Freedom

[Athene]

The story of Noah's Ark is supposed to symbolize baptism. Just figured I'd throw that out there lol.

I always thought the story of Noah's Ark and the Great Flood was about God's wacky attempt to "save" humanity from yucky, half-angel giants....and seriously overdoing it.

I guess baptism sounds better, though.

[Cecelia]

It's supposed to be about rebirth and water washing away the impurities for a fresh start. I don't think every single detail of the story represents something.

Doesn't seem like very good allegory then.  I mean at the very least two of each animal should mean something. Seems much more likely they stole the story from somewhere else.

Also why does Jesus talk about Adam and Eve like they were real people?  Surely if he were god, then he'd know Adam and Eve weren't real.  Seems like he'd know a lot more than he did if he were indeed God.

[Cyberman]

Two of each animal - plus seven of every clean animal. Let's not forget the Mosaic dietary injunctions centuries before "not-at-all-a-plot-hole" Moses.

[Nontheist]

Was it a mass baptism then?

[paulpablo]

A few times I have heard atheists on this site being glad they are "free" from religion or they now have "freedom".  I would like to know in what sense do you feel "free" after leaving religion.  I assume most felt religion was a form of enslavement to a set of rules, guidelines, etc.

And in second part, do you think freedom means you are free to do entirely as you choose?  Is freedom without limits?  If there are limits, then are you really free?

Just interesting thoughts of the day from my brain.  Enjoy.  

Personally I felt pretty distressed as a kid to know someone was judging all my thoughts, and I got a bit ocd about it, I would think bad thoughts about God because of desperately trying not to have bad thoughts about God, I think I was a pretty anxious kid anyway so I don't blame religion for my ocd but I don't think it helped much to tell me an invisible man was reading my mind judging me and deciding wether or not I should burn in hell.

[Iroscato]

Freedom From Bullshit is one of the best freedoms that there is. I highly recommend it to all those afflicted by bullshit in their lives.

[Reforged]

Noone can really have true freedom until the spectre of death is eradicated.
Until that point we're no more free than Wiley Coyote running on thin air before he plummets to the ground.

[Homeless Nutter]

There's a lot to be said for freedom from thought-control, or at least some level of it. The religious idea, that you are guilty of your thoughts is preposterous. Most of the sentiments, ideas and urges that pop into our heads can not be directly controlled, therefore we're always at least a little guilty and ashamed of something. Usually innocuous and trivial things that NEVER HAPPENED anyway, especially when we're children - but that idea of shame and helplessness makes us easier to control and exploit.

Living in a constant state of shame and self-depreciation, making sniveling apologies for things we can not control - especially out of pure self-interest, hoping for a reward - that's no way to live. You keep your sticks and your carrots - I'm not a goddamn donkey anymore...

[dyresand]

It's supposed to be about rebirth and water washing away the impurities for a fresh start. I don't think every single detail of the story represents something.

Doesn't seem like very good allegory then.  I mean at the very least two of each animal should mean something.  Seems much more likely they stole the story from somewhere else.

Also why does Jesus talk about Adam and Eve like they were real people?  Surely if he were god, then he'd know Adam and Eve weren't real.  Seems like he'd know a lot more than he did if he were indeed God.

Most of the bible is plagarized. Noahs flood it was taken from other flood myths I.E. Epic Of Gligamesh and even that flood myth was plagiarized.

[The Grand Nudger]

Wait...Noahs ark was about baptism?  You think that a tale develeped by a different culture, in a different faith tradition, that predates your faith tradition...was somehow -about- some article of your current faith tradition?  You do realize that this position is patently ludicrous....yes?

Perhaps your church chooses to use this story to express their viewpoint on that issue, perhaps you have decided that when you read noahs ark you think of baptism, these are reasonable suggestions. To suggest that an author who lived and died before your own tale was ever spun created a story -about- your story, is not. Whatever you may -use- the story for, it was and is definitely not about baptism. It's about a big fuck-all flood.