The flood narrative in Genesis and science
possibilities for understanding the description of the catastrophe
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23925/ua.v26i42.e62589Keywords:
Flood, grace, myth, revelationAbstract
This paper deals with the possibilities regarding the interpretation of the biblical narrative concerning the flood in the face of knowledge concerning the Earth sciences. It seeks to show that the description of the cataclysm in Genesis is conditioned to the cosmology of the ancient Hebrews, and that insisting on the accuracy of what is said there only makes sense with the commitment to such cosmology. It briefly deals with the mishaps of the “quest for the historical flood”, as well as the thesis of the Black Sea flood, which may be at the origin of the biblical narrative and of the various other descriptions of a flood in the ancient world. It also discusses how understanding the nature of myth and revelation can offer interesting perspectives for reading and interpreting the biblical account. This, possibly being a reference to a great catastrophe in the midst of which many may have seen manifest divine judgment and salvation, bears an analogy with events such as the fall of Jerusalem, when God's judgment falls on the impenitent nation, at the same time that there is the expectation of the revelation of grace in favor of a remnant, with the restoration of their homeland and cult. It is also a paradigm for any situation where judgment and grace are experienced.
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