Noah and the Ark

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Timmy

For that matter, if it's literal, what are we supposed to learn from it? The story is a bit less nonsensical than the Garden of Eden story, though, have to admit. Everyone's evil, 'cept the Noah family. OK, so destroy everyone 'cept them. With a flood. But don't endanger any species! So, Noah, make a really big boat. The lesson? Ummmmm, God doesn't like evil people? Really, really doesn't like them?

Yeah, that makes sense.

There are many facets to understanding the ancient literature - and even then most scholars admit that they don't really understand it all completely.

One important theme was that life can be brutally complicated and that it will throw you a lot of circumstances that defy understanding. Now, how do you convey that thought in a story?

One way would be to have the characters in your story experience things that are beyond their comprehension. That may not give me a pithy little way to sum things up, but it does give me some confidence and faith that if my forebears went through some pretty weird and incomprehensible stuff and lived to pass along their genetic material, then I'll probably get through the stuff that I'm having to endure right now.

Job never did get an explanation for what he went through. But he went through it. Came out scarred and battered, but he came through it. In the end, the only message that resonates from that is when Job confessed to being speechless.

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by pelathais

There are many facets to understanding the ancient literature - and even then most scholars admit that they don't really understand it all completely.

One important theme was that life can be brutally complicated and that it will throw you a lot of circumstances that defy understanding. Now, how do you convey that thought in a story?

One way would be to have the characters in your story experience things that are beyond their comprehension. . . .

If that's the point, then, well, shoot, I coulda thought up a better parable than that!

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Timmy

If that's the point, then, well, shoot, I coulda thought up a better parable than that!

Go for it... but remember, you have to incorporate the literary genres of the Bronze Age era Eastern Mediterranean and Mesopotamian region. Only by communicating through established literary norms will your story be understood by your intended audience.

Timmy's Tale:

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by pelathais

Go for it... but remember, you have to incorporate the literary genres of the Bronze Age era Eastern Mediterranean and Mesopotamian region. Only by communicating through established literary norms will your story be understood by your intended audience.

Timmy's Tale:

OK.

Once upon a time, . . . .

Nah, too hackneyed. Ahem...

Come listen to my story 'bout a man named Jed.

Hmm. This is harder than I thought!

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by Timmy

OK.

Once upon a time, . . . .

Nah, too hackneyed. Ahem...

Come listen to my story 'bout a man named Jed.

Hmm. This is harder than I thought!

One of the great lessons I get out of the story of Noah and the Ark is actually found in the New Testament. Hebrews 11:7, "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house......."

Noah was incredibly unsuccessful in reaching anyone to join in with him. A complete failure. He spent years trying to convert people to his cause. None joined. But he was successful in the most important thing in his life...his family. His primary purpose in building the ark, was for the saving of his household.

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by notofworks

One of the great lessons I get out of the story of Noah and the Ark is actually found in the New Testament. Hebrews 11:7, "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house......."

Noah was incredibly unsuccessful in reaching anyone to join in with him. A complete failure. He spent years trying to convert people to his cause. None joined. But he was successful in the most important thing in his life...his family. His primary purpose in building the ark, was for the saving of his household.

Yeah, there's that. Still. Was the figurative mass destruction of zillions of people and animals really necessary?

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Yeah, there's that. Still. Was the figurative mass destruction of zillions of people and animals really necessary?

Uhhhhh.....well, those people wouldn't straighten up, so too bad!!! That's the other lesson I get out of this story!

No really, in answer to your question, I'll give a non-answer. I struggle with all the Old Testament killing stories. It's difficult for me.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Yeah, there's that. Still. Was the figurative mass destruction of zillions of people and animals really necessary?

Considering that over time, the "zillions" would all end up dead anyway and we'd be left wondering what purpose they served even under those conditions...

Remember Shakespeare's Henry V? The play starts with the machinations of the clergy about how to weasel Henry's claim to the French throne into a more favorable light. Then there is a look at how war has affected some troops loyal to "Hal" in the past and the awful consequences of the martial life.

Then we have a complex interplay of international relations followed by the basest treason and the attempted murder of the Royal Person Himself! And all of that is just to set up the terrible march in the rain to Le Harve in France ("No king of England, if not king of France!" cries Henry at one point), the brutal siege and horrible loss of life ("Once more into the breech!"). Then another grueling march to Agincourt and the terrible slaughter there.

Next, we find Henry giving his terms to his uncle, the King of France as he woos his cousin the princess. He gets everything he wanted by marriage! There was no need for the war at all (a part of the 100 Years' War)!

Then the chorus updates us on the events following Henry V's career and the birth of his son who was crowned King of England and France!

... France recovers, retakes Paris and the entire country - in a single fell swoop all of the drama, the intrigue and the terrible costs of war are all wiped clean from the slate and the audience is left to ask, "What was the point of all this fighting to begin with?"

"Thus far, with rough and all-unable pen,
Our bending author hath pursued the story,
In little room confining mighty men,
Mangling by starts the full course of their glory.
Small time, but in that small most greatly lived
This star of England: Fortune made his sword;
By which the world's best garden be achieved,
And of it left his son imperial lord.
Henry the Sixth, in infant bands crown'd King
Of France and England, did this king succeed;
Whose state so many had the managing,
That they lost France and made his England bleed:
Which oft our stage hath shown; and, for their sake,
In your fair minds let this acceptance take." ...

A "sound and fury, signifying nothing?" ...

[Sam]

Originally Posted by notofworks

One of the great lessons I get out of the story of Noah and the Ark is actually found in the New Testament. Hebrews 11:7, "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house......."

Noah was incredibly unsuccessful in reaching anyone to join in with him. A complete failure. He spent years trying to convert people to his cause. None joined. But he was successful in the most important thing in his life...his family. His primary purpose in building the ark, was for the saving of his household.

Can you imagine what it was like to grow up in that household. All your friends would see that monstrous box like thing being built in your back yard. I wonder how those guys found girls that would marry them.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Sam

Can you imagine what it was like to grow up in that household. All your friends would see that monstrous box like thing being built in your back yard. I wonder how those guys found girls that would marry them.

"I told my best friend Larry, I said "Larry I've been talking to the Lord....", Larry said 'Oh really....?', "Sure Lord, Larry, Larry, Lord...."