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GuanYuWarGod
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What does the Catholic Church say with regards to the Genesis story on Noah’s Ark? Is it a REQUIRED, LITERAL belief in an ACTUAL flood or does it allow for non - literal interpretations or other views?
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A
awalt
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As is often the case the answer lies in the Catechism, there are actually quite a few passages related to Noah. There is more, if you search on Noah in the CCC:
56 After the unity of the human race was shattered by sin God at once sought to save humanity part by part. The covenant with Noah after the flood gives expression to the principle of the divine economy toward the “nations”, in other words, towards men grouped “in their lands, each with [its] own language, by their families, in their nations”. 9 57 This state of division into many nations is at once cosmic, social and religious. It is intended to limit the pride of fallen humanity 10 united only in its perverse ambition to forge its own unity as at Babel. 11 But, because of sin, both polytheism and the idolatry of the nation and of its rulers constantly threaten this provisional economy with the perversion of paganism. 12
58 The covenant with Noah remains in force during the times of the Gentiles, until the universal proclamation of the Gospel. 13 The Bible venerates several great figures among the Gentiles: Abel the just, the king-priest Melchisedek - a figure of Christ - and the upright “Noah, Daniel, and Job”. 14 Scripture thus expresses the heights of sanctity that can be reached by those who live according to the covenant of Noah, waiting for Christ to “gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad”. 15
845 To reunite all his children, scattered and led astray by sin, the Father willed to call the whole of humanity together into his Son’s Church. The Church is the place where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation. The Church is “the world reconciled.” She is that bark which “in the full sail of the Lord’s cross, by the breath of the Holy Spirit, navigates safely in this world.” According to another image dear to the Church Fathers, she is prefigured by Noah’s ark, which alone saves from the flood. 334
1080 From the very beginning God blessed all living beings, especially man and woman. The covenant with Noah and with all living things renewed this blessing of fruitfulness despite man’s sin which had brought a curse on the ground. But with Abraham, the divine blessing entered into human history which was moving toward death, to redirect it toward life, toward its source. By the faith of “the father of all believers,” who embraced the blessing, the history of salvation is inaugurated.
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56 After the unity of the human race was shattered by sin God at once sought to save humanity part by part. The covenant with Noah after the flood gives expression to the principle of the divine economy toward the “nations”, in other words, towards men grouped “in their lands, each with [its] own language, by their families, in their nations”. 9 57 This state of division into many nations is at once cosmic, social and religious. It is intended to limit the pride of fallen humanity 10 united only in its perverse ambition to forge its own unity as at Babel. 11 But, because of sin, both polytheism and the idolatry of the nation and of its rulers constantly threaten this provisional economy with the perversion of paganism. 12
58 The covenant with Noah remains in force during the times of the Gentiles, until the universal proclamation of the Gospel. 13 The Bible venerates several great figures among the Gentiles: Abel the just, the king-priest Melchisedek - a figure of Christ - and the upright “Noah, Daniel, and Job”. 14 Scripture thus expresses the heights of sanctity that can be reached by those who live according to the covenant of Noah, waiting for Christ to “gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad”. 15
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71 God made an everlasting covenant with Noah and with all living beings (cf. *Gen* 9:16). It will remain in force as long as the world lasts.
701 *The dove.* At the end of the flood, whose symbolism refers to Baptism, a dove released by Noah returns with a fresh olive-tree branch in its beak as a sign that the earth was again habitable.[ 58](http://www.kofc.org/publications/cis/catechism/getnote.cfm?ParNum=701&FNoteNum=58) When Christ comes up from the water of his baptism, the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes down upon him and remains with him.[ 59](http://www.kofc.org/publications/cis/catechism/getnote.cfm?ParNum=701&FNoteNum=59) The Spirit comes down and remains in the purified hearts of the baptized. In certain churches, the Eucharist is reserved in a metal receptacle in the form of a dove (*columbarium*) suspended above the altar. Christian iconography traditionally uses a dove to suggest the Spirit.1080 From the very beginning God blessed all living beings, especially man and woman. The covenant with Noah and with all living things renewed this blessing of fruitfulness despite man’s sin which had brought a curse on the ground. But with Abraham, the divine blessing entered into human history which was moving toward death, to redirect it toward life, toward its source. By the faith of “the father of all believers,” who embraced the blessing, the history of salvation is inaugurated.
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GuanYuWarGod
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I have seen some of these passages in the Catechism but what these do is explain and clarify the imagery present. What I need to know is if the Church’s stance on “Noah’s Ark” allows the possibility of a literal or non literal viewpoint. “The Tower of Babel” for example
is not required to be taken literally.united only in its perverse ambition to forge its own unity as at Babel.
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Seamus_Sully
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What are we required to believe concerning the physical ark and physical flood?
With these two, does literal mean physical?
Thanks!
With these two, does literal mean physical?
Thanks!
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GuanYuWarGod
Guest
For now, I assume that when I say literal, I refer to its physical existence.What are we required to believe concerning the physical ark and physical flood?
With these two, does literal mean physical?
Thanks!
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inthecloud
Guest
I remember my Jesuit high school religion teacher telling me that that literal or figurative meaning is open as long as we remember that the flood was a regional one, a flood in Mesopotamia, and there are several tales from the region that mencion a regional flood. Like the Gilgamesh.
Remember. It was physically imposible for Noah to put every known species into a Ark. Is even impossible now. Many other people would have built boats and survive the flood. The dove came with an olive branch so it was clear that there were parts of the earth above water.
The Noah tale is probably based in a embelished real history.
Remember. It was physically imposible for Noah to put every known species into a Ark. Is even impossible now. Many other people would have built boats and survive the flood. The dove came with an olive branch so it was clear that there were parts of the earth above water.
The Noah tale is probably based in a embelished real history.
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