Ethnic Diversity
Who hasn’t asked the question, “Where do races come from”? It is amazing what one may hear sometimes. There was even one that made it into a magazine that someone showed me one day that was very interesting, not that is was scriptural or true, but that a “religious” group actually held this view. I currently know of three different views I would like to present now.
[1] I have heard it said that there was a race separation between the children of Adam and Eve, namely Seth and Cain.
The problem I see with this is that there are only two children mentioned and there are more than two races, so then we would have to have a division of one or both of the children to properly consider the races we have.
[2] I have heard it said that the races came from Noah and his three sons, namely Shem, Ham, and Japheth. This view holds stronger than the Seth/Cain view for the simple fact that Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives (8) were the only survivors of the old world. It has even been said that there is only three basic races.
Whereas it may be true that there is only three basic races (yet I am not sure), I still find a problem with this view. One problem I see is that although Noah had three sons, I find it difficult to believe that he and his wife had three children that were difference races. Although it could be possible that their wives were each a different race, that leaves a lot of white page reading.
[3] I have heard it said that races were formed at the tower of Babel. At this time the world was of one language, one speech, and I believe still the one race from Noah. Here they decided to build a tower unto heaven. The LORD decided to come down to “confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech” and “scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth”.
In my opinion, this is where scripture is the clearest of the separation/creation of races. We have a separation of language and a separation of location. Before we were able to travel as we are able in recent times, pretty much races where divided by language and location.
Granted, it may very well be the case as in [2] that the races have come from the three sons of Noah [Genesis 10], but I believe biblically this did not take place until the tower of Babel, since at that time [Genesis 11] they were still of one language.
What have you heard and how do you agree or disagree?
6 comments:
Number three makes the most sense to me---What ever that means? :-)
When the Lord changed the languages of the people it would stand to reason that people of the same language would remain together and would drift apart from those with other languages. When (or if) that happened, the people would seperate with certain generic traits that would become prominante throughout the generations.
That makes the most sense to me too.
Thanks for stopping by.
the three referenced are Caucasoid, Mongoloid, and Negroid (i believe having to do with identifying skeletal/facial structures (?)--it's been a while).
a lot depends on how you feel about migration and the shifting of plates, and time....well, and evolution. but human beings can be seen as a beautiful reflection of being created to survive/enjoy an environment. i.e. long noses give the cold air more time to warm upon inhalation. the tight curls allow some scalp exposure where heat can escape in a hot environment whereas a thick cap of hair helps retain heat in the cold. and not to mention the color of skin helping with vitamin D, both aiding in absorption or blocking a potential overdose.
when we consider classifications, especially race; i believe those began in our own minds. some for academic and medical purposes, and other for purposes of superiority.
of your three, i would go with the third, for similar reasons as tony. i haven't studied much about 'race' within biblical context, mostly through those anthropology classes some eight years ago. interesting blog to consider--thanks.
Tim,
Number three makes the most sense to me also. Now, on the subject of race, why do you think 11 am Sunday morning is the most segregated hour of the week?
Bobby
Intersting. Why, Bobby?
HAHA I was looking to you for the answer! I have no clue. I don;t think racism is the answer though
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