Begin in Genesis with the well-loved story of Noah…
““Begin in Genesis with the well-loved story of Noah, derived from the Babylonian myth of Uta-Napisthim and known from the older mythologies of several cultures. The legend of the animals going into the ark two by two is charming, but the moral of the story of Noah is appalling. God took a dim view of humans, so he (with the exception of one family) drowned the lot of them including children and also, for good measure, the rest of the presumably blameless) animals as well. Of course, irritated theologians will protest that we don't take the book of Genesis literally any more. But that is my whole point! We pick and choose which bits of scripture to believe, which bits to write off as symbols or allegories. Such picking and choosing is a matter of personal decision, just as much, or as little, as the atheist's decision to follow this moral precept or that was a personal decision, without an absolute foundation. If one of these is 'morality flying by the seat of its pants,' so is the other.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The story of Noah illustrates how people selectively interpret religious texts, treating some parts as literal truth and others as metaphor, revealing that moral judgments often rest on personal choice rather than absolute foundations.
In simple terms: People pick and choose which parts of scripture to believe, making morality subjective.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that moral frameworks can be personal and not universally fixed.
Themes
religion
morality
interpretation
subjectivity
faith
Mood
thoughtful
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
controversial
When to use this quote
- personal decisionmaking
- theological debate
- ethical education
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
scriptural literalism
ethical relativism
cultural narratives
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you determine which moral principles are universal?
- What role should tradition play in shaping ethics?
A Different Perspective
The argument may overlook that many believers find consistent moral guidance in their faith traditions.