Reason is necessary for building strong faith

Firmament On the topic of the firmament. It says in Genesis ""Then God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.""" One cannot make absence. One can put something into absence, or take to make absence. Therefore, "make" shows us that God is creating a Physical object. Therefore, the Firmament refers to a Physical Barrier between "Heaven" and "Earth". While we're on Heaven. Genesis describes how Heaven is located just beyond our Atmosphere. If that is the case, then why haven't we found it. If Heaven truly existed as the bible claims, our Sattelite's would have found it on the way out of our Planet. It's the same thing with Hell. There has been significant studies of the Earth's Geological composition, and it found that the Earth is somewhat solid all the way through. However, the Ezekiel 31:16 says "I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, hall that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth."" This verse says that hell is in the Earth, which conflicts with Scientific Evidence of the Earth's composition. Vengeance God is a Psychopath. It's a safe assumption that God knows everything in advance. So he created humanity knowing they would be evil and spiteful towards each other, and yet he complains when he has to Drown them. In regards the Vengeance, again. Isn't Hell punishment for Evil People. If God slaughters people who do bad things, then what was the point of hell. If you accept this conclusion, God is a psychopath, unworthy of worship and is imperfect, in that he created hell without purpose or killed people without reason. Absurd Bible Verses In addition to contradictions, the bible is riddled with Abusive and Violent Verses Deuteronomy 25:11-12 NASB If two men, a man and his countryman, are struggling together, and the wife of one comes near to deliver her husband from the hand of the one who is striking him, and puts out her hand and seizes his genitals, then you shall cut off her hand; you shall not show pity. Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death. Such evil must be purged from Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:12 NLT) As you approach a town to attack it, first offer its people terms for peace. If they accept your terms and open the gates to you, then all the people inside will serve you in forced labor. But if they refuse to make peace and prepare to fight, you must attack the town. When the LORD your God hands it over to you, kill every man in the town. But you may keep for yourselves all the women, children, livestock, and other plunder. You may enjoy the spoils of your enemies that the LORD your God has given you. Anyone who is captured will be run through with a sword. Their little children will be dashed to death right before their eyes. Their homes will be sacked and their wives raped by the attacking hordes. For I will stir up the Medes against Babylon, and no amount of silver or gold will buy them off. The attacking armies will shoot down the young people with arrows. They will have no mercy on helpless babies and will show no compassion for the children. (Isaiah 13:15-18 NLT) Deuteronomy 22:28-29 NLT) If a man is caught in the act of raping a young woman who is not engaged, he must pay fifty pieces of silver to her father. Then he must marry the young woman because he violated her, and he will never be allowed to divorce her. If you abide by the belief that god created the Bible (which my opponent failed to rebuke), then you must abide by these rules. However, these rules have no place in a just and reasonable society. Therefore, you should negate the resolution. Flood The stories about Floods may simply be because most major settlements were based around sources of water, as water is necessary for growth. When strong rains came, the water broke its boundaries. The worldwide aspect is because they weren't globalised in 600AD. Therefore, the theory of a global flood was the only one that made sense for them. In addition, drowning doesn't kill suddenly, as you suggested.