THE TOWER OF BABEL

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. The series states that the destruction of the tower overrode the free will of the builders. Do you agree? Actually, the builders were not prevented from building the tower, so their free will seems to be untrammeled. It is only their purpose which seems to have been overridden. Does overriding someone’s objective while allowing them to initiate their project interfere with their free will?
2. If the indicia of Nationalism are considered, the Tower of Babel is quite important as a symbol of national unity. Do you think the objectives stated as the reasons for destroying the Tower are sufficient to prevent the people from having an important symbol of their nation?
3. The series stated that the story might have been built on the discovery of ruins and the biblical authors used those ruins to make up a story that made their point. Do you think history should be changed to make a point? If so, how much change is permitted?
4. The builders of the tower were never given an opportunity to remove it themselves. Do you think they should have been given such an opportunity?
5. The location of the Garden of Eden has never been definitively identified. Do you think a similar fabrication was made for the Garden of Eden?