As a former Christian, I've seen three theories:
1) The story is allegorical.
2) Global Flood View: "A straightforward reading of our English text gives the impression that the flood covered the entire planet. At its peak the floodwater are said to have covered the highest mountains to a depth of 15 cubits (22.5 feet). After 150 days the waters began to subside. Shortly thereafter the ark came to rest in the mountains of Aratat; and eventually, a year after the flood began, the earth was dry, and the occupants left the ark." (Understanding Creation: A Biblical and Scientific Overview, pg 156)
3) Local Flood View: "Advocates for local flood cautiously point out that the Hebrew text is not as unequivocal as our English Bible. Because the Hebrew language has relatively few words, words commonly have multiple meanings. The Hebrew phrase used for 'entire earth' is kol erets, which is used 205 times in the Old Testament. At least 80% of the time, kol erets refers to merely a local region, not the whole earth." (Understanding Creation, pg 156-157) It continues to say that only Mesopatamia flooded, since Moses' view of the earth was limited to the Middle East, not including America, etc. So, the "entire earth" was the earth they knew at the time.
The age of OT people was explained as that after being expelled from the Garden of Eden, mankind years slowly dwindled over time from being immortal beings due to the effects of sin. Eventually, God put a limit of 130 years on mans life.
When things are tough to prove or believe, faith is normally invoked. I was always irked by how much of the texts had to be so drastically stretched and explained to justify the faith.
As to the "voice of God", they trust that God spoke to men in the past, and that those words are recorded in the Bible as revelation to mankind. Most people who claim voices of God, visions, and prophecies are typically exclaimed to be loony.
1) The story is allegorical.
2) Global Flood View: "A straightforward reading of our English text gives the impression that the flood covered the entire planet. At its peak the floodwater are said to have covered the highest mountains to a depth of 15 cubits (22.5 feet). After 150 days the waters began to subside. Shortly thereafter the ark came to rest in the mountains of Aratat; and eventually, a year after the flood began, the earth was dry, and the occupants left the ark." (Understanding Creation: A Biblical and Scientific Overview, pg 156)
3) Local Flood View: "Advocates for local flood cautiously point out that the Hebrew text is not as unequivocal as our English Bible. Because the Hebrew language has relatively few words, words commonly have multiple meanings. The Hebrew phrase used for 'entire earth' is kol erets, which is used 205 times in the Old Testament. At least 80% of the time, kol erets refers to merely a local region, not the whole earth." (Understanding Creation, pg 156-157) It continues to say that only Mesopatamia flooded, since Moses' view of the earth was limited to the Middle East, not including America, etc. So, the "entire earth" was the earth they knew at the time.
The age of OT people was explained as that after being expelled from the Garden of Eden, mankind years slowly dwindled over time from being immortal beings due to the effects of sin. Eventually, God put a limit of 130 years on mans life.
When things are tough to prove or believe, faith is normally invoked. I was always irked by how much of the texts had to be so drastically stretched and explained to justify the faith.
As to the "voice of God", they trust that God spoke to men in the past, and that those words are recorded in the Bible as revelation to mankind. Most people who claim voices of God, visions, and prophecies are typically exclaimed to be loony.
"The consolations of philosophy and the beauties of science; these things are infinitely more awe-inspiring and regenerating and majestic than any invocation of the burning bush or doctrine." - Christopher Hitchens
