[Asfarastheeastisfromthewest...]

There never was a global flood. The Noah story interpreted that way is just not true.

And what would your interpretation be?

[shubi]

I have been studying Genesis (especially Gen 1) in the Hebrew for many years. I see no reason to include the Noah epic in the Bible. It may have some spiritual teaching, but I am not sure what it is.

The story is certainly not literally true. Go to Problems with a Global Flood at

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-noahs-ark.html

for a good discussion of the multiple problems with taking Noah literally. (If the flood is only regional, there is no reason for an Ark.)

My take on Genesis 1 is it can be quite close to modern science if you take "Let there be light" as the Creation Event and translate "YOM" (day) as indefinite period of time (Gen 2:4 supports this translation) .

Then the progression of creation sounds very much like evolution, as far as a non-technical language communicated to unscientific people might be.