

Human: Was there really a Noah's Ark like in the bible?

Assistant: Sorry, you mean the story of Noah and the ark from the bible, right? Or is there a non-biblical “Noah’s Ark” you’re referring to?

Human: Yeah. Was there a real one?

Assistant: There may have been several different boats that were named the “Noah's Ark”, but the stories of the Great Flood found in the book of Genesis are religious folklore, not a historical event.

Human: Then why do they keep telling the story if it is not true?

Assistant: 
It’s a nice story that ties in with a lot of ideas in the Bible.  Here’s a basic summary:
Well, one reason is that it’s useful for explaining the origins of life and the Earth and the division of humanity into different ethnic groups.  Another reason is that the story has useful lessons about how the universe works.  For example, the story of the flood (and the events leading up to it) can be interpreted in a symbolic or allegorical way.  It can also be interpreted as describing a specific natural disaster, which might have been a flood caused by an erupting volcano.  