tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14900114.post112672453116724846..comments2024-03-20T10:47:46.434-07:00Comments on Annotated Skeptic's Annotated Bible: A nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand (Gen 11:1-9)Bruckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445755788968924719noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14900114.post-47362983200743274132008-12-06T01:25:00.000-08:002008-12-06T01:25:00.000-08:00It would seem a strange thing to do: To destroy co...It would seem a strange thing to do: To destroy common language prior to creating a book which we are instructed to spread to all the nations of the world. It must have taken centuries to translate it into all the languages, and the translation of the it's words are still divisive today: Most of the Christian responses to the SAB seem to be about the mis-translation of the original and general Adrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16453805825171650984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14900114.post-1168451448657746582007-01-10T09:50:00.000-08:002007-01-10T09:50:00.000-08:00I think what you're saying has some plausability, ...I think what you're saying has some plausability, but I also think you might underestimate the fear factor involved. Do you think that honestly if you woke up tomorrow and everything were the same except that nobody could understand you, that wouldn't blow your mind? Now imagine that it became clear with investigation that everyone was experiencing the same thing! How exactly are you going to Bruckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08445755788968924719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14900114.post-1168038419035041242007-01-05T15:06:00.000-08:002007-01-05T15:06:00.000-08:00see, I don't read the "confound their language" as...see, I don't read the "confound their language" as establish numerous new ones... I see it as more of a matter of mixing things up into nonsense. <BR/><BR/>I mean honestly why would you be discouraged that some people didn't understand you. The idea that different languages were established in this moment not only seems not sensical, but it would not have the desired effect. Presumably, in order Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14900114.post-1127153127163957642005-09-19T11:05:00.000-07:002005-09-19T11:05:00.000-07:00> Do you believe it actually happened, Brucker? Ye...> Do you believe it actually happened, Brucker? <BR/><BR/>Yes.<BR/><BR/>> That at one time (about 4500 years ago?) all humans spoke the same language? <BR/><BR/>At one time, yes, although not neccessarily at the time of Babel; there may have been more than one dialect of whatever language Noah spoke by that time.<BR/><BR/>> That they all came together at one place (Babel) to build a tower that Bruckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08445755788968924719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14900114.post-1127067472625609592005-09-18T11:17:00.000-07:002005-09-18T11:17:00.000-07:00"Are you saying it's either very consistent and ve..."Are you saying it's either very consistent and very absurd or inconsistent and completely mundane? I'm not sure I understand you."<BR/><BR/>It is consistent and it is absurd. <BR/><BR/>Do you believe it actually happened, Brucker? <BR/><BR/>That at one time (about 4500 years ago?) all humans spoke the same language? <BR/>That they all came together at one place (Babel) to build a tower that Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14900114.post-1126912436776225502005-09-16T16:13:00.000-07:002005-09-16T16:13:00.000-07:00"But the story presented in these three verses is ..."But the story presented in these three verses is as consistent as it is absurd."<BR/><BR/>Are you saying it's either very consistent and very absurd or inconsistent and completely mundane? I'm not sure I understand you.<BR/><BR/>In any case, it sounds like you're understanding my position, even though not agreeing with it, of course. They became too powerful, and God knocked them down a peg.Bruckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08445755788968924719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14900114.post-1126904886369220762005-09-16T14:08:00.000-07:002005-09-16T14:08:00.000-07:00“Admittedly I am adding to what's there, but I thi...“Admittedly I am adding to what's there, but I think I'm reading into the text a logical understanding. If you're going to take verse six literally, then rather than an absurdity, it's a direct contradiction to verse seven and eight.”<BR/><BR/>Okay, let’s look at those three verses.<BR/><BR/>11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14900114.post-1126808898440338872005-09-15T11:28:00.000-07:002005-09-15T11:28:00.000-07:00Admittedly I am adding to what's there, but I thin...Admittedly I am adding to what's there, but I think I'm reading into the text a logical understanding. If you're going to take verse six literally, then rather than an absurdity, it's a direct contradiction to verse seven and eight.Bruckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08445755788968924719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14900114.post-1126801943641928702005-09-15T09:32:00.000-07:002005-09-15T09:32:00.000-07:00Thanks for the explanation, Brucker. And sorry for...Thanks for the explanation, Brucker. And sorry for questioning your honesty. <BR/><BR/>I think you are trying to be honest. It's just that I get impatient with believers when they deny that the bible says what it clearly does say -- and then add things that the bible doesn't say to make a particular passage consistent with their own theological views.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14900114.post-1126801071410582752005-09-15T09:17:00.000-07:002005-09-15T09:17:00.000-07:00"Incidentally, Brucker, your implication here is t..."Incidentally, Brucker, your implication here is that non-religious people are immoral. That is both offensive and untrue."<BR/><BR/>Let me respond to this first, as it's a personal pet peeve of mine when I hear people make this claim. I don't intend to imply that only the religious can be moral people, and I do apologize if what I have said comes across as implying that. Atheists can and often Bruckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08445755788968924719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14900114.post-1126743949127261092005-09-14T17:25:00.000-07:002005-09-14T17:25:00.000-07:00Brucker: “No, read again. God doesn't say that ‘on...Brucker: “No, read again. God doesn't say that ‘once they do’ finish their building project they'll be able to do anything; He says that ‘now nothing will be restrained from them’.”<BR/><BR/>Okay, let’s read it again.<BR/><BR/>God: “And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they haveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14900114.post-1126733609148979712005-09-14T14:33:00.000-07:002005-09-14T14:33:00.000-07:00"He is worried that humans will be able to build a..."He is worried that humans will be able to build a tower that reaches up to him (or them) in heaven. And that once they do that they will be able to do whatever they want to do."<BR/><BR/>No, read again. God doesn't say that "once they do" finish their building project they'll be able to do anything; He says that "<I>now</I> nothing will be restrained from them". It's not something in the future Bruckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08445755788968924719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14900114.post-1126730193150088342005-09-14T13:36:00.000-07:002005-09-14T13:36:00.000-07:00“[God is] not worried for exactly the reason that ...“[God is] not worried for exactly the reason that is cited. There is no threat to God, but there is a threat to God's order and plan for the human race.”<BR/><BR/>That is not what the Bible says. That is what you wish it said.<BR/><BR/>So why <I>is</I> he worried? Well let’s let him tell us in his own words.<BR/><BR/>“And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com