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THE TOWER OF BABEL AND THE CONFUSION OF TONGUES

One of the most misunderstood passages in the Old Testament is the Genesis account of the Confusion of Tongues at the Tower of Babel. This is typically viewed as an effort to explain the origin of Earth’s many diverse languages, their having arisen from a single primal tongue.

Believers view this account (e.g., their interpretation of it) as a true historical record. Skeptics generally agree to the popular notion that the story describes the sudden creation of new languages, but they regard such a claim as being pure fantasy. As it turns out, the believers and skeptics are both wrong. And this begs the question, “Did something unusual actually occur as remembered in the account?” And if so, what was it?

There are, in fact, numerous records from around the world that attest to the reality of some kind of language-related disturbance in mankind’s ancient history. Moreover, these records are “geographically spotty enough” to suggest multiple near-simultaneous occurrences of whatever this was. So given this reality, what can be said of its nature?

An objective reading of the biblical account reveals no suggestion whatever that new languages were created. The text merely states that the tower-builders’ speech was “confounded.” Likewise, the oldest known extra-biblical record states that the victims’ speech was “made strange.”

The other records, transmitted orally for countless generations, are inconsistent. Some speak of “strange speech,” others of new languages.

Given the absence of a reference to new languages in what appear to be the most dependable records, those transcribed early on, another explanation is necessary. Modern clinical studies appear to suggest what actually happened.

It has been demonstrated that the electrical stimulation of certain parts of the brain can give rise to garbled vocalizations, not to be confused with speech. This can result from both direct stimulation and exposure to extremely low frequency radiation.

It is my opinion that this observed phenomenon is a contemporary example of what the Book of Genesis calls “confounded speech.” The Confusion of Tongues at the Tower of Babel can thus be demystified. It was a rather widespread natural disturbance.

The interested reader can find in my book MAN AND HIS PLANET – An Unauthorized History a complete analysis leading to a reconstruction of the ancient event along with the likely cause. Also included is a presentation of the relevant evidence, i.e., the legends. Go to www.letthereberight.com.