Genesis 11:1-4

In the New American Bible, it is written about the Tower of Babel: "The whole world spoke the same language, using the same words. While men were migrating in the east, they came upon a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there. They said to one another, 'Come, let us mold bricks and harden them with fire.' They used bricks for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, 'Come let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and so make a name for ourselves; otherwise, we will be scattered all over the earth.' Mu response: As a child, I was taught that these rebellious, profane secular humanists were competing with God and seeking to overthrow God, so God smote them down to humble these sinners and rebels for their effrontery and disrespect. Now, it may be useful that the whole world speaks one language, let us say English so that shared language could serve as a jumping off point for people to increase mutual understanding, cooperation and mutual appreciation. I now equate the city, the tower and the artificial world of urban living as signs of God's presence, not Satan's lair. For Satan is strongest in the country, in nature, in the natural world. How could the Bible be so wrong, concerning this myth of the power and Tower of Babel. I have no answer for their mistaken symbolism and misinterpretation of where and how people are good or not. There are times when the Christian and Hebraic Bible share stories that do not parallel what is good, godly or correct. It is obvious that humans should not vie with God or work to overthrow God --it would not succeed anyway but would bring horrible divine wrath down upon our heads, but God approves of our developing our urban and human world, and indeed commands us to proceed to flourish that way, indeed upon pain of being punished for not building our literal and cultural Towers of Babel. Now let me quote the same verses from the Holy Bible (KJV): "And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said to one another, God to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. And they said, Go to, let us build a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." My response: The KJV reveals more clearly that, by building their tower to reach unto heaven, and by making a name for themselves, it could be construed that they exalted themselves at Yahweh's expense, so he punished and humbled them in revenge.