Name: Episode 119: The Early Church & the Flood. Flood Scholarship
Uploaded: 2017-09-25T18:52:54.910Z
Duration: 4 min 7 s

阿尔伯塔大学

Science & Religion 101

17 ratings

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.

From the lesson

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

Meet the Instructors

Denis Lamoureux
Associate Professor
St. Joseph's College

Episode 119.

Here's some comments regarding the passage by Clement of Alexandria in Quote 3.

First, he sharply rejects Fideism.

We saw this term in the section on religion,

it derives from the Latin 'fides' which means faith.

Therefore, Fideism is the belief that religious truth rests only on faith, not reason.

This is also known as,

the "just believe" argument.

Second, Clement certainly accepts the practice of apologetics.

He contends that using non-biblical information guards the faith against assault.

Another remarkable feature regarding Clement of Alexandria

is that there is no Christian ghettoization of knowledge.

Or stated another way,

there's no preaching to the choir Bible school mentality.

He calls Christians to procure examples from the Greeks and barbarians.

Finally, Clement believes that the critical mindset

is a characteristic of the "truly learned" Christian.

In this way, it fulfills Jesus' first commandment: to love God with our mind.

The rise of apologetics in the early church lead to flood scholarship.

Critical thinking leads to questions regarding: Number one,

the landing site of the ark, number two,

the size of the ark, number three,

the extent of the flood and number four,

the redistribution of animals after the flood.

Let's look, at each of these topics.

There was much disagreement in the early Church

regarding the landing site of the ark but,

no one doubted there was a site because the flood was

viewed as a real historical worldwide event.

Let me offer a couple of examples.

Epiphanius in Quote 4 asks,

"Do you seriously suppose that we are unable to prove our point when even to

this day the remains of Noah's Ark

are shown in the country of the Kurds that is the Guardians?"

Clearly, Epiphanius accepts the historicity of the flood.

As well, notice the word prove in this passage,

it reflects the apologetic spirit that defends the truthfulness of the biblical flood.

Another good example of someone who

believed that there was an actual landing site of the ark was John Chrysostom.

In Quote 5 he writes, "Have you heard of the flood?

Of that universal destruction?

That was not just a threat, was it?

Did it not really come to pass?

Was not this mighty work carried out?

Do not the mountains of Armenia testify to it?

Where the ark rest?

And, are not the remains of the Ark preserved to this very day for our admonition?"

Again, here's an example of a Christian scholar,

in the early church, who accepts the historicity of the flood and,

that it was a universal destruction.

In other words, a worldwide flood.

Flood scholarship also dealt with the size of the Ark.

But, there were some skeptics who doubted the ark was large enough.

For example, Apelles the Marcionite,

as early as the second century claims in Quote 6,

"In no way was it possible to receive, in so brief a space,

so many kinds of animals and their foods which would be sufficient for a whole year.".

The size of the Ark appears in Genesis 6:15,

it's 300 cubits long, 50 wide and 30 high.

A cubit is 18 inches.

To put these figures in yards,

the ark was 150 yards long, 25 wide and 15 high.

In other words, the ark is not that large and it could fit inside a football stadium.

End of episode.