I think the reason for this was that humans who survived the end of the last ice age had flood tales to tell, from their quite limited view which nonetheless seemed like the whole world to them, as they had no clue how vast that was.
These got passed down and eventually put into a written form, like Gilgamesh's flood or many others, including the biblical account. I think those tales warn us of events like the creation of the black sea by an ice age ice dam failing in spectacular fashion. If you lived anywhere near that it would seem the end of the world.
Circa 12,000 BCE or so

I base all my beliefs not on the Bible but on The Hitchiker's Guide To The Galaxy. A much better book.

@Slartibartfast We are all entitled to our beliefs, it doesn't make them factual but it's still perfectly legal.

Before "Christian" Era is fine by me, as is Christian Era. We could also have "Abrahamaic" dating if one wished to be more "inclusive". Personally, I'm quite happy to leave things as BC and AD. Similarly, "Christian" names. My Christian name is Beelzebub, for instance.

@Petter that is your right, but the initials bce and ce do happen to stand for before common era and common era, and while you are all right with christian names and christian eras, i am not. and abrahamic dating is by no means all-inclusive; it is still narrow and, quite frankly, indicative of some kind of privilege. i am not a shouter-in-the-streets that everyone should immediately abandon their gods and join me in glorious nonbelief. however, i feel imposed upon by privilege so deep it is exercised unconsciously as well as consciously, and whether or not that feeling is reasonable, or matches your feelings, it is my own and so as pet peeves go, i keep it, and do not take it to the pound or starve it to death, but try to train it to do some good in the world.

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We should measure time differently. We non believers. Any suggestions?

@genessa I recall one day when I saw a bust of Stanley in the main park of Kampala, Uganda. Having come from Kenya, where all publicly displayed statues and busts from the colonial era (ooh! Another CE) had been removed and mostly destroyed, I asked why this was not the case in Uganda. The answer, from any Ugandan friend I asked, impressed me.
"Petter, it is part of our history, and should be remembered through the ages."
Christianity, whether believed or not, is part of our history. The "common era" description is on a par with Kenya's petulant behaviour.

@Bilbobagins I wouldn't want to start over, the way they do in japan every time they get a new emperor. I would be happy with bce and ce, already widely (but not nearly widely enough) in use.

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@Petter I disagree. It acknowledges the time period declared by christianity without ignoring everyone else (or destroying statuary).

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@Bilbobagins Why change it at all? Just to prove a petulant point?
We accept tales of Father Christmas and various saints days. We even talk about Christmas and decorate our homes . Why the sudden vindictiveness to an established, conventional nomenclature?

@genessa So do you also treat saint Valentine's day with disdain? What about Santa Claus? What about Christmas? Do you wish all reference to Christian religion erased out of vindictiveness? Remember the Beatles song, "Let it be"!!

@Petter it has already BEEN changed. not everyone is honoring it, perhaps out of petulence.

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@Petter yeah i never liked that song. too catholic for me, for one thing.

your false conflations are humorous but irrelevant.

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@genessa My point precisely. If anyone wishes to use AD and BC, why care? It's a name. Why was it ever changed in the first place. Because some "Politically Correct" person thought it might offend other religions, which it didn't.

@genessa ... but think of the points you are gathering. You'll reach level 8.7 in just another 10,000 points.

@Petter I have my shirt and pen so who cares about points? But thanks for the insulting implication. And by the way, just because something does not offend you, do not conclude that therefore no one slelse in the universe has legitimate grounds for offense.

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@Petter vindictive? Just having a little fun here. Don’t over react.

Why? Because There's a tax advantage to doing that?

In our digital computer age with info on the Internet for all instantly, I have found one thing is constant -- when it comes to religion they are still just making it up. Constantly making it up.

@OwlInASack They found an artifact (from satellite scans) that resemble a large boat. Some people here say that has been debunked, but I haven't read about it. All I know is that the Turkish government refuses to have any excavation done in the area.

Personally, I do not believe in Noah's Ark, however I do find religious legends fascinating. I also like the ancient alien theory about the ark actually being a DNA data storage. That makes a lot more sense then believing all those animals are on a small boat and not eating each other.

@OwlInASack I did look this up a while back. There have been some expeditions there but only anecdotal evidence of an ark. The area is restricted due to it being on military land and near the border.

Unfortunately, Rick, you are exactly correct. Our Reality TV world says that if you want to create controversy claim aliens did it. The reason is that it sells.

Ken is a Ham and he tricked people into giving money to build an "Ark Encounter" in Kentucky. This is a massive mythical park that is not making much money back as it tries to explain Noah's Ark as a real event.

@DenoPenno it is also poorly constructed & sinking into a swamp......

@AnneWimsey Good, the sooner that boondagle disappears the better. I say that as a Kentuckian who did not appreciate his taxes used for this fairy tale.

That was debunked years ago. The shape was a natural formation. Read: [snopes.com]

@Mofo1953
I assumed as much. They still tout it and protect if from climbers.

@t1nick christian tourism money in a muslim country

Why would anyone in Turkey or Iraq want to grant access to an area so an opposing religion could make claims about itself? I don't think we would even go for that in America.

@Mofo1953

Agree. In the early 2000's there was a demand for climbs and tourism to Mt. Ararat. Sat through a ridiculous talk back then promoting a climb to find Noah's arc. My interest at the time was Turkey, not Noah. Lol

@Mofo1953, @DenoPenno

Not familiar with the actual writings of the Koran, but Islam is an abrahamic religion. I do not know if Islam has a Noah story within its context.

@Mofo1953

Tourism to Turkey, until recently was very lucrative for the country. It was less expensive than Europe, full are historical and archaeological wonders, and Americans were generally welcomed. Since 2001 anti-American sentiment has reversed and it's too dangerous for casual tourists

@t1nick yes it does, same one, noah, the ark, same crap.

@DenoPenno you obviously don't know, turkey is a member of NATO, open to many religions because it is a secular government, money also plays a big role, you should do your homework before you post comments like this

@Mofo1953

Presently. Turkey is a dangerous country for American tourists outside of places like Constantinople (Istanbul). The number of kidnappings of Americans tourists in recent years has increased. Ergogan is not exactly enthralled with the US these days. Less protection afforded American tourists outside the major tourist locations.

@Mofo1953 Member of NATO and open to many religion is not the point. Having idiots dig around in your mountain so they can prove their religion is my point. As I said, America probably would not even allow this.

@DenoPenno because their religion is islam and they also have noah and the ark in the koran. Proving there was an ark if the idiots digging were muslim would prove their religion, again you need to do some homework before you post nonsense. America allows archeological digs anywhere in public lands. You definitely need to at least google an issue before you dive to the pool with a comment that shows clearly that you don't lnow.

@Mofo1953

Mofo, one correction. It is illegal to dig archaeological sites on any land in the US that is supported by State or Federal monies or funds. The Federal Preservation Act was set up to protect coveted archaeological resources. It also applies to paleontological sites.

Unfortunately, private land is another thing. Unless it is considered a site of significant archaeological/historical value, private land is open for potting hunting. Many important sites have been lost forever due to being found on private land.

@Mofo1953 OK, Carlos. I give up. Do you know?

@t1nick it is illegal to dig without a permit. Permits are granted consistently in federal public lands when there is a plausible reason to dig. You can't just dig for a bullshit excuse.

@Mofo1953

I know. I'm a retired archaeologist.