Folks, you missed the point here. The theme of the entire episode - from River and the Bible problem, to Jayne being the Hero of Canton - is that when people need someone or something to believe in, it doesn't really matter what the truth is. Belief sustains people through impossible situations, and there's nothing wrong with believing in the value of an idea that you know isn't logical.I think we all rightly know that faith is something that exists outside the bounds of fact, and likewise we know that that doesn't necessarily have to be a problem. Reason and faith are both good things, you don't have to shun one and exalt the other, or vice versa. You just have to know that each has their place and leave them there.

Misguided or self taught Smith...the Bible, in my opinion is perfect and without contradiction, simply because G-d the Holy Spirit wrote it. Age was insignificant before the flood, time was a factor in the building of the perfectly built ship...please do more research. The ark will be brought to us for study some day

Really?!? This is a science fiction show and yet you are complaining about Josh Whedon not doing his research. By the way the bible is full of contradictions. Just the story of Noah's Ark alone is full of loop holes. Do you really think that it is possible for only Noah and his family to build a boat that can hold two of every specie? Not to mention that Noah was supposed to be over 100 years old when he was given this task. How did the animals cross the Atlantic/Pacific Ocean? I can go on, but I think this is enough