An interesting letter for our religious nuts to ponder

[wautd]

An enjoyable read I'd wanted to share.

In her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:


Dear Dr. Laura:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination ... End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of Menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your adoring fan.


James M. Kauffman, Ed.D. Professor Emeritus, Dept. Of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education University of Virginia

Offcourse, the standard response from fundies will be that the NT overwrites the OT.

[CaptainChewbacca]

Really, really, really incredibly old letter. Snopes even has a page about it.

Nobody's sure if its genuine.

Offcourse, the standard response from fundies will be that the NT overwrites the OT.

Indeed. Anyone pummeling gays with the old testament condemnations has forgotten that Jesus only gave us two commandments;

1. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Unfortunately, some think rule #2 involves the enforcement of rule #1 on others, not realizing you can't compell love.

[Rye]

Offcourse, the standard response from fundies will be that the NT overwrites the OT.

From your own quoted article:

In her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance.

[Losonti Tokash]

In the context of what wautd said, that's perfectly valid, but so are the questions raised in this ancient chain letter since presumably she does not support slavery or the execution of people who get hair cuts.

[wautd]

I dindn't realized it was already quite old. Must have flown below my radar.

[Crossroads Inc.]

It is quite old, but it will forever be valid, I keep it saved on my desktop and pull it out when debating Fundis. its always a laugh to see them go from saying how we should follow the Old laws, then backpedal when I start throwing around everything else in the Old Testament.

My personal favorite of them is the shellfish one, because it uses almost exactly the same words as the one against 'Homos'

[Omeganian]

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

Officially, I believe there are five main degrees. Eating shellfish, IIRC, is level 2 (flogging), while most kinds of forbidden sexual contact are level 5 (execution). So, yeah, his friend is quite correct.

[Molyneux]

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

Officially, I believe there are five main degrees. Eating shellfish, IIRC, is level 2 (flogging), while most kinds of forbidden sexual contact are level 5 (execution). So, yeah, his friend is quite correct.

I'm Jewish, and I've never heard anything like that. The text does not distinguish - the same word is used for "abomination". I'm calling BS on that unless you can back it up.

[eion]

Ah, Aaron Sorkin really is a gift to chain letter writers.

[Omeganian]

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

Officially, I believe there are five main degrees. Eating shellfish, IIRC, is level 2 (flogging), while most kinds of forbidden sexual contact are level 5 (execution). So, yeah, his friend is quite correct.

I'm Jewish, and I've never heard anything like that. The text does not distinguish - the same word is used for "abomination". I'm calling BS on that unless you can back it up.

Well, the law certainly sees a difference when punishing. Of course, I could have mixed something up. I think this is the university teacher from whom I heard that; you can inquire:

http://mzb.biu.ac.il/he/node/235

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

That's strange. Sacrifices are only to be made at the Temple, but there is no Temple. Therefore, such a sacrifice is an improper one, and cannot be pleasing to God. In fact, cases were known of severe divine punishment for improper sacrifices. Damn, this guy's suicidal.

[CaptainChewbacca]

Sacrifice can be made on an altar now because the temple no longer exists, as long as it is built properly.

[Omeganian]

Sacrifice can be made on an altar now because the temple no longer exists, as long as it is built properly.

Yes, in the place where the Temple altar stood. Not in someone's backyard.

[Rye]

Sacrifice can be made on an altar now because the temple no longer exists, as long as it is built properly.

Yes, in the place where the Temple altar stood. Not in someone's backyard.

I'm not so sure that's a requirement for it. Where, after all, was Abraham's ram sacrificed? What about Noah, upon disembarking the ark? Seems to me that sacrifices were preserved even when people were separate from the Temple.

[SCRawl]

Ah, Aaron Sorkin really is a gift to chain letter writers.

He didn't write that, though he did rip it off for an episode of "The West Wing".

Edit: and yeah, I now get that you didn't imply that he did. Move along, nothing to see here.

[Omeganian]

Sacrifice can be made on an altar now because the temple no longer exists, as long as it is built properly.

Yes, in the place where the Temple altar stood. Not in someone's backyard.

I'm not so sure that's a requirement for it. Where, after all, was Abraham's ram sacrificed? What about Noah, upon disembarking the ark? Seems to me that sacrifices were preserved even when people were separate from the Temple.

Not quite. That's from before the Temple (and continued for awhile after the Temple was built). But Deuteronomy stated - one place only.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?se ... ersion=NIV

[eion]

Ah, Aaron Sorkin really is a gift to chain letter writers.

He didn't write that, though he did rip it off for an episode of "The West Wing".

Edit: and yeah, I now get that you didn't imply that he did. Move along, nothing to see here.

No problemo. I still think it sounds better coming out of President Bartlet. It took me a while to make peace with how well this anonymous internet writer's words dovetail with Mr. Sorkin’s.

I literally never get tired of watching this clip.

[Darth Hoth]

Indeed. Anyone pummeling gays with the old testament condemnations has forgotten that Jesus only gave us two commandments;

1. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Unfortunately, some think rule #2 involves the enforcement of rule #1 on others, not realizing you can't compell love.

Most Christians I have heard tend to use the New Testament condemnations of the same. And is that really what he said? In the Bible I read:

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

This reads to me like these things were the most basic, not the only ones necessary.

As for the Law:

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

[Molyneux]

Well, the law certainly sees a difference when punishing. Of course, I could have mixed something up. I think this is the university teacher from whom I heard that; you can inquire:

http://mzb.biu.ac.il/he/node/235

Given that I don't speak Hebrew, that is just a bit difficult. Do you have any references in English?