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From: russ@dadla-a.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Ark Confusion
Message-ID: <342@dadla-a.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 21-Jun-83 11:50:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: dadla-a.342
Posted: Tue Jun 21 11:50:23 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 27-Jun-83 12:29:42 EDT
Lines: 50

You point out how you think it would be impossible to feed and
care for so many animals on the Ark. I agree, but some early accounts
mention terrific cold in the ark. I think we should allow the possibilities
of hibernation or other techniques to assist in taking care or so many
animals.

I do not believe that the rainbow existed before the flood. I think that
before the flood the earth was covered by a canopy of clouds.

God does not expect you to ignore your reasoning abilities. He only expects
us to believe that which is true. We just need to be careful that our
prejudices don't limit our understanding of truth. I will admit that
putting all the animals on a single ark may seem fantastic, but why can't
we allow God to use techniques that we are learning about like genetic
engineering. Could a subset of animals be used to create all our present
species?  I know some people may object to this possibility and I am not
saying that God used genetic engineering, but I am saying that we should
allow the possibility that he could have done many things to make it a
realizable task. I also think that parts of the earth may not have been
covered very long.

Relative to your perceived inconsistency with the mercy of God let me
say that from an eternal perspective death is only moving from this sphere
of existence to the next. The purpose of existence is for us to grow
and learn. That purpose would be totally thwarted if God always intervened.

It is important for us to ask questions, but just because we do not get
all the answers now does not mean that there are no answers. There are
many unanswered questions in science also but I have not given up on
science.

About the man paralyzed by the tractor:
1. He was paralyzed because he was where the tractor fell. God does not
   cause you to touch a hot stove but if you do you will be burned.

2. If God answered every prayer and always blessed the righteous then it
   it would not take any faith to be good. We would be good not because
   we wanted to be but because it was advantageous. The purpose of this
   life in learning to choose would be nullified.

   I don't know why some die and others don't but prayers may be answered
   according to what will help us. Death may be good for some.

3. He could stop all bad accidents but it would serve no purpose. Sure
   we would all be healthy, but learning to live with a disability has
   been very good some people.


   	Russell Anderson
  	Tektronix