Expert: Sal - 11/15/2009

Question
Hi Sal,

Atheists often claim that the Bible is false because the story of Noah's Ark can't possibly be true.  I know that the flood prefigures our salvation through baptism.  However, I'm not sure how to interpret the story of Noah's Ark.  Do we believe it is merely a story or actually true?  It seems difficult to believe it could be literally true.

Do you think most atheists completely reject God or are they filled with doubts?  Do they merely go to a hell where God is absent or is it a punishment as great as that reserved for the worst sinners?

Thanks.

Answer
Hello Les:

It's nice to hear from you. I hope that all is well. You are free to doubt that the story is actual history. Some Catholics don't believe that it is literal and some do. This goes for Catholic Bible scholars as well. The important point of the story for us Catholics is that just as Noah and his family were saved in the ark so we are saved by the waters of Baptism and the ark of salvation which is the Catholic Church. The ark navigated through the chaos as the ark of salvation navigates us through sin which is all around us. We, like Noah and his family, are protected from the evil around us only if we remain in this ark.

I think that atheists completely reject the idea of a God. My understanding is that there is only one hell for all those who reject God's love. I don't know if there are different punishments in hell.

Have a great day my friend,
Sal