The World that Was: A Template for Writers on the Pre-Flood World

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jerry Corbaley on January 24, 2012 at 2:00pm

I hope this comment stream catches on! As story-tellers become aware of these ideas, the discussion need never end. 

My fictional stories take place at about the mid-point between the creation and the flood of Noah. I believe the world was a 'very good' paradise. When the world was cursed by sin it began to fail as 'paradise'. I suspect the failure was progressive; that is, it got worse over time. 

During the first half of the pre-flood period, it was always possible to explore (or flee) to unknown regions. People who could not abide their clan or tribe could just move! Bang, and they are off; at times carrying centuries of experience with them.

This is just a start.....don't just read....contribute ya'll.

Permalink Reply by Jerry Corbaley on January 24, 2012 at 2:03pm

Here is another idea: You are aware of secular mythologies regarding the fountain of youth and whatnot. There is nothing in Genesis to indicate that the Garden was removed from Eden. It is there with the Tree of Life inside. You know what people are like: there had to be attempts to get to it!

Permalink Reply by Jim Brenneman on January 24, 2012 at 3:09pm

I envision the godly going to the gate of the Garden in the presence of the visible cherubim guards to offer sacrifice and worship. Cain moved far away from it, while the godly stayed close by.

Permalink Reply by Jerry Corbaley on January 24, 2012 at 3:24pm

Jim, Early on, I agree. In view of the Lord's word to "Be fruitful and fill the earth...", do you think they did? How far might that be? 

You also wrote earlier about the culture(s) possibly indulging in 'seafaring'. I agree there also. If they were voyaging the seas, it invites another question, does it not?

Permalink Reply by Jim Brenneman on January 24, 2012 at 9:44pm

Another question?

Jerry Corbaley said:

the culture(s) possibly indulging in 'seafaring'. I agree there also. If they were voyaging the seas, it invites another question, does it not?

You wouldn't be suggesting air travel or space travel would you? I don't see it in Scripture, but it might be fun to at least have gliders and hot air balloons, if not powered flight. There some mention somewhere in antiquity that the sons of Japheth possessed the power of flight and it is also found in the mythologies of the "gods"

Permalink Reply by Douglas B. Sharp on January 25, 2012 at 9:14am

Jim, it has been a while since I interviewed you on the Revolution Against Evolution TV show, and I lost track of you. Glad to see you're still actively pursuing your dream.

Permalink Reply by Jerry Corbaley on January 25, 2012 at 11:17am

Jim

My fear of God and my serious reverence for His Word causes me great reluctance to speculate about the stories behind mythology. The myths are entwined with religious practices that our Lord rejects, and I don't want to offend Him.

My 'seafaring' quip leads to the question: How many seaworthy vessels were present at the onset of the flood of Noah? I would think there were multitudes. Then the question rises: Did others survive the flood in this way? And, no, I don't think they did. My reason is that the seas of paradise would be much calmer than the storm-tossed seas of our era. There would be no need to build vessels that could withstand hurricanes or 20 foot seas. There would be no more need to build such vessels than there is now to build vessels that could withstand 200 foot seas and mile-wide whirlpools. The global catastrophe of the flood would have brought storms that low-sided vessels could not withstand.

Regarding 'flight' or 'space travel', I believe it is obvious that the preflood peoples would achieve such in time. But I don't think it was likely. My reasoning is as follows.

Here are some guidelines that I try to follow when I think of the preflood world.

1. The preflood world was a slowly deteriorating (cursed) paradise.

2. Man was genetically superior to what he is now. Heightened senses, better health, 900+ year lifespans (with all the skill-sets developed during such a lifetime).

3. The creatures were not afraid of man, and were also genetically superior with all that implies.

4. There is the certainty of metal-working, music, farming, architecture; we see that in Genesis.

5. Here is an interesting thought: We can see the heights of the preflood man's achievement in the 'shadows' of the skills remembered after the flood. I say 'shadows' not in the sense of darkness, but in the sense that they are only an outline of what could be accomplished before the flood. The total is broader than the following; but man still practices a 'bio-technology' with creatures to complete tasks. One simple example of preflood 'bio-technology' is: Why bother inventing a powered chainsaw when you can train 6' beavers and elephant-kind to do the job?

Permalink Reply by Jim Brenneman on January 25, 2012 at 11:25am

Clearly Vulcan is rooted in Tubal-cain. I am only saying that in the mythologies are hints of recollection of heroes and notable figures of the past.

Permalink Reply by Jim Brenneman on January 25, 2012 at 11:45am

Do we see the possibility of a contest to bring in submissions for an short story anthology of "Antediluvian Sci-Fi" in the offing here?

Permalink Reply by Jerry Corbaley on January 25, 2012 at 11:51am

I can see the similarity between Vulcan and Tubal-cain. Personally, I can't at this time say "Clearly" and "rooted". I am willing to say that the violence of the preflood world would certainly have affected man's memory, and could be a shaping influence on the warriors of myth. 

I can agree totally that "in the mythologies are hints of recollection of heroes and notable figures of the past". 

Of course, each author will dare to express their own opinion through their own writing.

Jim, what forms of governance do you suppose were found before the flood?

Permalink Reply by Jerry Corbaley on January 26, 2012 at 10:47am

Maybe. While it would certainly have facets of 'science fiction' it might also be clearly 'historical fiction'.

Jim Brenneman said:

Do we see the possibility of a contest to bring in submissions for an short story anthology of "Antediluvian Sci-Fi" in the offing here?

Permalink Reply by Jim Brenneman on January 26, 2012 at 2:13pm

I call it "Science Fiction" in the same sense that Quest For Fire, or the Lost World is science fiction. Any story that attempts to imagine the prehistoric world is as much sci-fi as one which tells a story of the future.

The "Sci" element comes from the endeavor to be somewhat scientifically accurate and feasible. Of course it is in fact "Historical Fiction" for those of us who believe the Bible in Genesis 1 - 11 is actual historical narrative.

A story that deeply explores elements of the present could also be considered sci-fi, like the recent Apollo 18, or Fantastic Voyage which miniaturized an explorer who then was injected into the blood stream of a human. The "Sci" element again is an effort to be somewhat scientific, even though the concept or literary device is wholly unfeasible that placed us in the setting of the story.

So, Sci-Fi is the genre, and the anthology would certainly appeal to mainstream fans of the usual form of Sci-Fi, that which is set in the future and involves aliens and space travel. One of the elements that is so attractive is the strange new worlds that are encountered. Well our anthology will involve that strange OLD WORLD, that was the place of our origin and beginning. Altered States is sci-fi, but more than just in the idea of the altered state, but also in the presentation of the past (but according to uniformitarian fantasy and evolutionary delusions and the big bang mythology).

We could call it "Anno Mundi Sci-Fi," or "Antediluvian Sci-Fi" or "Primeval Sci-Fi." Antediluvian is too confining, since our boundaries would include the flood, and the few centuries following during some of the residual flood events.

This genre has its particular theme, just like there are "Space Operas," and those which feature parallel worlds, and those which are built around aliens - this one is the primeval history of the earth and man, based on a perspective of biblical creations science.

Our parameters for the contest would include historical accuracy, scientific accuracy, and biblical accuracy.

I am going to pursue this.

I would love to see a story of the Flood written as a diary of young Shem, with his own drawings and sketches. Or maybe a love story of how a cast out street urchin was taken up by kindly Noah and brought into his family. SHE tells her story and relates how she became a passenger on the Ark as one of the wives of the sons. Ideas and possibilities are endless.

What should be the min/max word length requirement? I have publishers in mind that would jump on this. It could be presented at Home School conventions, creationist gatherings, etc.

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