The cartoonification of Noah’s Ark

Creation Ministries International ^ | Oct. 2016 | Phil Robinson

[fishtank]

The cartoonification of Noah’s Ark

How such ‘delightful depictions’ downplay the Deluge—and Christianity

by Phil Robinson

A cartoon is a drawing in an unrealistic style, usually for satire, caricature or humour, and/or to appeal to children. ‘Cartoonification’ (aka ‘cartoonization’) is a recent colloquialism for the process of making something that’s real look ‘cartoonish’. I.e. drawing it in a (usually ridiculously) oversimplified, child-friendly or ‘delightful’ manner.

Unfortunately, this has happened with Noah’s Ark, marker of one of the key events in biblical history. Most depictions of it have become thoroughly cartoonized!

With the Bible so clear on the size, purpose and shape of Noah’s Ark, its pervasive cartoonification is nothing short of amazing!

Today’s common version of the Ark portrays it as a ridiculously-shaped small houseboat. It is mostly only able to carry a handful of the more well-known animals, with giraffes’ heads poking out of windows, and elephants’ trunks hanging down the side. This rather pathetic-looking, definitely non-ocean-going boat is featured on children’s books, celebration cards, novelty ornaments, and more. It has been made into children’s toys and, most disappointingly, put onto Sunday school walls.

The real Noah’s Ark

The Bible in Genesis Chapter 6 very clearly sets out the dimensions, purpose and shape of Noah’s Ark.

... Even using the smaller common cubit of c. 46 cm (18 in),1 Noah’s Ark would have been a massive vessel: L × W × H 137 × 23 × 13.7 metres (450 × 75 × 45 ft), more than adequate for its task.2

[fishtank]

Lower figure is Matthew Poole’s 1669 drawing of the Ark in water.

Figures and captions from CMI article.

[Fester Chugabrew]

The Ark Encounter has a whole section of museum dedicated to the theme of “cartoonifying” the biblical account.

[soycd]

>Lower figure is Matthew Poole’s 1669 drawing of the Ark in water.

That boat won’t float for long.

[bubbacluck]

I can’t imagine how difficult it would have been to lay the keel on that vessel. No wonder it took a hundred years to build.

[Just mythoughts]

Do you know how many ‘days’ the ‘boat’ floated? 150 days 5 months. A time signature. The number 5 means ‘grace’.

[gdani]

That boat won’t float for long

Especially with all the dinosaurs on board.

[Just mythoughts]

There were NO dinos on earth when Noah built the ark. The dinos were destroyed in the ‘flood’ described Genesis 1:2. Not Noah's flood.

[fwdude]

Well-needed article. Beyond that, we have to learn that much of the things of God have been cartoonified in modern culture, including grace.

The rampant, flippant, sophomoric humor that has found a permanent home behind most pulpits is one example. Seriousness is derided, a constant painted-on smile is the standard (look up Chuck Swindol for an example.)

I somehow think that Jesus seldom smiled, the weight of his mission so pressed upon Him.

[Sans-Culotte]

The dinos were destroyed in the ‘flood’ described Genesis 1:2. Not Noah's flood.

Genesis 1:2 - "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."

How do you get a "flood" out of that? It says the earth was formless and empty.

[Conservet]

So, Jesus was humorless.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I do like this one. Funny.

[fwdude]

So, Jesus was humorless.

I never said such a thing, and you are just being deceitful to suggest I did.

I implied that Jesus didn't project the constant joke-teller persona that most preachers today aspire to.

[VanDeKoik]

Honestly does it really matter what it looks like?

[T-Bone Texan]

What kind of God would leave without the unicorns, but make room for mosquitoes?

I kid, I kid - don’t answer that.

[ctdonath2]

The objective dimensions clearly stated in Scripture do matter: how many animals can realistically fit in that space? with what degree of “life support”? Validity of that passage hinges very much on whether one could actually get enough animals, of enough genetic variety, in there to re-populate the earth as we know it now.

[Shanghai Dan]

Not just dinos, but all the freshwater (or saltwater?) fish on board. One or the other must have been on-board or they would have died (too much salinity/not enough salinity).

Not to mention the food for the elephants alone would have consumed 2% of the entire net volume of the ark. That doesn’t include food for other big animals like rhinos, giraffes, zebras, horses, etc.

And that’s at a 50% food consumption rate (half their normal daily consumption) AND assuming the hay is packed as tight as a wire-bound bale of hay; if it was loose-stack (which it most likely was), you’ve got 5% net volume devoted to just food for only the elephants.

[Conservet]

Oh.

[Smokey Stover]

No mention of any animal life until Genesis 1:20.

[Just mythoughts]

Did you miss the Spirit of God was hovering over the ‘waters’?

[gdani]

Not to mention the food for the elephants alone would have consumed 2% of the entire net volume of the ark. That doesn’t include food for other big animals like rhinos, giraffes, zebras, horses, etc.

Don't forget the waste generated by all these animals.

And how would it have been possible to keep the predators from attacking their fellow travelers?