Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
world. Do you have faith in what you already think you know, or do you adapt your think-
ing to new information? Ever since, this question has been at the heart of an ongoing con-
versation between faith and reason. And the story of Noah's Flood has put these different
styles of belief into direct conflict perhaps more than any scientific issue other than evolu-
tion.
Among those arguing about how to read Noah's story was Celsus, a second-century
Greek philosopher. An opponent of Christianity, he charged the Jews with borrowing
Noah's story from pagan sources. Biblical critics like Celsus questioned the ability of the
ark to hold pairs of all the world's animals. How could one build such a boat? The prepos-
terous story of a farmer building a lifeboat for all of creation seemed like a Jewish fairy
tale.
In response, the second-century church father Origen countered that Genesis should be
understood figuratively.
Now what man of intelligence will believe that the first and second and the third day, and the evening and the morn-
ing existed without sun and moon and stars… . I do not think anyone will doubt that these are figurative expressions
which indicate certain mysteries through a semblance of history and not through actual events.
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Origen invoked Greek culture in promoting a figurative reading of the story of Noah. Why
did his contemporaries allow Greek myths allegorical meanings but insist on literal mean-
ings for the biblical story? To him, the symbolic meaning of Noah's Flood was as important
as its historicity. Noah foreshadowed Christ, the animals stood for the kingdom of Christ,
and the ark represented the church—the ark's three decks symbolized heaven, Earth, and
the underworld. In his mind, a literal reading did not do Noah's story justice.
Origen's insistence on allegorical readings was not unique. Christians in his era tended
to interpret biblical stories allegorically to encourage moral behavior. Sensitive to pagan
critiques like those of Celsus, Christian philosophers advocated using knowledge of the
natural world to better understand the Bible. Clement, Origen's teacher and head of the
Catechetical School in Alexandria, chided those who did not wish to use logic and reason
in interpreting the holy topic. He embraced both faith and reason. Understanding the truth
expressed in God's creation could only lead to a better understanding of God. Clement held
that Christians should bring all knowledge to bear on the truth because the world could
