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I don’t care if you're Christian, Muslim, Buddist, or worship the ways of the Jedi, I’m sure you’ve heard of Noah’s Ark. It’s the biblical story where God tells Noah there’s going to be a huge flood, then instructs him to build a huge ark so he can save his family and two of each animal on earth. It’s a pretty popular tale, and I have a huge problem with that.

Let me explain. Back in the day when I was birthin’ babies, the Noah’s ark theme was a huge nursery room favorite. It still is. A wealth of Noah’s ark products are out there for purchase: crib bedding, lamps, pillows, pictures -- all featuring cute little animals walking two-by-two into the ark. As for books? Holy smoke! There are dozens, all aimed at the younger set. There are a bunch of toys, too. Even Fisher-Price makes an adorable play set complete with Noah, the ark and animals.

So what’s my problem?
THE FACT THAT NOAH'S ARK IT IS ONE OF THE MOST HORRIFIC STORIES IN THE BIBLE.

God condemns everyone. There’s a huge flood. A fraction of life survives while everyone else DROWNS. This is the stuff bed time stories are made of? This is the story we push on our children?

Anyway, for giggles I conspired with my friend and illustrator, TJ Lubrano. She's a wonderful artist with an uncanny ability to create sweet, whimsical pieces that just make you smile. Much of her work would look beautiful on a wall in a child’s bedroom. So I asked her to take the TRUE tale of Noah’s Ark and create a sweet, magical painting just for kids.

She delivered. Take a look: (If you want to see the horradorableness up close, click the picture for a bigger version.)

Ark of Noah TJ Lubrano
I never knew horror could be so cute! I always wondered what happened to the unicorns, too. Guess they missed the boat, so to speak.

Anyway, I had to share this with you. I’m curious what you think. As for TJ, isn't she fab? If you want to see more of her amazing art, click her name above to go right to her blog.

Thanks, TJ. You're the greatest!
 


Comments

04/21/2011 07:43

The flood, the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah, the drowning of the Egyptians in the Red Sea-there's enough destruction and killing in the Bible to gratify any reader's appetite. It's really a great epic of humanity, about the battle between good and evil, though it's hard to decide where the good is in any of that lunacy. TJ's illustration is wonderful and charming as usual, always with her signature childlike innocence.

The best quote about Noah and his ark:

"Sometimes it does seem such a pity that Noah and his party didn't miss the boat."-Mark Twain

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04/21/2011 07:47

NP,
Ha ha! Love the quote. As for the other tales of destruction, I wonder how they would look as nursery themes?

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04/21/2011 08:23

The bible is THE most violent book on earth. and, I might add sexist too!

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04/21/2011 08:27

Zobop,
And how! There are also a lot of good lessons in there, too. I have to say it's an interesting read, but I'm going to leave it at that.

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04/21/2011 10:25

This is so fantastic, I'm jealous I didn't write it. And the picture. Bravo TJ, I am so jealous of your talent. If I could draw, my blog would be winning right now. I would do cute little horror scenes all the time. Love it!

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04/21/2011 13:13

Justus,
I wish I had TJ's talent, too. This idea had been sloshing around in my mind for so long, but I didn't have the artistic ability to follow through. TJ to the rescue! She's fantastic!

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04/21/2011 13:23

I love TJ's work. She's a talented illustrator. There is no doubt of this. The Flood story was stolen from the Ancient Sumerians from the Epic of Gilgamesh. It's an awful story as is most of what one reads in the OT. However, most fairytales also contain some horrifying stuff too.

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04/21/2011 13:35

WINNING!

That painting is bombdiggitytastic, as is your new word you made up, horradorableness! :)

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04/21/2011 13:45

TT,
There are so many flood stories spanning many religions. That must have been one heck of a flood to have inspired so many stories. And, yes, a lot of fairy tales have horrifying stuff, too. Hans Christian Andersen was one sick dude!

Tershbango,
Bombdiggitytastic? LOVE IT! As for horradorableness? All I can say is TJ inspired it. She can make anything look cute!

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Deray
04/21/2011 14:10

That explains the lack of unicorns! I never thought of Noah's ark as a children story, too much killing, smelly boats and inbreeding :-P

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04/21/2011 14:13

Deray,
I know, right? Why do we keep on stuffing this story down toddlers' throats when it's so dang horrifying! I never even considered the inbreeding. Yikes!

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04/22/2011 07:49

hahaha! I adore your word 'horradorableness' and Tricia's word Bombdiggitytastic! So cool :D I know I've already said thanks (many many times), but it wouldn't be complete if I didn't say it here as well. So...THANK YOU! Your post is so cool and very true. I went to a Christian elementary school (though I'm not religious) and heard lots of stories. They weren't children stories indeed. It's interesting how people can distort the image in such a way that it appears cute and all happy. The biblical stories are all subjective to me. Also one of the reasons why I'm not religious. People tend to create their own reality & rules in the end. So in the end...what is the truth?

@ Everyone: Thanks so much for your lovely compliments :D! Hugs to all of you! Xx

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04/22/2011 09:12

Great entry - love your viewpoint and of course, the illustration is wonderful!

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04/22/2011 09:31

TJ,
It was such a joy, joy, JOY! working with you. Thank YOU so much for taking your time and talent to create something so nefariously cute for me. You're the best! And it is interesting how these biblical tales are presented to children. Harsh stories presented in a golden light.

PhotoDiction,
Thanks! And I agree, it's a wonderful illustration!

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04/22/2011 13:10

"There are so many flood stories spanning many religions. That must have been one heck of a flood to have inspired so many stories." --Right...

It is a cautionary tale. What I get from it is, it makes me wonder how awful people had gotten, along with the rebellious angels, to make God feel sorry he made them. And as bad as it was for those who refused to get on the boat...it is also a story of hope, because God gave them all the option to do so --and live.

-nice artwork TJ =)



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04/22/2011 14:29

[extreme sarcasm]Yes all little kids need to know that kind of fictional garabage that is fobbed as being the divine work of a non-existent supernatural being and the earlier they are brainwashed with BS with better. [/sarcasm]

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04/22/2011 15:49

TJ is a totally legit artist.

The way the story was told to me when I was younger, was that two of each animal were taken on the boat. I always wondered if people were less incest before the "Noah's Ark Flood."

I guess I hadn't ever thought of the horror that the condemned people experienced....I like the line, "I never knew horror could be so cute."

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04/22/2011 17:11

jay.me,
A cautionary tale, indeed! Not exactly fodder for the toddler set, but it does lay an interesting foundation for discussion.

TT,
I guess we know where you stand!:)

Rico,
They do teach it a little differently when you're young, don't they? :) And, yup. TJ is awesome!

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04/24/2011 12:18

Ciaooo! I'm floating by to say thank you to Jayme & Rico :D

Happy Easter! Xxx

*floats away*

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04/25/2011 07:47

Horradorableness is such a cool way of describing TJ's piece! It is a fantastic twist on the usual nursery room fodder :)

Awesome collaboration!

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04/25/2011 09:09

TJ,
'Floating by.' Noah's ark. Can't help buy giggle at the pun! :)

Claire,
Thank you! I think you're pretty good at the 'horradorableness,' too. I'm a big fan of Grumpus, you know! :)

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04/27/2011 12:57

I loved the idea behind this and TJ definitely draws the best drowning kids ever. Could be a poster for my next blockbuster "Titanic: The Prequel"

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04/27/2011 13:34

Sci-Fi,
Ha ha -- love it! And, yes, if anyone can make drowning kids look cute, it's TJ.

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Chani
05/03/2012 03:31

I understand the Bible to be one story from start to finish - ultimately about God and how everything was perfect in the beginning but how humans broke that perfection and trust by disobeying God(Genesis 3). The Bible is about how God works to bring everything back to its original perfect state. In the case of Noah, God works out his plan of restoring perfection by destroying everything bad (the animals weren't bad but they suffered because their rulers - the humans). God should have wiped out Noah too, because Noah himself wasn't perfect (he gets drunk a few chapters later). But God shows how kind and gracious he is by saving Noah and his family. It is from one of Noah's children that Jesus Christ is eventually born who saves everyone from ultimate destruction(hell) who will come to him for rescue. By dying he takes the full punishment of God for sin and destroys "bad"- i.e. the sin of humans and its consequences and by rising again He allows those who believe to be part of the new heaven and earth where there will be no sin. We still live in a non-perfect world, but one day God will destroy everything again like he did in the days of Noah, and only those who have believed in Jesus and in his death for their sins, will be saved and be part of God's new, perfect creation! Really something to look forward to! And something to be grateful for!

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