Babel, Language and Love

Last updated on: January 11, 2011 at 3:57 pm by David Hayward

Babel, Language and Love 2011-01-11T15:57:38-04:00 David Hayward

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The mythical story of Babel in Genesis teaches that language is a powerful unifier, but that it is also a powerful divider.

Sometimes we make efforts to get another person to subscribe to our language because it makes us more comfortable. We can finally categorize that person as either in agreement with us or in disagreement and put them in their proper place in relation to us. We will talk and talk and talk in efforts to get the other to finally say the magic words that will badge them as right or wrong in relation to us.

In the story of Babel it was actually the unifying efforts of religion that caused the dispersion: “Let us build a tower unto the heavens lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth!” The Genesis story intends to explain why people are scattered over the face of the earth with so many different languages. But I think Jews, Christians and Muslims should understand that it also implicitly explains, through the use of story, that a dominant world religion with a unified language is doomed for failure and is actually against what is intended.

This means, in my understanding, that there should be diversity of belief or non-belief, as well as diversity of expression and language. Love is not required when we are all the same, when there is no Other. Love implies diversity. As Jesus says in the gospels: “You invite friends to dinner. Even sinners do that. Invite your enemies.“

Previous Post

January 11, 2011

cartoon: smells like roses

Next Post

January 12, 2011 cartoon: goodbye?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category art cartoons cartoons 2 freebie music one minute message podcast Sophia teaching technology thought

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 March 2006 February 2006

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Psalm did Moses write?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Psalm 23 Psalm 90 Psalm 119 Psalm 72