The Flood & Worldwide Festivals of the Dead — the connection.

[Rival]

Do you have any information about the time these writings were written, and what any of them covered in reference to names, dates, places, events, etc.

This literature covers 3,000+ years of history. You'd have to be way more specific.

Let's say it is, I'll go along with your reasoning there for the sake of conversation, although of course, leaves change at different seasons maybe (?) in different parts of the world...so ... anyway ...why are there so many ghouls, goblins, witches, scary things, skulls, graves, and the like. Do you think it's because people like the idea of death so covering it with lots of love and beautiful things? If we believe the account, not too many survived, but Noah and his immediate family in the ark surely must have related what happened. So you think maybe it reflects a real pretty event and they're happy about it? Or -- why celebrate it?

Because these things have obvious associations with death and spirits. It's because they want to honour their dead and spirits associated with death. This is common cross culturally. It needn't go back to any actual event. That's not the purpose.

Are you (were you?) Jewish? What's heka?

You can't just be ex-Jewish, as one stays a Jew for life if one is born so or converts. I was a Noachide. A Noachide is a non-Jew who worships the God of Israel, accepts that Judaism is true, but isn't oneself a Jew. Such a person is only obliged to follow the Noachide Laws. According to Jewish belief you are a Noachide if you are not born a Jew.

Heka is the closest term the Ancient Egyptians had for their religious practices.

The thing is, one of the Articles of Faith a Jewish man is supposed to recite every day has in it the definite hope of a resurrection. You probably know that, right?

Yes, but not sure what this has to do with prayer for the souls of the dead.

I'm sure people have their reasons for accepting one hypothesis over another, but the reason "this is such a big deal" is that those who are discussing it are interested in the topic, and hence, all the available data should be looked at. Isn't that true?
The data @Hockeycowboy and @Eyes to See presented is strong evidence. So it ought to be considered, and determine if the alternatives in any way weakens it.
I don't see how it could, based on the fact that 1) the date is significant. It not random. Fall isn't just a short duration of a month, or two, and 2) Fall does not affect lands in the same way, depending on where one is located. In fact Fall does not occur around the same time worldwide.

South Africa Weather - South Africa, Africa Forecast - Tripadvisor
Autumn or fall in South Africa is April to May. It is generally warm and dry with days getting shorter and the temperature cooling as it gets closer to winter.

Winter in South Africa is June to August. It is generally dry and cool, with snow falling in the mountainous regions. The Cape is however wet as it gets most of its rain in winter being a Mediterranean climate.

September to October is springtime and the weather can be good, although rain is common.

You were the one who mentioned death during Fall, shorter days, hibernation... Remember? Why did you mention those, if it's not "such a big deal"?

So? South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere. I would expect their traditions to be at another date. They may, however, be borrowed from Northern cultures.

 

[nPeace]

Here's something again --
Scientific Proof Is A Myth (forbes.com)
You might actually want to read it.
In part, "But as validating as that is — and as powerful as it is to falsify alternatives — it's completely impossible to prove anything in science." Completely impossible. Com-plete-ly impossible. Completely. I am so glad I followed these discussions on RF -- as I have often said, when I was in school, college biology classes, I thought everything they taught was TRUE. T-r-u-e. I was a scholarship student. I thought they were telling me the absolute truth. Without doubt. As you guys and gals have taught me here -- "it's completely impossible to prove anything in science." (Forbes.)
I honestly did not know that when I was taking biology in school. Again, I thought everything they taught me was true. No teacher ever said maybe it's not true. Or -- things can change -- because it's all based on theoretical posits and analysis. And these are not written in stone. (So to speak...hehe. Brings me back to dating procedures, oh well.) Nope. not one conjecture as I have been reading in the textbooks (college textbooks on evolution) is proven. It may seem rational, but -- it is not proven. And can change. So thanks again.

In other words, they give us what they believe, and many take it as "The whole truth, and nothing but the truth".

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Sure, I think God has the power to make a bird with wings of solid gold and a body of lead to fly, but I have never seen a bird with wings of solid gold and a body of lead flying, so perhaps God prefers a logically ordered universe that operates according to sound rules to inconsistent magical nonsense.

In my opinion.

So...God can do this, but He wouldn’t do something useful as keeping the Earth and it’s natural processes safe while cleansing the Earth of the wicked men, as the Bible states?

 

[Hockeycowboy]

21 valid geological reasons a worldwide flood has never happened, any one discounts the claim of worldwide flooding

http://www.csun.edu/~vcgeo005/Nr38Reasons.pdf

OK, Christine, I’m going to finish this, but I want you to know this... the first words of the first paragraph says, “Young-Earth creationists”......
That doesn’t apply to us (JW’s). We believe in an old Earth. (I think it’s a tactic: if geologists “marry” the two ideas together, then by debunking YEC concepts (which is easy to do), they think they’ve *automatically* debunked the Flood. Equivocating the two, doesn’t work. We don’t play that game.

But I’ll read it, to see what arguments actually apply.

(I think I’ve mentioned this before, but maybe not to you.)

 

[danieldemol]

So...God can do this, but He wouldn’t do something useful as keeping the Earth and it’s natural processes safe while cleansing the Earth of the wicked men, as the Bible states?

No, God would not do that, and if God did then if God is at all reasonable God would not have left so much contrary evidence - see post #144.

In my opinion.

 

[YoursTrue]

In other words, they give us what they believe, and many take it as "The whole truth, and nothing but the truth".

Yes. I certainly did when I was in college before I did a deep study of the holy scriptures. I was a good student. I believed everything they taught about evolution and dating process accuracy.

 

[YoursTrue]

This literature covers 3,000+ years of history. You'd have to be way more specific.

Because these things have obvious associations with death and spirits. It's because they want to honour their dead and spirits associated with death. This is common cross culturally. It needn't go back to any actual event. That's not the purpose.

You can't just be ex-Jewish, as one stays a Jew for life if one is born so or converts. I was a Noachide. A Noachide is a non-Jew who worships the God of Israel, accepts that Judaism is true, but isn't oneself a Jew. Such a person is only obliged to follow the Noachide Laws. According to Jewish belief you are a Noachide if you are not born a Jew.

Heka is the closest term the Ancient Egyptians had for their religious practices.

Yes, but not sure what this has to do with prayer for the souls of the dead.

So? South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere. I would expect their traditions to be at another date. They may, however, be borrowed from Northern cultures.

Some people believe that one cannot be an "ex-Jew." However in reality that's not true. It doesn't matter what someone says about another in particular. You may not realize it, but there are synagogues that accept as a Jew someone whose mother is not Jewish but the father is. It doesn't matter. It's an old wives tale, that once a Jew, always a Jew. I'll be as gentle as possible with this -- it's a false philosophy. A contrivance of men. I wonder why a person who is a Noahide wouldn't fully convert anyway, but I don't really want to get into that. Some people might consider me Jewish, it doesn't matter, because I have come to realize that Jesus is the Messiah and I am a Christian. There are ex-Christians, but it seems you are saying that someone who decides he is an atheist or converts to another religion is still Christian. You don't want to take other people's opinions for it so why insist that once a Jew, always a Jew?

 

[YoursTrue]

This literature covers 3,000+ years of history. You'd have to be way more specific.

OK, give me the name of a book you would refer to in order to learn about the history of the religion written by believers at that time.

 

[YoursTrue]

21 valid geological reasons a worldwide flood has never happened, any one discounts the claim of worldwide flooding

http://www.csun.edu/~vcgeo005/Nr38Reasons.pdf

Pages of Geologic History — Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY (jw.org)

 

[Subduction Zone]

OK, Christine, I’m going to finish this, but I want you to know this... the first words of the first paragraph says, “Young-Earth creationists”......
That doesn’t apply to us (JW’s). We believe in an old Earth. (I think it’s a tactic: if geologists “marry” the two ideas together, then by debunking YEC concepts (which is easy to do), they think they’ve *automatically* debunked the Flood. Equivocating the two, doesn’t work. We don’t play that game.

But I’ll read it, to see what arguments actually apply.

(I think I’ve mentioned this before, but maybe not to you.)

This makes me laugh. It applies to your strange version of OEC as well. The exact same evidence refutes your beliefs.

By the way, you never provided an explanation for beasts in permafrost etc..

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Uh, yes the Flood gives us an accurate explanation, accounting for the existence of such permafrost.

Just because you can’t see it...well only you can change that.


But then, you state:

You are right, no land life survived. You brought up a counter argument, then proceeded to answer it.

Are you presenting an “argument from incredulity”? I am usually accused of that, in evolution debates. Now, you’re using it!

Is Jehovah God’s hand too slack or weak? He couldn’t protect those in the Ark?
The account reveals a lot of what Jehovah did...He gave Noah the instructions on building that *ideal* (30:5:3) Ark. He brought the animals to Noah. He closed the Ark’s door. And afterwards, He opened it.

Do you think He wouldn’t or couldn’t do anything else?
This Earth is our home He made for us.. Of course he’d protect it.

Understanding why the Flood was global, and having a grasp of the issue of Sovereignty raised in Genesis 3, is imperative to understanding the Flood’s scope and it’s environmental impact.

I did not bring up a counter argument. Given the parameters stated regarding a flood that dumped enough water onto the surface of the earth to cover mountains, the energy released would have boiled that water and created an atmospheric pressure that nothing could survive.

I further indicated that the Bible claims all life that was not on the ark was killed. But then we have plants, fish and whales. Obviously not killed. It cannot be both.

No logical fallacy at all.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Pages of Geologic History — Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY (jw.org)

I asked what church you had recently joined. So now I know. Thank you.

That is not a source of scientific information unless you are interested in learning nothing. Then it is a go to.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Uh, yes the Flood gives us an accurate explanation, accounting for the existence of such permafrost.

Just because you can’t see it...well only you can change that.


But then, you state:

You are right, no land life survived. You brought up a counter argument, then proceeded to answer it.

Are you presenting an “argument from incredulity”? I am usually accused of that, in evolution debates. Now, you’re using it!

Is Jehovah God’s hand too slack or weak? He couldn’t protect those in the Ark?
The account reveals a lot of what Jehovah did...He gave Noah the instructions on building that *ideal* (30:5:3) Ark. He brought the animals to Noah. He closed the Ark’s door. And afterwards, He opened it.

Do you think He wouldn’t or couldn’t do anything else?
This Earth is our home He made for us.. Of course he’d protect it.

Understanding why the Flood was global, and having a grasp of the issue of Sovereignty raised in Genesis 3, is imperative to understanding the Flood’s scope and it’s environmental impact.

If God had to use magic to protect the ark and its passengers, why bother having them build one at all. Couldn't God just have made and undersea city for Noah and company. Or perhaps a force field bubble enclosing an area large enough to actually house the necessary number of animals required to actually save two or seven or however many living things there are.

Everything in the oceans would have died from being boiled alive in briny water. The briny water would have killed most of the freshwater organisms before then. Some of the saltwater life would have gone before then too.

I understand that your church demands you believe this stuff, but God doesn't require it in order to know Him.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

And the reason for us to occasionally find well-preserved parts of, & complete, megafauna within the fresh-water Permafrost — not on the surface, but in it — all across the Northern hemisphere is....?

No slow moving ice age or slow melting could have been the cause.

Many assume the Flood is allegorical, it simply teaches a ‘lesson’.

Just what lesson is it supposed to teach?

From a cursory reading, the only lesson I can can glean, is that God does not put up with violent people.

What’s God gonna do, then?

Apparently nothing, because the story didn’t really happen....so God won’t do anything, again.

Matthew 24:37-39 really has no meaning....it’s empty.

It is not evidence of a global flood. I understand that you cannot conceive of other means for ancient remains to end up in the permafrost. Or you do not want to out of bias.

Why do you think the animals found in the permafrost are so range specific. No kangaroos in the permafrost. Nothing from the tropics. That flood was very specific in its actions as if it purposefully drowned only animals from the regions where permafrost would form. That is amazing.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

That is not a source of scientific information unless you are interested in learning nothing. Then it is a go to.

Uncalled for, my friend.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

No, God would not do that, and if God did then if God is at all reasonable God would not have left so much contrary evidence - see post #144.

In my opinion.

Once again:

The evidence presented on that website were counterarguments for YEC views. They are not ours(JW's).

So it does not apply. Do you understand the strawman?

I do not believe the Flood 'laid down' strata! (It did cut through many)

I'm getting weary of repeating that.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Uncalled for, my friend.

Here is a quote from a page on evolution. https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101983129
"Of course, having first ruled out the possibility that all have the same Designer and Maker, they cannot accept that as an alternative explanation."

This statement is false. There is no way for science to be used to rule out God. There is no means to include God using science either.

Here is another quote. "Evolutionists now admit that the fossil record does not support the theories they have long championed." This statement is also false.

There was so much false information that needs to be corrected that the only rational conclusion is that it is not a source of scientific information. Reading it would teach you nothing about biology.

While, I am not attempting to insult you or any JW. It is a simple fact that regarding science the bias is to support the views of JW and not the facts of science or the natural world.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Uncalled for, my friend.

Don't you equate evolution with Hitler and villainous political regimes of the past? Considering that I accept the theory of evolution, what do you think I feel about that? I have not taken it personally, though I don't care for what the false equivalence is attempting to impart.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

List of a select number of flood legends from around the world (there are actually dozens more). Notice the origin of the flood legend and the story it is found in.

Flood Legends

Samples from six continents and the islands of the sea; hundreds of such legends are known

Australia - Kurnai

Destruction by Water

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Babylon - Berossus’ account

Destruction by Water

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Babylon - Gilgamesh epic

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Bolivia - Chiriguano

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Borneo - Sea Dayak

Destruction by Water

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Burma - Singpho

Destruction by Water

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Canada - Cree

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Canada - Montagnais

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


China - Lolo

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Cuba - original natives

Destruction by Water

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


East Africa - Masai

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Egypt - Book of the Dead

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Fiji - Walavu-levu tradition

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


French Polynesia - Raïatéa

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared


Greece - Lucian’s account

Destruction by Water

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Guyana - Macushi

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Iceland - Eddas

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


India - Andaman Islands

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


India - Bhil

Destruction by Water

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


India - Kamar

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Iran - Zend-Avesta

Destruction by Water

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared


Italy - Ovid’s poetry

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Malay Peninsula - Jakun

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Mexico - Codex Chimalpopoca

Destruction by Water

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Mexico - Huichol

Destruction by Water

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


New Zealand - Maori

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Peru - Indians of Huarochirí

Destruction by Water

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared


Russia - Vogul

Destruction by Water

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


U.S.A. (Alaska) - Tlingit

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


U.S.A. (Arizona) - Papago

Destruction by Water

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


U.S.A. (Hawaii) - legend of Nu-u

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


U.S.A. (North Dakota) - Mandan

Destruction by Water

Preserved in a Vessel

Vanuatu - Melanesians

Destruction by Water

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Vietnam - Bahnar

Destruction by Water

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Wales - Dwyfan/Dwyfach legend

Destruction by Water

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel

In India there is a Flood legend in which Manu is the human survivor. He befriends a small fish that grows to a large size and warns him of a devastating flood. Manu builds a boat, which the fish pulls until it is grounded on a mountain in the Himalayas.

According to the Chinese flood legend, the thunder god gives a tooth to two children, Nuwa and Fuxi. He instructs them to plant it and to take shelter in the gourd that would grow from it. A tree promptly grows from the tooth and produces a huge gourd. When the thunder god causes torrential rainfall, the children climb into the gourd. Though the resulting flood drowns all the rest of earth’s inhabitants, Nuwa and Fuxi survive and repopulate the globe.

In North America, the Arikara, a Caddo people, say that the earth was once inhabited by a race of people so strong that they ridiculed the gods. The god Nesaru destroyed these giants by means of a flood but preserved his people, the animals, and maize in a cave. The Havasupai people say that the god Hokomata caused a deluge that destroyed mankind. However, the man Tochopa preserved his daughter Pukeheh by sealing her in a hollow log.

The Maya of Central America believed that a great rain serpent destroyed the world by torrents of water. In Mexico the Chimalpopoca version tells that a flood submerged the mountains. The god Tezcatlipoca warned the man Nata, who hollowed out a log where he and his wife, Nena, found refuge until the water subsided.

In Peru the Chincha have a legend of a five-day flood that destroyed all men except one whom a talking llama led to safety on a mountain. The Aymara of Peru and Bolivia say that the god Viracocha came out of Lake Titicaca and created the world and abnormally large, strong men. Because this first race angered him, Viracocha destroyed them with a flood.

The Tupinamba Indians of Brazil spoke of a time when a great flood drowned all their ancestors except those who survived in canoes or in the tops of tall trees.

In Samoa there is a legend of a flood in early times that destroyed everyone except Pili and his wife. They found safety on a rock, and after the flood they repopulated the earth. In the Hawaiian Islands, the god Kane became annoyed with humans and sent a flood to destroy them. Only Nuʹu escaped in a large boat that finally grounded on a mountain.

On Mindanao in the Philippines, the Ata say that the earth was once covered by water that destroyed everyone except two men and a woman

The Soyot of Siberia, Russia, say that a giant frog, which was supporting the earth, moved and caused the globe to be flooded. An old man and his family survived on a raft he had made. When the water receded, the raft grounded on a high mountain.

In the book Target Earth Alan key writes: “Why then should practically all races of men have this legend of a great deluge? Why should people who lived far from the ocean in dry highland country such as central Mexico or central Asia have a legend of a flood? . . . It is difficult to explain why the universal deluge was chosen as the method of exterminating man unless it had been an actual experience. If universal deluge had not been an actuality, then some races would have had their wicked ancestors being eliminated by awesome volcanic eruptions, great blizzards, drought, wild animals, giants or demons.”

Sources: Biblical Encyclopedia Insight on the Scriptures
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200000758#h=1:0-215:0
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1992041?q=Deluge&p=doc

Of course, there is no mention of cultures that have no such flood myths. Or the possibility that some of this is cultural contamination.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

List of a select number of flood legends from around the world (there are actually dozens more). Notice the origin of the flood legend and the story it is found in.

Flood Legends

Samples from six continents and the islands of the sea; hundreds of such legends are known

Australia - Kurnai

Destruction by Water

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Babylon - Berossus’ account

Destruction by Water

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Babylon - Gilgamesh epic

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Bolivia - Chiriguano

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Borneo - Sea Dayak

Destruction by Water

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Burma - Singpho

Destruction by Water

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Canada - Cree

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Canada - Montagnais

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


China - Lolo

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Cuba - original natives

Destruction by Water

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


East Africa - Masai

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Egypt - Book of the Dead

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Fiji - Walavu-levu tradition

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


French Polynesia - Raïatéa

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared


Greece - Lucian’s account

Destruction by Water

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Guyana - Macushi

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Iceland - Eddas

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


India - Andaman Islands

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


India - Bhil

Destruction by Water

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


India - Kamar

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Iran - Zend-Avesta

Destruction by Water

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared


Italy - Ovid’s poetry

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Malay Peninsula - Jakun

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Mexico - Codex Chimalpopoca

Destruction by Water

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Mexico - Huichol

Destruction by Water

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


New Zealand - Maori

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Peru - Indians of Huarochirí

Destruction by Water

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared


Russia - Vogul

Destruction by Water

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


U.S.A. (Alaska) - Tlingit

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


U.S.A. (Arizona) - Papago

Destruction by Water

Warning Given

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


U.S.A. (Hawaii) - legend of Nu-u

Destruction by Water

Divine Cause

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


U.S.A. (North Dakota) - Mandan

Destruction by Water

Preserved in a Vessel

Vanuatu - Melanesians

Destruction by Water

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Vietnam - Bahnar

Destruction by Water

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel


Wales - Dwyfan/Dwyfach legend

Destruction by Water

Humans Spared

Animals Spared

Preserved in a Vessel

In India there is a Flood legend in which Manu is the human survivor. He befriends a small fish that grows to a large size and warns him of a devastating flood. Manu builds a boat, which the fish pulls until it is grounded on a mountain in the Himalayas.

According to the Chinese flood legend, the thunder god gives a tooth to two children, Nuwa and Fuxi. He instructs them to plant it and to take shelter in the gourd that would grow from it. A tree promptly grows from the tooth and produces a huge gourd. When the thunder god causes torrential rainfall, the children climb into the gourd. Though the resulting flood drowns all the rest of earth’s inhabitants, Nuwa and Fuxi survive and repopulate the globe.

In North America, the Arikara, a Caddo people, say that the earth was once inhabited by a race of people so strong that they ridiculed the gods. The god Nesaru destroyed these giants by means of a flood but preserved his people, the animals, and maize in a cave. The Havasupai people say that the god Hokomata caused a deluge that destroyed mankind. However, the man Tochopa preserved his daughter Pukeheh by sealing her in a hollow log.

The Maya of Central America believed that a great rain serpent destroyed the world by torrents of water. In Mexico the Chimalpopoca version tells that a flood submerged the mountains. The god Tezcatlipoca warned the man Nata, who hollowed out a log where he and his wife, Nena, found refuge until the water subsided.

In Peru the Chincha have a legend of a five-day flood that destroyed all men except one whom a talking llama led to safety on a mountain. The Aymara of Peru and Bolivia say that the god Viracocha came out of Lake Titicaca and created the world and abnormally large, strong men. Because this first race angered him, Viracocha destroyed them with a flood.

The Tupinamba Indians of Brazil spoke of a time when a great flood drowned all their ancestors except those who survived in canoes or in the tops of tall trees.

In Samoa there is a legend of a flood in early times that destroyed everyone except Pili and his wife. They found safety on a rock, and after the flood they repopulated the earth. In the Hawaiian Islands, the god Kane became annoyed with humans and sent a flood to destroy them. Only Nuʹu escaped in a large boat that finally grounded on a mountain.

On Mindanao in the Philippines, the Ata say that the earth was once covered by water that destroyed everyone except two men and a woman

The Soyot of Siberia, Russia, say that a giant frog, which was supporting the earth, moved and caused the globe to be flooded. An old man and his family survived on a raft he had made. When the water receded, the raft grounded on a high mountain.

In the book Target Earth Alan key writes: “Why then should practically all races of men have this legend of a great deluge? Why should people who lived far from the ocean in dry highland country such as central Mexico or central Asia have a legend of a flood? . . . It is difficult to explain why the universal deluge was chosen as the method of exterminating man unless it had been an actual experience. If universal deluge had not been an actuality, then some races would have had their wicked ancestors being eliminated by awesome volcanic eruptions, great blizzards, drought, wild animals, giants or demons.”

Sources: Biblical Encyclopedia Insight on the Scriptures
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200000758#h=1:0-215:0
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1992041?q=Deluge&p=doc

Of course, there is no mention of cultures that have no such flood myths. Or the possibility that some of this is cultural contamination.