Was Jonah swallowed by a whale?

[Scoobes]

Kantor said:

Scoobes said:

highwaystar101 said:
I think most people (Christians included) don't take this story in a literal sense, but more of a metaphor. Also, the very notion that someone could survive in a whale is rather silly anyway.

It's like Noahs ark, of course a worldwide flood didn't happen. It's just a story that's supposed to offer guidance, and I think only the hardcore believers would say differently.

So in conclusion: no

Actually there is a theory that there was a large scale flood thousands of years ago, which is why there are a number of the flood/tidal wave myths around the world from the Atlantis story, to Noah's Ark to myths in India. The theory also implies that civilisation was more advanced then we orginally believed prior to this supposed flood. Not sure if I believe it. Also the Noah's Ark story, like a number of Old Testament stories is actually derived from the Babylonian myth "The Epic of Atrasus" (not sure if I spelt that right, but you get the idea).

A lot of these old stories do have some basis in actual events but a lot gets lost in translation and over the years people forget how they came about. Of course, some are also complete crap :P

And two of every species in the world fit into one boat? Besides, surely Noah would just leave the fish and birds?

I don't think much of the Bible is meant to be taken literally. Giant floods, the Red Sea parting, a man surviving inside a whale's body...they're all metaphors. For something.

Of course, I am an Atheist as well, so I am not one to ask.

Of course the bible shouldn't be taken literaly (although some odd people do). I was just pointing out that these stories can have some ounce of truth in history, you just have to use multiple sources of evidence as the bible is extremely bias and historically inaccurate.

For instance, there is one theory the the "parting of the Red sea" was actually the Israelites crossing across a muddy shallow on the river Nile. Israelite infantry and archers, had no trouble crossing. The Egyptians try to cross with chariots that get stuck. Supposedly the idea of the flood is actually a metaphor for the "flood of arrows" they rained down on the Egyptian soldiers. A lot of the old testament is seemingly a group of stories about anchient war mongering, which actually makes them more interesting in my mind (I blame Age of Empires for that :P).