Alexander Campbell’s commentary on the the Mormon book of Ether:
“Moroni writes the book of Ether, containing an account of the people of Jared, who escaped from the building of the tower of Babel unconfounded in their language. These people of Jared, God instructed to build barges to cross seas; and finally they built eight barges, air tight, and were commanded to make a hole in the top to admit air, and one in the bottom to admit water, and in them were put sixteen windows of molten stone, which when touched by the finger of Jesus, became as transparent as glass, and gave them light under ‘the mountain waves,’ and when above the water.
Two of these stones were sealed up with the plates and became the spectacles of Joseph Smith.
And the 8 barges, air-tight, made like ducks, after swimming and diving 334 days, arrived on the coasts of the land of promise.”
Obviously, the Biblical story of Noah is the basis for this. Now, I’m not a nautical engineer, but I rather doubt these air-tight barges, save for one hole in the ceiling and one in the floor (thats right, in the floor!), would not have made the crossing - crossing the entire ocean from the middle east to central America.
According to engineering studies I have read, Noah’s ark was feasible, this, I rather doubt. It has as much credibility as the later alleged crossing by Israelites to the Americas, with American cities, etc. peopled by their descendants. Totally without archaeological support. This cockamamie Jaredite crossing, same thing.
Better yet, just start with the Book of Ether. Might as well refute Campbell first.
You have seen actual engineering studies that show that Noah's Ark was feasible? Would you care to share your sources with us or is this something that you just made up out of thin air?
I am especially interested in the lists of the animals, food storage and space requirements. I don't believe that it is possible to make a wooden boat large enough to contain two of each of the mammals on the earth much less all the birds and reptiles.
Noah's Ark is a fairy tale. I am amazed that grown adults actually seem to believe in these stories. What is even more peculiar is that they argue over whose interpretation of the fairy tale is true? How insane is that?