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Author Topic:   Size of antediluvian population..?
Odin, Vilje&Ve
Inactive Member


Message 1 of 14 (3438)
02-05-2002 8:15 AM


In a discussion in another forum on the net, the question came up on the number of people killed by the will of the god of the Old Testament.There are however a number of unknown factors in this kind of calculations, and undoubtedly the number of people killed in the Flood would have great importance on the final number. However, when looking on the net, what I find is from: http://www.ldolphin.org/morris.html
Antediluvian Populations
According to the genealogical records of Genesis 5, there were 1,656 years from Adam to the Flood. However, the population constants were significantly different then from what-they now are. Men lived to great ages and evidently had large families. Excepting Enoch, who was taken into heaven without dying at age 365 (Gen. 5:23-24), the average of the recorded ages of the nine antediluvian patriarchs was 912 years. Recorded ages at the births of their children ranged from 65 years (Mahalaleel, Gen. 5:15; Enoch, Gen. 5:2 1) to 500 years (Noah, Gen. 5:32). Every one of them is said to have had "sons and daughters," so that each family had at least 4 children, and probably many more.
As an ultraconservative assumption, let c = 3, x = 5, and n = 16.56. These constants correspond to an average family of 6 children, an average generation of 100 years and an average life-span of 500 years. On this basis the world population at the time of the Flood would have been 235 million people. This probably represents a gross underestimate of the numbers who actually perished in the Flood.
Multiplication was probably more rapid than assumed in this calculation, especially in the earliest centuries of the antediluvian epoch. For example, if the average family size were 8, instead of 6, and the length of a generation 93 years, instead of 100, the population at the time of Adam's death, 930 years after his creation, would already have been 2,800,000. At these rates, the population at the time of the Deluge would have been 137 billion! Even if we use rates appropriate in the present world (x = I and c = 1.5), over 3 billion people could easily have been on the earth at the time of Noah
(end of quote)
Now, a number given as somewhere between 235 million and 137 billion is a less than helpful estimate.("It is in the price range between a dime and a million dollars..") Undoubtedly there are members of this board who is more familiar with creationist literature then me. If we leave aside the question of whether the flood took place or not, and assume as basis for our calculations that it did take place, what estimates are given by creationists as to the presumed size of the antediluvian population?

Replies to this message:
 Message 2 by mark24, posted 02-05-2002 8:27 AM Odin, Vilje&Ve has not replied
 Message 8 by Peter, posted 02-12-2002 6:37 AM Odin, Vilje&Ve has not replied
 Message 9 by Michael_Welch, posted 12-23-2003 3:16 PM Odin, Vilje&Ve has not replied
 Message 11 by Abshalom, posted 12-23-2003 3:41 PM Odin, Vilje&Ve has not replied

Odin, Vilje&Ve
Inactive Member


Message 3 of 14 (3444)
02-05-2002 9:05 AM


I am merely quoting these calculations; they are certainly not mine!As I do not believe in the Flood or the historic correctness of Genesis, I feel any attempt to calculate the number of people killed in the Flood is best left those that believe in it. After all, if creationism claims to be scientific, would they not themselves be interested in finding out? Whether or not infant morality is an factor I do not and cannot estimate, but the question whether it has to be included or not, merely makes the number even more uncertain....

Replies to this message:
 Message 4 by mark24, posted 02-05-2002 9:11 AM Odin, Vilje&Ve has not replied

Odin, Vilje&Ve
Inactive Member


Message 5 of 14 (3448)
02-05-2002 9:20 AM


Eh..what are my conclusions? I do not claim to know, merely searching for a reasonable number.. and one "somewhere between some million and many billions" merely says"I havent a clue". Please, all knowledgeable, well-thaught scientific creationist out there, what do you suppose the number to be? Enlighten me! Enlighten us all!

Replies to this message:
 Message 6 by joz, posted 02-05-2002 9:39 AM Odin, Vilje&Ve has not replied

Odin, Vilje&Ve
Inactive Member


Message 7 of 14 (3452)
02-05-2002 9:50 AM


But do any of you have or have read any estimates? The one given above is on the order of:"In the battle either 235 or 3.000 or 137.000 soldiers were killed" Still waiting to hear from anyone with a knowledge of what creationists assume..

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