Bible Discussion, Monday 9th January at 6.30pm
The Bible Discussion group is back! This Monday 9th January, beginning at 6.30pm, Indra Sikdar will lead discussion around the confusion of languages and origin of nations, focussing on the account of the Tower of Babel in Genesis chapter 11. (Also keeping in mind the treatment of the idea of ‘nationhood’ in Matthew 24.7, depending on time.)
Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2 And as they migrated from the east,[a] they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 And they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and fire them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone and bitumen for mortar. 4 Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." 5 The LORD[b] came down to see the city and the tower, which mortals had built. 6 And the LORD said, "Look, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another’s speech." 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9 Therefore it was called Babel, because there the LORD confused (balal) the language of all the earth, and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.
— Genesis 11:1–9
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.
—Matthew 24:7
In the two above passages, we have a apparently confused message.
In the Genesis people are building a tower (practical) to avoid future floods. Perhaps like we built the Thames Barrier to stop London flooding. But God confused the language and scattered them all over the world. Are projects like the English Speaking Union which encourages people to speak a common language "ungodly".
In the second passage "nation will rise against nation". What exactly is a nation a race, nationality or tribe, or religious grouping?
And, how do we interpret phenomenon in the modern age:
Examples could be mixed marriage (inter racial or interreligious).
International marriage: I know a person of Indian heritage, born in Scotland, who married an English women but their child is born in Dublin, Ireland.
Also, in my case (parents born in India). But I am born in England. Am I British Asian, British Indian, Indian born in England, British or English etc?
Is the Bible's idea of nationhood perhaps outdated - discuss
Zoom link:
Meeting ID:823 7804 2367
Passcode: 460019
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