Tower of Babble (a bunch of baseless babble)

The first impression you get when you read the Bible is that Nimrod built his tower to reach heaven, although you might wonder why he did not just climb a mountain. It is more likely that he wanted to build the highest tower in the land to honor the god of his city and bring glory to himself. The most powerful god would, of course, live in the highest city temple, nearest to heaven. He would be The Most High God. Many, from other cities, would be drawn to Nimrod's tower and god, and it would tend to keep other from leaving (Gen. 11:4). This would increase Nimrod's authority in religious matters and subsequently give him more power to restrict religious freedom as far away as Ebla. Nimrod had great popularity and power. All he lacked was complete religious authority. There are several references stating that Nimrod stood on top of his tower and shot an arrow into the heavens killing the rival god (of the Hebrews?).
The tower of Babel was probably a zigguart, which was a staged tower with a temple at the apex, such as those in Central America. This was spoken of as the Bond between Heaven and Earth. The temple at the top of the tower was called The House of God or The House of the Mountain. The word ‘mountain’ as used then, had a deep religious significance and we are reminded of Isaiah 2:2 where we read that the Mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
The most remarkable event that took place is how the confusion of tongues was accomplished. Up until then (circa 3000 BC) writing was logographic. At the time of Nimord's tower, one of the Sumerians was inspired to create writing by using syllables instead of the 3000 logograms they were using (like traditional Chinese and Japanese). It caught on like wildfire and each major city wanted to develop their own way to write phonetically. This is why we find only about five written languages developed---there were only about that many major city kingdoms at that time. The orient was unaware of this revolution in writing and so continued to use logograms. William

They were under the influence of a wicked king named Nimrod who was building the highest temple tower to house the "most high god" to protect his city. God did not want all the people to flock to him, so he inspired someone to develop phonetic writing to keep them within their own cities.
Just a small aside, is not Occam spelled Ockham, from William Ockham, and English philosopher of the 1300s.
William

William, apparently you missed my message about LDS perspectives on mainstream science, history, and archaeology. I think a whole thread is in order for the subject. Concerns I have about the views of the Church are this:
(1) Catastrophism in North America as recorded in 3 Nephi -- everytime I ask somebody about BoM geography or archeaology I am always told that the whole landscape shifted so much to make any inquiry there pointless, to the point that the shape of the continent was completely changed. Of course, this rails against geology *and* history.
The church has no views on catastrophism or unifomitarianism! Members of the church each have their own views, mostly bases on what someone else believes rather than from their own investigations. Unfortunately, when a church leader issues a belief statement on such things, they are taken as a gospel truth. LDS geologists do not cite Velikovsky or believe in catastrophism as far as I know from my own studies. Landscape changes were local. Nearly all ruins in Mexico and Central America were built upon previous structures which pre-dated the catastrophes mentioned in 3 Nephi. Don’t use misinformed LDS members as straw men to win an argument.
(2) Presence of paleo-Indian cultures in NA from very ancient times. Surely there must have already been "Lamanites" here when the Jaredites made their landfall.
There were probably Eskimoes and other people from Africa etc. The events in the lives of the familes of Jared and Lehi were basically the only things recorded. Just as you probably do not write much about other families as a family history.
(3) Apparent lack of Nephite or Jaredite iron or steel implements found in NA.
Iron and steel rusts rapidly in a hot moist environment. Why would you expect to still find any?
(4) Nasty comments made by Apostles on geology, evolution and the Big Bang theories. (The First Presidency, in contrast, has been very careful with commentary in this area).
What about nice comments by Apostles and others on evolution and the Big Bang. The LDS Church has only four books that have been canonized. All other comments and writings are opinions which we hope are inspired. But the church does not make dogmatic statements about evolution and the Big Bang. One church president stated, Leave that up to science and said evolution was not an issue for us (general authorities) to debate.
However such things are of great interest to me. I believe in the evolution of the flora and fauna, and in the creation of man. I hope we can create some threads of common interest.
William

gene 90
My reading of D&C 77:6 is a discription of the 7000 years of man on the earth, after it was created. If you were God, and wanted your children to learn the things you knew, when would you have taught them about creation--while it was going on with hands on experience or after it was done?
William

I believe a good part of our education in pre-earth life was learning how to create by genetic engineering under supervision, of course. Most of the steps along the phylogenetic ladder were accomplished by adding clusters of genes to existing species to create a more advanced creature. This even included homonids. One reason that we do not seem to see new genes appearing (not mutations of existing genes) is that evolution was basically completed and we are involved in earth life experiences. Speciation by mutation would continue.
William