Slashdot is carrying the story. As it turns out, large-scale flood theories are not uncommon. The Black Sea deluge theory is well supported. Discussion, on the slashdot story, have some suggesting that these large-scale floods are most likely the source of the many flood myths around the world.
The problem with theories that try to avoid the global flood idea is that most flood myths explain that it was a global flood and the survivors had to repopulate the earth. One would expect large-scale yet localized floods to produce myths of mass migrations.
No large-scale flood theory appears to propose a situation where the flow of water would exceed the inhabitants ability to escape. These are not flash-floods which are very difficult to escape. They are theorized large-scale, sea-flooding events, which just don’t happen that quickly.
Whenever I see a headline like this in the news, about a new discovery or theory that is purely and naturally sound, I think back to the bible and wonder how it could apply to the tremendous events in the bible. How does Noah’s Flood relate to this theory that the Mediterranean could have filled in months?
The way I see it, these discoveries lend credence, ever more and more, to the biblical account of human history. Things we said in the past were absolutely impossible and out of the question we slowly begin to see they weren’t so far fetched. Still supernatural, yes, but impossible.
The reason it’s important is because it solidifies the bible’s foundation (in our minds) and requires more thought before one can dismiss the bible as simply anti-science. One must begin to consider the bible a little more deeply before dismissing it. And that is critical for those considering the faith, or those young in the faith, to have a solid foundation to believe in.