Assuming that Noah, somehow, managed to sail around the world picking up all 50 million different species of animals, (Just How Many Species Are There, Anyway? Society For Conservation Biology. 26 May 2003) what did they eat? Did the lions and hyena's eat all the antelopes but two? Did carnivores become herbivores for 150 days? How many tons of grass did Noah stock up in the ark?

To take the story literally is to miss the point entirely. To some people, it is about redemption and forgiveness; to me it's about cold hearted genocide and blowing your problems away instead of solving them rationally. So who is right? Well no one. Both points of view are subjective interpretations which are only meaningful to individuals who can relate to them. I'd be the first to say don't substitute your opinion for mine but how many priests say "Thank you for listening to my sermon, oh by the way; I was expressing my own opinion of the passages we read today. Please don't change your minds on my account. Why don't you read these passages again at home and make your own minds up on this topic - for your own guidance."

Telling people that they can make up their own minds greatly diminishes your ability to control them.