• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

Christians, why is homosexuality a sin, but eating shellfish not a sin?

Rational Agnostic

Well-Known Member
According to Leviticus, engaging in homosexual sex is an "abomination." But, so is eating fish without fins and scales. Leviticus 11:9-12 states:

"These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.

And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:

They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.

Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you."

Note that the act of eating fish without fins and scales is called an "abomination" no less than four times in these passages. Clearly, according to the bible, God views eating shellfish as a sin at least as abominable as that of homosexuality, if not more so. So, my question for Christians is, why do you cherry pick the part of the bible that forbids homosexual sex, while entirely ignoring the part that forbids the eating of fish without fins and scales? Why do evangelicals yell in the streets about homosexuality, but not about eating shrimp and lobster? Please explain this.
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
I will explain this, though I am not a Christian, for the 183673928th time.

The Christians basically divide the Torah Law into three categories:

Ceremonial & Other
Moral
Sacrificial

As their belief is that Jesus was the sacrifice to end all sacrifices they no longer need sacrifices
They no longer consider the Ceremonial laws and Other laws, i.e., holidays, binding, because they believe they were a foreshadowing of Jesus and everything he did & happened to him.
They consider the moral laws binding, as their Scriptures attest.
Eating shellfish is not a moral issue; it is a dietary law.
Homosexual relationships are a moral issue.

VII. Of the Old Testament.
The Old Testament is not contrary to the New: for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to Mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and Man, being both God and Man. Wherefore they are not to be heard, which feign that the old Fathers did look only for transitory promises. Although the Law given from God by Moses, as touching Ceremonies and Rites, do not bind Christian men, nor the Civil precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any commonwealth; yet notwithstanding, no Christian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the Commandments which are called Moral.

Anglicans Online | The Thirty-Nine Articles
 

Altfish

Veteran Member
According to Leviticus, engaging in homosexual sex is an "abomination." But, so is eating fish without fins and scales. Leviticus 11:9-12 states:

"These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.

And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:

They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.

Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you."

Note that the act of eating fish without fins and scales is called an "abomination" no less than four times in these passages. Clearly, according to the bible, God views eating shellfish as a sin at least as abominable as that of homosexuality, if not more so. So, my question for Christians is, why do you cherry pick the part of the bible that forbids homosexual sex, while entirely ignoring the part that forbids the eating of fish without fins and scales? Why do evangelicals yell in the streets about homosexuality, but not about eating shrimp and lobster? Please explain this.
Can you be a closet shellfish eater? Many of the most vocal critics of homosexual actually have homosexual urges.
 

Rational Agnostic

Well-Known Member
I will explain this, though I am not a Christian, for the 183673928th time.

The Christians basically divide the Torah Law into three categories:

Ceremonial & Other
Moral
Sacrificial

As their belief is that Jesus was the sacrifice to end all sacrifices they no longer need sacrifices
They no longer consider the Ceremonial laws and Other laws, i.e., holidays, binding, because they believe they were a foreshadowing of Jesus and everything he did & happened to him.
They consider the moral laws binding, as their Scriptures attest.
Eating shellfish is not a moral issue; it is a dietary law.
Homosexual relationships are a moral issue.

But given that the Bible emphasizes that eating shellfish is an "abomination," it is clearly condemned by God as being a very immoral act, and thus, a sin. So the people who claim to take the Bible literally actually don't take it literally.
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
But given that the Bible emphasizes that eating shellfish is an "abomination," it is clearly condemned by God as being a very immoral act, and thus, a sin. So the people who claim to take the Bible literally actually don't take it literally.
You obviously read nothing I wrote.
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
I read it. There is no distinction between "dietary" and "moral" laws in the two passages. Those distinctions you speak of are made up by Christians who want to believe that homosexuality is a sin but eating shellfish isn't. In reality, the Bible says that both are sins.
You clearly have no idea how Christian theology works, or a rudimentary knowledge of their scriptures.

Mark 7:18-19

And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)
 

exchemist

Veteran Member
According to Leviticus, engaging in homosexual sex is an "abomination." But, so is eating fish without fins and scales. Leviticus 11:9-12 states:

"These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.

And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:

They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.

Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you."

Note that the act of eating fish without fins and scales is called an "abomination" no less than four times in these passages. Clearly, according to the bible, God views eating shellfish as a sin at least as abominable as that of homosexuality, if not more so. So, my question for Christians is, why do you cherry pick the part of the bible that forbids homosexual sex, while entirely ignoring the part that forbids the eating of fish without fins and scales? Why do evangelicals yell in the streets about homosexuality, but not about eating shrimp and lobster? Please explain this.
It is certainly the case that there is nothing at all in the teaching of Christ about homosexuality, one way or the other.

The Catholic church dreamt up a concept (rather bogus, it seems to me) of "Natural Law", which has been used against any sexual practice not open to the possibility of reproduction. This for instance is where the Catholic Church's (ridiculous and widely ignored) prohibition of contraception comes from.
More about this here: What is natural law?

Evangelical Protestants however will presumably come at this, not via a body of theology, but by an appeal to scriptural authority. As you point out they will have to resort to the OT for that, as the NT does not help them (or not so far as I can recollect). And then one has indeed to explain why some of the old Jewish rules should be kept by Christians but not others. Coming from the Catholic tradition myself, I can't help here, but no doubt others can.
 

Rational Agnostic

Well-Known Member
You clearly have no idea how Christian theology works, or a rudimentary knowledge of their scriptures.

Mark 7:18-19


“Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.)

Of course the bible contradicts itself. That is obvious. The point is that biblical literalists point to Leviticus when calling homosexuality an "abomination" yet do not mention the fact that Leviticus also refers to shrimp-eating as an "abomination."
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
Of course the bible contradicts itself. That is obvious. The point is that biblical literalists point to Leviticus when calling homosexuality an "abomination" yet do not mention the fact that Leviticus also refers to shrimp-eating as an "abomination."
I see that you didn't start this thread for answers. You just wanted to rant at Christians without learning any of their basic dogma.

Understood.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
I see that you didn't start this thread for answers. You just wanted to rant at Christians without learning any of their basic dogma.

Understood.
This clip from the documentary, Spartacus, might help him....
 

Rational Agnostic

Well-Known Member
I see that you didn't start this thread for answers. You just wanted to rant at Christians without learning any of their basic dogma.

Understood.

I was just curious as to what mental gymnastics are done to avoid the fact that the bible refers to shellfish eating as an abomination while simultaneously cherry-picking the passage referring to homosexuality as an abomination. Clearly, the Bible condemns eating shellfish as a sin that is at least as abominable as the sin of homosexual sex. In fact, given that eating shellfish is referred to as an abomination four times, I think it's safe to say that Christians who take the bible literally should consider eating shellfish as being an even more serious sin than homosexuality. Yet I never see street preachers discussing it.
 

exchemist

Veteran Member
You clearly have no idea how Christian theology works, or a rudimentary knowledge of their scriptures.

Mark 7:18-19

And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)
Presume that verse could also be read as applying to anal sex.
 

pearl

Well-Known Member
One may find the same warning against homosexuality in the NT.

Scholars are over the place concerning the interpretation of OT and homosexuality.


The main passage used against homosexuals is ffound in Gen 19:5, where the term sodomy comes from. It is also neccessary to tke a look at Judges 19:22 where the author writes about the gang rapists of Gibeah (near Jerusalem) who wanted to sexually assault the Levite man. Both passages use the same verb. It is our preconception of the terms that lead us to indicate that Gen 19 and Judg. 19 speaks about homosexuality-wheb the contexts suggest something else.

https://www.academia.edu/35653542/THE_PROHIBITION_AGAINSTCERTAIN_SEXUAL__PRACTICES_HOMOSEXUALITY_IN_THE_HOLINESS_CODE_LEVITICUS_18_22_and_20_13
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
According to Leviticus, engaging in homosexual sex is an "abomination." But, so is eating fish without fins and scales. Leviticus 11:9-12 states:

"These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.

And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:

They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.

Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you."

Note that the act of eating fish without fins and scales is called an "abomination" no less than four times in these passages. Clearly, according to the bible, God views eating shellfish as a sin at least as abominable as that of homosexuality, if not more so. So, my question for Christians is, why do you cherry pick the part of the bible that forbids homosexual sex, while entirely ignoring the part that forbids the eating of fish without fins and scales? Why do evangelicals yell in the streets about homosexuality, but not about eating shrimp and lobster? Please explain this.


1. Cause its outside of marriage

2. Cause the definition of homosexuality is an action

3. Because they see the action align with rape

4. Cause they see homosexuals having a disorder (or higher temptation) to sin

5. Cause they generalize homosexuals as if they are programed to engage in homosexual behavior

6. Because they are over age 50 so their view of christianity and bible is different and still in the views of jewish people in the B.C. era as opposed to today

7. Cause homosexual actions are not seen in a spiritual light just of the flesh

8. Because gods spiritual laws of relationship is defined by ones sex

Shrugs. It is what it is. We can either accept it and move on or rehash it.
 

Earthling

David Henson
But given that the Bible emphasizes that eating shellfish is an "abomination," it is clearly condemned by God as being a very immoral act, and thus, a sin. So the people who claim to take the Bible literally actually don't take it literally.

I think that one of the most important lessons you can learn about the Bible is that it's parts were written for the people of a specific time, and that it wasn't written with us specifically in mind. So there are laws for Adam, different from laws later for Israel, and different laws still for Christians. There are more divisions than a so called Old Testament and New Testament, which are actually misnomers based upon a Latin mistranslation of the Greek word covenant.
 
Last edited:

Earthling

David Henson
1. Cause its outside of marriage

2. Cause the definition of homosexuality is an action

3. Because they see the action align with rape

4. Cause they see homosexuals having a disorder (or higher temptation) to sin

5. Cause they generalize homosexuals as if they are programed to engage in homosexual behavior

6. Because they are over age 50 so their view of christianity and bible is different and still in the views of jewish people in the B.C. era as opposed to today

7. Cause homosexual actions are not seen in a spiritual light just of the flesh

8. Because gods spiritual laws of relationship is defined by ones sex

Shrugs. It is what it is. We can either accept it and move on or rehash it.

How about, because the one who created us found it an abominable challenge to the natural way he created us for. The same as oral or anal sex might be considered, and certainly adultery and bestiality.

If the reason for those things being a sin were that Christians (or the alleged religious origins of them whomever they might allegedly be) objected to them or found them distasteful it wouldn't have been necessary to classify them as sins.
 

TheresOnlyNow

The Mind Is Everything. U R What U Think
Eating shellfish is forbidden for the observant Jew. And also as a point of note concerning the old adage, you are what you eat, most shellfish sustain themselves on the putrid rot and defecation of dead sea creatures.

Whereas homosexuality is contrary to God's plan and order of reproduction of the species. And it is also un-natural.
 
Top