In the 11th chapter of Genesis, the Bible tells us the peculiar story of the Tower of Babel. Being the final chapter in the opening of Genesis that is considered Hebrew poetry, we must remember that the purpose of the story is not meant to be a 100% historically factual account. Rather, the story is meant to reveal a greater truth. With that being said, it is certainly plausible that an event may have taken place as told.
Genesis tells us that before there were a multitude of languages in the world, men came together to build a great tower in order to make a name for themselves. God, displeased by this action because of their arrogance, confuses their speech so that they speak many different languages and are unable to complete their self indulgent task. They are then scattered throughout the world without the ability to recongregate due to their inability to communicate.
Modern day linguistics experts will say that just as it is believed we all come from the same human genome, all languages originated from one common ancestor language which makes the historicity of the story plausible. But that is not the purpose of the story. The truth of the story resides in the danger of pride. When we come together to glorify ourselves, it will not end well because it was not what we were created for. We were created to give glory to God, and He in turn gives it back in over abundance to His children.
Technological advancement is not something that displeases God. On the contrary, God delights when His creation participates in His action of creation. However, intention is everything. When it comes to morally neutral actions (such as building a tower) we have to recognize that an evil intention can make that action sinful. When the people build a tower for the purpose of making a name for themselves, this is an act of pride. They are coming together for the glorification of self. They are intentionally removing God from their midst and grasping after divinity. The people of the earth attempted to be like God without God. While this can seem harmless on the surface, it is building a society on a poor foundation. The society that is founded on the glorification of self becomes a sinful society of injustice, depression, and violence (welcome to 21st century western culture).
Enter the internet: A scientific marvel; A whole new universe in some ways. A place that can unite all four corners of the globe in terms of virtual culture, intellectual exchange, commerce, etc. Yet in nearly every pocket of the internet, it has become a new frontier of the glorification of man. Whether it be the direct sins of pornography and cyber bullying, or the misuse of good things like greed through consumerism and envy of our neighbor, the internet has become a place where man desires to make a name for himself.
The problem with this is that when man makes a name for himself, he necessarily creates a competition for wealth, power, pleasure, and/or honor. Thus for one man to be elevated, others need to be put down. Welcome to the internet. The place where corporations compete via advertising to make a ridiculous amount of money, where regular people aspire to be influencers through other people’s follows, likes and comments, where people expose the private parts of both body and soul for wealth and fame, and a where harsh words and slander are used to demonize the opposite point of view all. When people come together for their own glorification, they necessarily fall into sin.
What is the antidote? The Holy Spirit. We see the typological significance of the Tower of Babel in the story of Pentecost. Men and women come together in an elevated space (the upper room) for the glorification of God and the Spirit descends upon them. Instead of confusing their speech, all those who spoke different languages could understand the preaching of the Apostles. They (people of all nations) were brought together for the glory of God, the Church of Christ was born, and it endures to this day. The internet can be an extension of the Church of Christ, and many great Catholic and Christian organizations are working to make this a reality. But we always must be wary that our movements both in person and on the internet are driven by the Holy Spirit.
The community that God desires for His children is not one built on pride. It is one that is built on self sacrificial love for God and others. When we act in love, regardless of the language that is spoken, true communication happens in God’s family. The internet has the ability to be this place. It can do wondrous things to improve communication and create culture. However, as long as our actions on the internet are for our glorification, we will necessarily divide ourselves from each other even though we have been the most connected in the history of the human race.
