CHRISTIANS PLEASE EXPLAIN "tower of babel"

[Cato]

Just the other day, I was building a tower to get to heaven, when all of the sudden, out of nowhere, I began speaking in confused tongues. I was like... WTF?

Ha! Sure you weren't just reading the box out loud.........Jenga! Jenga! Jenga!

[Crossless2.0]

Just the other day, I was building a tower to get to heaven, when all of the sudden, out of nowhere, I began speaking in confused tongues. I was like... WTF?

Ha! Sure you weren't just reading the box out loud.........Jenga! Jenga! Jenga!

Reminds me of the time I played strip Jenga with a hopelessly drunk pole dancer. Ah youth!

[ShaMan]

So, why weren't these guys smote?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q7Vr3yQYWQ

[truthBtold]

truthBtold,

I think it would help if you didn't assume that all Christians believed in Biblical literalism. Most don't. It's almost as bad as a theist claiming evolution teaches that we came from monkies and then attacking the absurdity of that position.

I suggest a more nuanced approach to discussing Biblical content. At such time that someone comes swooping in as if to say "that shit's real" then have a go.

Here's an example of a more reasoned theological approach to the story:
http://catholicismpure.wordpress.com/201...-of-babel/

Notice that nobody thinks that the tower would have actually reached heaven, the sin was the fact that they thought they could. I have recently learned to ignore the supernatural elements and reexamine some Biblical accounts while asking myself, "What was the author trying to tell us about the human condition?" or "How do modern theologians interpret a story for modern consideration?".

There is certainly plenty in the Bible that can just be dismissed; however, if properly considered there is much that can be useful.

U cant dismiss stuff in the bible, ur god inspired it. Take it as a whole or nothing..Thats cherry picking

---

Some people, including the guy that wrote the linked article, seems to think this is about the evilness of pride. It annoys me that just about any time someone tries to do something for himself or herself, and doesn't prostrate themselves before Yahweh, it's the worst kind of sin in the world. The sin of pride. Anything less than groveling on the ground and begging someone to think for you is somehow wrong in the eyes of those who want power over you.

This passage about Babel doesn't say squat about Yahweh. It's not like they're planning to invade heaven and overthrow Yahweh. That's what he's so ticked off about. If it's not about him, it deserves destruction. If he didn't want us thinking for ourselves, he shouldn't have given us free will. or at the very least he should respect some people's choice to not follow him. Otherwise it's just a catch 22. You have a choice, but you're not allowed to use your ability to choose and be allowed happiness.

Wiegh this... believe in him or burn in hell? Thats not playing nice..

[Cato]

U cant dismiss stuff in the bible, ur god inspired it. Take it as a whole or nothing..Thats cherry picking

My god? You fucking dolt, take a look at my religious views. Pull your head out of your ass while you're at it. All or nothing, are you sith or something? Are you now going to argue that works of fiction have no value?

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!!!! And I thought I was recently doing a good job of being polite. There's one New Year's resolution down the shitter.

[Jacob(smooth)]

U cant dismiss stuff in the bible, ur god inspired it. Take it as a whole or nothing..Thats cherry picking

Young brother.

A gentle suggestion. I suspect you laugh at theists when they try to tell you what you believe, as if the mere tag "atheist" encompasses the whole gambit of your world view. Atheists are all homosexual is a view I saw expressed in all seriousness on this forum from a theist. Its nonsense of course.

It is equally as illogical when you, as a atheist, generalize and presume about what theists believe. Doubly so when the person you are talking to is NOT a theist. . Bit of an epic fail there, Cato was in fact trying to help you.

Some theists, I'm one, cherry pick unapologetically. Some believe the bible is not inerrant. You don't get to tell other people to "take it as a whole or nothing", because your views on WHAT CHRISTIANS R LIKE hold all the significance of a puff of warm hydrogen to me, Cato, or anyone else here.

Chill, brethren. Take a breath. Consider the question I asked you, what do you wish to achieve with these caps heavy and repetitive threads?

[Mister Agenda]

Just the other day, I was building a tower to get to heaven, when all of the sudden, out of nowhere, I began speaking in confused tongues. I was like... WTF?

Just think what would have happend if you'd built a rocket and flown it to the Moon! No way would Yahweh stand for that!

[Jacob(smooth)]

Just the other day, I was building a tower to get to heaven, when all of the sudden, out of nowhere, I began speaking in confused tongues. I was like... WTF?

Just think what would have happend if you'd built a rocket and flown it to the Moon! No way would Yahweh stand for that!

Don't do that. Seriously. Someone will put 2 and 2 together and decide that that is evidence the moon landings were a fake.

[Chad32]

Darkmatter actually made a video about the tower. tahweh woke up, noticed the tower, wrecked it, went to sleep, and woke up again to see skyscrapers and planes flying around. It was pretty funny.

[Jackalope]

Just think what would have happend if you'd built a rocket and flown it to the Moon! No way would Yahweh stand for that!

Don't do that. Seriously. Someone will put 2 and 2 together and decide that that is evidence the moon landings were a fake.

Holy shit! You're right! They were faked!