Posted on 08/12/2015 7:23:42 AM PDT by Salvation
Monsignor Pope Ping!
I wouldn’t call it a mystery, especially considering they most likely had superior genes. And that of course undermines the notion of any “master race” based on genetics.
One of God’s fun mysteries.
I picked up a book called “The Biblical Flood and the Ice Epoch” back in the early 80’s that exposed me to some interesting parts of genesis.
It strongly suggests that before the great flood there was no such thing as direct sunlight, rain, starry nights, etc. and there was almost certainly a MUCH thicker ozone layer. But we came into close proximity to another planet for a while and, well, the great flood, mountain ranges created (thanks to magma tides), ice dumped on our poles, etc. The continental shelves used to be dry land. There were no mountain ranges, etc.
What about the “sin” part of his article?
Perfect genetics, and I mean absolutely PERFECT genetics, were present in Adam and Eve, who were essentially male and female “clones”.
As the generations went by within the framework of a cursed/fallen world, our genes began to “drift” and the only reason we maintain even a semblance of 3 score and 10 or 4 score is our modern medicines.
That sounds like an extremely interesting book.
Interesting. I never gave it much thought. I just took it at face value. I can see the argument that they would not have had the concept of time like we do. They would know days and months and seasons and a yearly cycle, but did they write down how many calendar years and say “happy ### birthday”? Anyway, I just consider the bible to be the word of God and NOTHING in it is an error.
“Prior to the flood, lifespans remained in the vicinity of 900 years, but right afterward they dropped ...”
That there’s your answer. The water canopy collapsed (and the waters from the deep erupted), which radically changed the environment, and also left humans more exposed to solar stuff ...
Earth was spinning a lot faster.
We also know that aging is biological helped by environmental toxins, Solar radiation and Cosmic Radiation. In short, we know of a supernova that occurred around the time of Noah that increased the amount of cosmic radiation in our solar system. This continues today.
“So how or even whether the patriarchs lived past 900 is not clear.”
Though he personally seems to believe they lived really long lives, he allows for doubt. And what he doubts is the veracity of the Bible itself.
Doubt as to the literal truth of Genesis is one of the main drivers of apostasy in our day.
Never thought of it this way.
But it makes sense....the extremes of temperature in the summer and the low temps of winter do take a toll on some people.
I am one who does not like it to go above 80 degrees in the summer. Sadly that hasn’t been the case in Oregon this year. (89 or 90 today)
They probably lived to be 80. Don’t take the Bible literally.
Logically in a different world before the flood it could be true.
Maybe the sun is what limits our lifespan and maybe before the great flood the sky was more covered in vapor and the whole thing made lifespans longer.
Could have been, I wasn’t there.
I have been saying this for years when asked to explain lifespans pre-flood and post-flood.
It may also have helped to screw up the gene pool and made begatting amongst close family members verboten.
Because as we all "know," the testimony of G-d Himself isn't good enough for Catholics (or Orthodox).
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