Tower of Information

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Thou shall be ignorant?

As a child, I was confused about the origin story regarding the Tower of Babel featured in Genesis 11. In particular, I didn’t understand Genesis 11:6-7 regarding unification of people who sought to build a tower to Heaven:

6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

First, I couldn’t comprehend why a deity would be afraid of subjects who achieved a similar level of proximity as His own. In my childlike mind, I thought that Jehovah’s perceived fear of humanity, coming together with shared information, wasn’t indicative of a powerful being.

Second, I didn’t know who “us” was in verse seven. Although there are Judeo-Christian religions which value a concept relating to the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), I was taught that there was only one God. How did “us” relate to one?

Again, I was a child when grappling with this matter, so the math didn’t add up. (Still doesn’t.) Polytheism masked as monotheism takes a number of inconsistent hoops through which to leap.

Last, I didn’t understand why Jehovah would deliberately confuse the language of humans. Did He want people to be deprived of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding?

Contrasting Genesis 11 with Jehovah’s behavior in Genesis 2 – placing the tree of knowledge of good and evil in an eastward garden in Eden and then driving out Adam from the garden in Genesis 3:24 – I had my answer. Apparently, information itself was to be revered.

Ignorance is defined as the state or fact of being ignorant: lack of knowledge, education, or awareness; whereas ignorant is defined as resulting from or showing lack of knowledge or intelligence. There’s no shame in being ignorant, because everyone is ignorant to a degree.

For instance, I don’t know how to play the guitar. I’m ignorant in this regard. There’s no moral condemnation necessary for this fact. Thus, I’m not a bad, evil, or shameful person for not knowing what I don’t know.

In any case, my youthful ignorance of why Jehovah apparently wanted humans to remain ignorant didn’t make sense to me. Why would He demand that people shouldn’t, mustn’t, or oughtn’t to have access to information?

Matters became more confusing for me when my late mom, who dabbled in magic, shared information with me about how Satan (ostensibly Lucifer) was viewed as a benevolent actor by some people. This was because the fallen angel was said to have given knowledge to humanity, which was perceived as positive act by some individuals.

Later in adulthood, I heard a similar narrative on lyricist Ras Kass’s 1998 album Rasassination which contained a track called “The End” and that featured a vocal except from unidentified men stating:

Man 1 (presumably Jordan Maxwell): The word Illuminati comes from the Latin word ilūmeni or ilūmen which, it means, light. So anyone who is enlightened or brilliant… of course those who are most enlightened are called brilliant.

Man 2: Well, it comes from Lucifer. What we’re really talking about here is Lucifer the fallen angel, and they have picked up on this – Illuminati. And if you take a look at some of the Chevy’s now, they’re called the ‘Illumin’ [Lumina] and they have the horns going up the back of the vehicle – very subtly telling us that something is coming down by the year 2000.

Man 1: Well, as I was saying, is it implies that those who hold the light are the enlightened ones. And they sent us a statue, as a matter of fact. Those ancient Illuminatis sent us a statue called the Statue of Liberty. It’s holding the torch – the torch of the illumination – which is the Promethean torch of Freemasonry. And if you go to the Statue of Liberty you’ll see a bronze plaque inside saying that this was given to the government of America by the French Grand Orient Temple Masons [Grand Orient de France]. And it is a symbol of Grand Orient Masonry in America – the holder of the light. That’s exactly the same torch during the Olympics. It is the torch of Prometheus.

Man 2: It is not the torch of freedom?

Man 1: No. It’s the torch of illumination.

Man 2: It’s the torch of the Illuminati.

Comparisons between Lucifer and Prometheus have been made by a number of people, as a sympathetic illustration of Lucifer the light-bringer is credited with being a spreader of information. If dissemination of information wasn’t what Jehovah intended, then Satan is viewed as bad.

Given this perspective, and considering how Jehovah of the Old Testament ostensibly desired for humans to remain ignorant, one can better understand Satan’s fall from grace. Furthermore, one can comprehend how some authority figures increasingly challenge the dissemination of information via the Internet.

An onerous undertaking

Long since having subscribed to religious dogma, I now assume an areligious stance—noncommittal or professedly neutral concerning religious matters. Still, I value past experience related to how information influences beliefs – especially in regard to the Internet.

Examining this process using my approach to Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I think of conspiracy theorist beliefs regarding the 2024 United States (U.S.) presidential election cycle. In fact, I’ve encountered quite a bit of information of this sort for just under a decade.

Russiagate, QAnon, BlueAnon, Jan 6th, Project 2025, and other conspiracy theory-laden events and ideas which contain kernels of truth feed into irrational beliefs people use to disturb themselves. By “irrational,” I’m referring to that which doesn’t comport with logic and reason.

Similar to the experience of ignorance, there’s no shame in the fact that one maintains illogical or unreasonable beliefs. Irrational assumptions can sometimes arise automatically. To demonstrate how this occurs, consider the Tower of Babel and imagine a stacked wooden puzzle.

Photo credit, fair use

At the base of the structure is information. Aside from accurate and helpful information, in a blogpost entitled Information Overload I discussed terms associated with misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation.

When thinking of misinformation, think of the word mistake. For instance, in Ras Kass’s song “The End,” a man discusses that automaker Chevy having once made a vehicle called the “Illumin.” However, this is a mistake of fact, because the car was actually called the “Lumina.”

When thinking of disinformation, think of the word deceit. This term represents behavior whereby someone is intentionally dishonest in order to fool others. As well, this form of information is rife on the Internet.

As an example, suppose I understood that information contained in the excerpt of “The End” wasn’t entirely accurate – or even mostly so. Nevertheless, I wanted to convince you that there’s a sinister organization bent on world domination.

I then dis-informed you with information about how the Illuminati wasn’t able to bring about total subjugation of the global population by 2000, though a nefarious plot of the organization is to do so by 2025. Using information I suspected or knew not to be true, largely internet-based, I then presented disinformation in order to mislead you.

When thinking of malinformation, think about information that may be true though which is morally “bad” or merely inconvenient for a particular entity. Suppose I told you that information in “The End” about the Statue of Liberty is accurate. According to one source, the cornerstone of the Statue pedestal reads:

At this site on August 5, 1884, the cornerstone of the pedestal of the Statue of “Liberty Enlightening the World” was laid with ceremony by William A. Brodie, Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York. Grand lodge members, representatives of the United States and French governments, Army and Navy officers, members of foreign legations, and distinguished citizens were present. This plaque is dedicated by the Masons of New York in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of that historic event.

MW Calvin G. Bond, Grand Master of Masons

MW Arthur Markewich, Masonic Anniversary Chairman

RW Robert C. Singer, Deputy Grand Master

August 5, 1984

If you were primed to believe that Freemasonry was evil and I provided you with accurate information about the inscription on the pedestal of the Statue, you may then determine that you’re obliged to destroy the cornerstone inscription. (Although I don’t recommend doing so.)

Malinformation isn’t inaccurate information though it may be data that Freemasons, Illuminati members, or other people may not appreciate being discussed. Therefore, malinformation about Freemasonry apparently being associated with Luciferianism may be considered “bad” by some individuals.

As information forms the base of a wooden Tower of Babel, consider that morals and ethics are then stacked on top of this data. For context, a moral is of or relating to principles of right and wrong. Based on morals, ethics are rules people pledge to live by.

For instance, I believe it’s morally wrong to abuse children. Therefore, my ethical consideration is not to abuse children. On top of one’s morals and ethics are principles which are sometimes referred to as values.

According to one source, “Values describe what is important in a person’s life, while ethics and morals prescribe what is or is not considered appropriate behavior in living one’s life. Principles inform our choice of desirable behavioral constraints (morals, ethics, rules, laws, etc.).”

This distinction between description and prescription is the key to understanding principles. Because I believe it’s bad to abuse children (moral) and I’ve committed myself to not abusing children (ethic), it’s important for me not to abuse children (principle and/or value).

Next up in the wooden Tower of Babel is belief—something that’s accepted, considered to be true, or held as an opinion. As previously mentioned, not all beliefs are rational. In fact, many beliefs are merely based in faith—something that is believed, especially with strong conviction.

Although “faith” is often associated with religion, it can also refer to strongly-held beliefs about matters such as an Illuminati conspiracy theory. To demonstrate how the formation of such a belief may occur, consider the following hypothetical syllogism:

Form –

If p, then q; if q, then r; therefore, if p, then r.

Example –

If it’s possible that conspiracy theories are accurate and good to believe in, then I won’t allow nonbelievers to sway my quest to determine valuable truth about secret societies.

If I won’t allow nonbelievers to sway my quest to determine valuable truth about secret societies, then I shouldn’t listen to people who doubt in the existence of the Illuminati.

Therefore, if it’s possible that conspiracy theories are accurate and good to believe in, then I shouldn’t listen to people who doubt in the existence of the Illuminati.

The logic of this syllogistic belief follows the prescribed form. However, it arrives at an unreasonable conclusion. Can you identify why this is the case?

I used information (“it’s possible that conspiracy theories are accurate”), which is true. I then stacked in a subjective moral (“good to believe in”), a personal principle (“my quest to determine valuable truth”), and a demandingness irrational belief (“I shouldn’t listen to people”).

Noteworthy, some conspiracy theories are indeed accurate – or at least some or many elements of them aren’t entirely false (e.g., an underlying hypothesis that may not be replicated can be plausible). Regarding this matter, one source states:

In principle, conspiracy theories might not always be false, and their validity depends on evidence as for any theory. However, they are often implausible prima facie due to their convoluted and all-encompassing nature. Conspiracy theories tend to be internally consistent and correlate with each other; they are generally designed to resist falsification either by evidence against them or a lack of evidence for them.

To provide an illustrative example, consider that high up on my wooden Tower of Babel is a belief in unidentified flying objects (UFOs) or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Do you assume that my belief is subject to the trappings of conspiracy theory?

Suppose you do and I retort with a proposition that a U.S. drone flying over a foreign country may not be immediately identified (UFO) and it meets the unmanned criteria of an aerial vehicle (UAV). Would you be willing to change your assumption about my belief in this case?

Imagining so, I’ve successfully challenged a lower peg in your wooden Tower of Babel. By providing clarity in regard to my belief, you’ve taken out old data and replaced it with new information.

With this modification, the morals, ethics, principles, and beliefs resting atop your newly acquired information may be adjusted. Presumably, you initially thought I was referring to extraterrestrial travelers when mentioning UFOs and UAVs.

Perhaps you don’t believe there’s life elsewhere in existence. So it would’ve been a straightforward rejection for your wooden tower to remain erect when my perceived information didn’t comport with your foundational information.

However, when considering my clarification, you presumably altered your opinion. The mild form of disputation used herein was enough to lead toward an effective new belief.

This is how I approach REBT. Admittedly, it can be extraordinarily difficult to persuade an individual about a closely-held belief in a 50-minute session when the person is unwilling to even consider opposing information than what lies at the base of one’s own wooden tower.

This can be especially challenging when dealing with matters of religiously faith-based beliefs. Still, although one may assume an areligious stance, non-religious faith-based arguments can still be used to undermine the psychotherapeutic process of REBT.

In specific, conspiracy theory-laden events and ideas revolving around the 2024 U.S. presidential cycle are sometimes uniquely arduous with which to contend. This matter is further amplified when considering that at the height of one’s wooden tower is behavior.

The manner in which a person behaves is often influenced by beliefs under which are principles, ethics, morals, and information. It’s at the base that data may be represented by accurate information, misinformation, disinformation, or malinformation.

Add to this equation a person who is willfully self-disturbed by refusing to consider other perspectives and who rejects rationality, and an onerous undertaking of REBT practice may seem virtually impossible to complete. Alas, if thou shall be self-disturbed, I unconditionally accept a person’s rigid demand and refusal for help.

Conclusion

When I was a child, I didn’t comprehend many of the stories I encountered through biblical instruction. For instance, I didn’t understand why Jehovah apparently didn’t want builders of the Tower of Babel to achieve success and why He seemed to value ignorance over information.

As an adult, I now understand how misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation – especially concerning a predominately godless or secular society that is seemingly enmeshed with the Internet – can influence the proverbial tower upon which one’s behavior is centered.

Although I disagree with actions taken by some, I can understand how authorities of the world appear to be preoccupied with preventing the transfer of information while bringing down erected towers of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding – almost as though such establishments are playing the role of God.

In any case, personal wooden Towers of Babel are how I conceptualize the self-disturbed behavior of people with whom I use REBT. Fortunately, most of my clients reject hubris (exaggerated pride or self-confidence) regarding subjective information and beliefs.

Nevertheless, some individuals are willfully self-disturbed and the process of REBT practice can be a truly onerous undertaking at times. I suppose that as the 2024 U.S. presidential election cycle continues to unfold I’ll keep this tower of information post in mind.

A healthy dose of acceptance without condition may go a long way in this regard. What do you think, dear reader? Is the conceptual tower of information outlined herein something worth considering? If so, and if you’d like to know more, I’m here to help.

If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As the world’s foremost old school hip hop REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

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