There Is More to the Noah’s Ark Story



Dear Catholic Exchange:

I really enjoy your website, and have made it our homepage. I especially like Mark Shea's articles and those by Steve Kellmeyer. I am writing to tell you, though, that I was disappointed by your response to the reader (Christine) whose daughter was told by her catechist that the Noah story was a myth. You addressed the fact that nothing could be proven scientifically, but there is far more that you could have said that could have turned around this faith-destroying comment by the catechist.

I refer to 1 Peter 3:20 where Peter talks about the Noah story as prefiguring salvation by Baptism; see also CCC 1219 and CCC 1094, as well as CCC 845 which says that the Church Fathers saw the ark as prefiguring the Church.

Another point which could have been made is that people apparently lived a lot longer in those days, and that God was patient while Noah built the ark. Yes it seems incredible that land-locked Noah built such a huge boat, but that's the point; he believed God and put his faith into action.

In addition, the catechist presents as fact a statement that has far less evidence in support of if than the statement he is discounting.

I think it is a big problem when catechists or others present central stories and truths of our faith in a way that leaves children wondering if there is anything that Scripture or the Church teaches that they can believe.

Thanks.

Jenice Greb

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Dear Catholic Exchange:

I just wanted to express my gratitude for the service you provide Jesus and through this service help educate people like me &#0151 a non-Catholic. Your messages are brief, deal with real issues that Christians face in learning to walk more closely with Christ, are not just limited to Catholics but people of all faiths.

You have given me a deep love and admiration for our Catholic Church, its role in guarding the continuity and soundness of Christ's message. I sometimes am so busy I almost push the delete button, but, always say to myself, “Wait, what's a few minutes of always useful information with practical application?”

I just praise Jesus for you and ask our Lord to bless you in all the ways God blesses His children. I'm married with Jesus, but not like a priest or nun. I'm of little worth in the eyes of society, and am not much in my Lord's eyes &#0151 just a simple possession. In Christ I find joy and happiness in the suffering of all my disabilities. In a posture of humble thanks for my mistakes and what seem misfortune, I find a positive attitude. In a heart of praise there is no suffering, only love for Jesus and increasingly the people I give my life to. Again, your ministry brings me great pleasure.

Your friend in Jesus,

Steve Kersker

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Dear Catholic Exchange:

Thanks for the Apocalypse Now column on Catholic Exchange.

It is amazing how many people are caught up in looking for the “mark of the beast” or searching the Bible for passages “predicting” the latest headline stories in the New York Times. There are certainly some disturbing trends within American Christianity with regard to the apocalypse.

While there have been several books of late refuting the “rapture” doctrine, I think there is a great need for apologetics that address the peripheral issues of the current end-times hysteria. The fear of a “one world order” and a global relativist “religion” are major impediments to Catholic evangelization and true Christian unity (especially since most of the conspiracy theorists paint the Catholic Church as one of the main conspirators).

Yours is the first article I've seen to address these issues even though it seems like they provide very fertile ground for many articles and books. I hope to see more writers addressing them in the future.

Thanks

Jim

Dear Jim:

Thanks for your encouraging words! We does our bestest!

Mark Shea

Senior Content Editor

Catholic Exchange



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