Local flood theory
The local flood theory (also known as the limited flood theory) is an interpretation of the Genesis flood narrative where the flood of Noah is interpreted as a local event, generally located in Mesopotamia, instead of a global event.[1][2][3][4][5]
Background and history
[edit | edit source]19th century
[edit | edit source]The local flood interpretation of Noah's flood became accepted by many Christians after 19th century scientific findings.[citation needed] The view was defended by 19th century Scottish geologist Charles Lyell, in his book Principles of Geology (1833), where he concluded that the Genesis flood must have been a regional affair and not a global deluge.[2]
Creationist views
[edit | edit source]Young Earth Creationist organizations such as Answers in Genesis and the Institute for Creation Research have criticized a local flood theory as faulty exegesis; they state that the Genesis flood covered the whole of the earth.[4][6]
Some Old Earth creationists reject flood geology,[7][8] a position which leaves them open to accusations that they thereby reject the inerrancy of Scripture.[9] In response, Old Earth creationists cite verses in the Bible where the words "whole" and "all" clearly require a contextual interpretation.[10] For example, Old Earth creationist Hugh Ross has defended the local flood theory; he promotes the view in his book, Navigating Genesis.[3][11]
Academic views
[edit | edit source]There exists geological evidence that a large local flood happened in ancient Mesopotamia; additionally, extra-biblical writings from ancient Mesopotamia like Atra-Hasis and the Epic of Gilgamesh also feature catastrophic flooding, substantiating the claim that such a flood could have been the event that inspired these narratives.[12][13]
References
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- ^ Deluge Geology Archived 2011-06-07 at the Wayback Machine, J. Laurence Kulp, Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation, 2, 1(1950): 1-15.
- ^ The Geologic Column and its Implications for the Flood, Copyright © 2001 by Glenn Morton, TalkOrigins website, Last Update: February 17, 2001
- ^ Did Noah’s Flood cover the whole earth?, John D. Morris, Creation 12(2):48–50, March 1990
- ^ The Noachian Flood: Universal or Local? Archived 2019-10-15 at the Wayback Machine, Carol A. Hill, Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, p. 170-183, Volume 54, Number 3, September 2002
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