ARK UNCOVERED?

Published on June 30, 2006 By KFC Kickin For Christ In Current Events

I'm kind of surprised the writers here at JU haven't mentioned what's going on in Iran with the finding of the Ark. It's all over the "Other" blog sites almost an hourly account from what I saw. One account read "Texas Finds the Ark." Good Morning America had a piece on this yesterday and they seemed very excited about this news.

I'm not surprised and always felt that they would find this ark eventually. I always put the finding of it with "last days" timing because it's just like God to give yet another chance for belief in Him. So none can say....."I didn't know." He's long suffering and does not want any to perish and is always lovingly waiting for those who don't believe in Him to come. Of course I know that even if they found this Ark many will be so busy with their lives they will hardly notice.

June 29, 2006 — A team of Texas archaeologists believe they may have located the remains of Noah's Ark in Iran's Elburz mountain range.

"I can't imagine what it could be if it is not the Ark," said Arch Bonnema of the Bible Archaeology Search and Exploration (B.A.S.E) Institute, a Christian archeology organization dedicated to looking for biblical artifacts.

Bonnema and the other B.A.S.E. Institute members hiked for seven hours in the mountains northwest of Tehran, climbing 13,000 feet before making the apparent discovery.

"We got up to this object, nestled in the side of a hill," said Robert Cornuke, a member of the B.A.S.E. Institute. "We found something that has my heart skipping a beat."

At first, they didn't dare to hope it was the biblical boat.

"It wasn't impressive at first," Cornuke said. "Certainly didn't think it to be Noah's Ark. But when we got close, we were amazed. It looked similar to wood."

In addition, some B.A.SE. members say, their discovery didn't look very distinctive.

"It looked like the deck of any boat today," Bonnema said.

Long Search for the Ark

The Bible places the Ark in the mountains of Ararat, a mountain range theologians believe spans hundreds of miles, which the team says is consistent with their find in Iran.

The Bible also describes the Ark's dimensions as being 300 cubits by 50 cubits — about the size of a small aircraft carrier. The B.A.S.E. Institute's discovery is similar in size and scale.

"It is provocative to think that this could be the lost ark of Noah," Cornuke said

Throughout history, people have been searching for the Ark to help prove God's existence.

"There's this idea, if we can prove that the ark existed then we can prove that the story existed, and more importantly, we can prove that God existed," said Bruce Feiler, author of "Where God Was Born."

There's more on this... Link

Comments (Page 1)

bakerstreet

on Jun 30, 2006

""There's this idea, if we can prove that the ark existed then we can prove that the story existed, and more importantly, we can prove that God existed," said Bruce Feiler, author of "Where God Was Born."

Proving that this is the ark is more than just proving it is a boat, wouldn't you say? Surely they won't fall back on the much-reviled carbon dating that creationists claim is too flawed to trust. How exactly could they prove this is THE ark?

Scientists are disqualified from even the most logical assumptions by creationists, but when creationists find something made of wood on top of a mountain... BAM! they've found Noah's Ark...

Gideon MacLeish

on Jun 30, 2006

Easy. Cecille B. DeMille movies are very reliable, so if it looks like something out of his movie, it must be the ark. It's what we know as the Da Vinci Code phenomena, the belief that representations centuries (or in this case, millenia) after the fact, MUST be reliable.

On a more serious note, you're right. They can't prove conclusively it is the ark, but there do seem to be rather limited sources of tales about boats in the mountaintops, so I'd say the probability would be reasonably high. It's interesting fodder for discussion, really. but that's about where it ends, in my opinion.

bakerstreet

on Jun 30, 2006

I mean even the 'boat on a mountain' is an assumption. Right now they are just saying it is 'similar to wood'. First you'd have to prove that it is wood, then you'd have to prove it is a boat, and then you'd have to date it to that era, and then you'd have to prove it was that particular boat.

Anyway, listen to what the guy says:

I mean, even if we prove this was Noah's Ark, and that Noah existed, does that prove God exists? Like I said elsewhere, they proved Troy exists from the Iliad, but it didn't prove the divinity of Athena.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jun 30, 2006

Oh, I agree, baker. Frankly, it would take a lot to convince me. Not just proof it was a boat, but animal DNA from animals that couldn't have possibly been found in that region, before I would begin to believe it's the ark. I have several thoughts on the issue, but it's KFC's thread, so we'll leve them as they are for now. I might hit on the subject later on, though.

rabidrobot

on Jun 30, 2006

"I can't imagine what it could be if it is not the Ark," said Arch Bonnema of the Bible Archaeology Search and Exploration (B.A.S.E) Institute, a Christian archeology organization dedicated to looking for biblical artifacts.

Sounds like these folks need to make up their mind.
If they want to be archaeologists doing rigorous scientific field work...

...or if they want to be theologians so doubtful of their own faith that they must presume conclusions without evidence.

They employ bastardizations of rational thought (If we find a boat on a mountaintop, then obviously God exists!) and the scientific method (how about instead of imagining what it is, you actually take a look at it and find out), and sometimes patent pure patent absurdity.

The biggest hurdle in identifying Noah's Ark comes down to "gopher wood." The Bible says the Ark was made of gopher wood but no one knows what it is.

What gets me is the fence sitters, though. "Well, we don't know if ,this is THE Ark..." Trying to prove scientifically that over two thousand years ago a man was able to build a boat and put two (or more) of every species on the face (and elsewhere) of the earth in order to survive a 40 day flood that covered the globe, ending only when God allows the rain to stop, the waters to ebb and the boat to alight on the highest peak in the world (although these "archaeologists" weren't in the Himalayas, were they?) and every animal, and presumably human is a descendant of these flood survivors...well.

Do I really have to tell you that never happened? That you will never, ever find proof, because it didn't happen, and if it were to have happened it would involve so many contradictions (miracles) with the way science believes the universe works that science couldn't even be used to explore it?

Dr Guy

on Jun 30, 2006

I was thinking more of Irwin Allen - as it would represent the Flood after all.

But seriously, this is the first I have read of this. Guess I have been sheltered today.

bakerstreet

on Jun 30, 2006

"...and if it were to have happened it would involve so many contradictions (miracles) with the way science believes the universe works that science couldn't even be used to explore it?"

That's they key to this, creationism, biblical inerrancy, and many other religious beliefs. Sure, it could have happened because God made it happen, but miracles and science should have nothing to do with one another. That's why this stuff doesn't belong in science class, because it defies science.

JillUser

on Jun 30, 2006

"It's all over the "Other" blog sites almost an hourly account from what I saw. One account read "Texas Finds the Ark." Good Morning America had a piece on this yesterday and they seemed very excited about this news."

I don't go on any other blog sites and don't watch morning shows so I hadn't heard any of this. Sounds awfully familiar though. They have "exciting discoveries" like this before.

Like others have said very aptly, even if it is proven that an ark existed, it doesn't prove anything about God. At most it could prove that the biblical story was based on something in reality. Most stories are though.

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Jun 30, 2006

On a more serious note, you're right. They can't prove conclusively it is the ark, but there do seem to be rather limited sources of tales about boats in the mountaintops, so I'd say the probability would be reasonably high. It's interesting fodder for discussion

exactly. How about we give them a chance without jumping to conclusions? I personally have always believed this ark would be found. But I'm not so sure it would still be wood at this point. I was thinking maybe by now it would be a great big giant fossil and be made up more of stone than wood after all this time.

And I agree that even if it's the Ark beyond a shadow of a doubt, it still would't prove God. But I do think many would come to a belief in Him as a result.

have several thoughts on the issue, but it's KFC's thread, so we'll leve them as they are for now. I might hit on the subject later on, though.

Awwwwwh Gid, are you wussing out on me? I don't mind. I'm a big girl. Speak your mind.

Dr Guy

on Jun 30, 2006

To transfer the discussion from the other thread.

The proof of the historical accuracy of the Bible is not proof of its divinity or innerrancy. But it is further proof that the stories are not myths, but more closely resemble Homer's narratives (the facts, not the subjective).

Did God cause a flood in Asia Minor? Did he cause 7 plagues in Egypt? Did he part the Reed (not red) sea? That will never and can never be proven.

But the historical facts of the bible can. And for those that dismiss it as a fairy tale, they do have to eat crow. They do not have to accept God, Jesus, or the 7 dwarves (sorry - got carried away there). But then it does call into question their jihad on all things religious. And in that we can sit back and watch them squirm.

JillUser

on Jun 30, 2006

But the historical facts of the bible can. And for those that dismiss it as a fairy tale, they do have to eat crow.

If they prove that it is the ark and that it housed two of every animal, then I might agree with you. Until then, it isn't historical fact, it is a bunch of stories that may have been based on fact (i.e. Someone named Noah having built a boat). Finding "the ark" doesn't make the bible fact. That is what faith needs to fill in for.

Bahu Virupaksha

on Jul 01, 2006

The reports of the ARK to qoute the words of Mark Twain in another context are "greatly exaggerated". There is no reason to take the Old Testament in a literal manner. Afterall it contains oral traditions and myths that came to be written down probably in the turn of the 2 millenium BC. So stop being Indianna Jones.

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Jul 01, 2006

The 'true cross' has been found as well, and slivers of it are cherished as relics throughout the world.

I've never heard this.

Lots of people still don't believe Jesus was the son of God.

That's true, or that Jesus is God...for that matter.

The reports of the ARK to qoute the words of Mark Twain in another context are "greatly exaggerated".

how do you know? Are you hoping so? Like I said, we should not jump to conclusions. I've heard that the leader of this expedition is secular, not religious.

Did God cause a flood in Asia Minor? Did he cause 7 plagues in Egypt? Did he part the Reed (not red) sea? That will never and can never be proven.

Yes, we can find out these things did in fact happen. We've got much evidence to show that the things in the scriptures are true. But can we prove they are from God? No. I wouldn't say never be proven tho. Because I believe someday we can know......maybe not on this side of heaven unless he comes back soon but we will know.

Dr Guy

on Jul 01, 2006

Because I believe someday we can know......maybe not on this side of heaven unless he comes back soon but we will know.

I should have qualified it as this side of heaven. Yes, upon death, we will know.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jul 01, 2006

Awwwwwh Gid, are you wussing out on me? I don't mind. I'm a big girl. Speak your mind.

I never wuss out, KFC. I am more than capable of holding my own in a debate on biblical topics; my Bible College profs made sure of that. But as I grow older (and hopefully wiser), I am beginning to question the wisdom of such endeavours; in reaching lost souls for Christ, does it help or harm our witness to engage too heavily in old earth vs. young earth debates, or in the existence of Noah's Ark? More importantly, does my faith, and further, my salvation hinge on those things?

You have your ministry as a Christian, KFC, and I have mine. I know very well in whom I place my trust, and I endeavour to follow Him with the utmost confidence. But I don't feel that a lot of these exercises are very helpful in reaching lost souls for Christ.

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