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A Spatial-critical Reading of the Babel Narrative in Genesis 11: 1-9: A Critique of Cities of Humanity’s Power and Pride

Edward W. LO

This article is a spatial-critical reading of the Babel narrative in Genesis 11:1-9 by giving due attention to the spatial elements, cosmic spatiality, and humanity’s spatial way of society-making revealed in the text with a view to refreshing our understanding of the narrative in the contexts of our contemporary world. The article argues that the narrative exhibits a divine judgment on the pride of humanity. Gaston Bachelard’s critical theory of space will be deployed to substantiate that this is a justifiable pride of humanity, as pointed out by Raymond B. Marcin, out of their inherent fear and uncertainty towards space out there and uncertain future. The article will then demonstrate that the Babel narrative is a critique of the power of humanity buttressed by their ideologies, technologies, and capital, expressed visibly and concretely in their architecture and cities. While God’s action in the Babel narrative is a punishment for the justifiable pride of humanity, it is also salvation of humanity in the sense that they are directed to an alternative vision and ways of life on earth in God’s grace.