that thousands of animals have never left their isolated environs nor could they. And the absence of that much moisture within the atmosphere of earth and on and on.

The only real serious hurdles in the nativity is the fact of conception by a spirit which led to a human form housing another spirit, both spirits being one spirit. Getting one’s head around that is difficult enough, however. The creator creating part of the creator within the creation. Sort of begins to look like an Escher print if sequenced. And we thought sequencing the human gnome was a big deal. Dr. Collins, think you and your colleagues want to take this one on? You may HAVE to quit your day jobs.

I have on many occasions engaged in conversations with people of the cloth and other devout but enlightened Christians about the feasibility of the story of Noah. And by the way, do you know how many souls were saved in Moses ark? Better think about that one. Nearly all of the people I’ve brought that question up to (not Moses' ark, Noah's ark) I knew were well anchored in their own sense of faith and pretty much all of them indicated they have more issues with the flood account than the nativity account.

I’ve thought about that a lot, and I’ve come to a conclusion as to why. I retain the right to change my conclusion at any time, but this is what I think now.

The account of the flood has built in many truths, lessons and illustrations of biblical principles. But the account of the nativity is inexorably tied to our concept of salvation. Without a birth of God in human form we have no death of God in human form, thus no redemption. The flood is great reading, but the nativity is essential.

I laugh at the ongoing expeditions that surface from time to time to find evidence of the ark. I can’t imagine that real scientists engage in such ridiculous endeavors. Even if the story of the ark was true to the infinite detail, it has been, even by biblical dating, close to 3000 years. That is a long time to hope your wooden boat survives. And like many other ventures to prove old biblical stories, why would one feel they have to? It’s wasted effort. It certainly does not impact my beliefs.

On a lighter note, I stumbled upon a gallery of Youtube videos of trains tonight. Trains in the US, Europe and Asia. Modern, high speed passenger and powerful freight trains. There is a “sport” for lack of better term in some regions of standing as close to the tracks as possible where permitted as high speed passenger trains go zooming past. It is called train surfing. Seems to be a number of such adventurers in California who try to get close but not too close to Amtrak trains. Bet that puckers the body parts that can be puckered.

I bet standing too close only happens once. Being hit by a train at well over 70 MPH would convince you to not do it again. Might even convince your friends who try to find all of you over the next 17 miles of track. “Did anyone see his left pinky fingernail? I just bit mine off.” “Yeah, beHIND the fingernail.”