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Comment on the literal interpretation of the bible

M

Merlin

Active Member
this article from an American newspaper was sent to me. it is amusing, but also comments on how people feel they can select which parts they want to believe and which they can ignaore.

"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, and 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 neighbouring 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 offence.

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

5. I have a neighbour 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


PS: It would be a shame if we couldn't own a Canadian :)
 
Levite

Levite

Higher and Higher
West Wing did this even better in Season One.... Dr. Laura is a total dip**** anyhow. Pure literalism is just ridiculous.
 
M

Merlin

Active Member
Mind you, on the actual topic, there are more references, even in the so called New Testament, Paul 1:27 is quite clear about it

But, you are right about literalism. The trouble is, when we are allowed to dip in and out, choosing what we believe, the book itself seems in doubt.
 
Zardoz

Zardoz

Wonderful Wizard
Premium Member
Dr. Laura is an idiot. People don't understand the meaning of to'ebah anyways. Lobsters and shrimp are also to'ebah yet you don't see these nutjobs getting all bent out of shape and picketing seafood restaurants, do you?

or maybe...

God Hates Shrimp


:D
 
W

Wayne121

Member
All foods were declared clean to eat in the New Testament (by Jesus and also in the Book of Acts), except meat with blood sacrificed to idols.
 
Raithie

Raithie

atheist
Hah. That made me chuckle.

I never understood how Christians could pick and choose which parts to believe in the Bible - and still regard the "Holy Book" as divine revelation.
The Bible only reflects the social context of the time - and if a God did indeed intervene in its writing - it would not be so downright ridiculous and immoral.
 
Rainbow Mage

Rainbow Mage

Lib Democrat/Agnostic/Epicurean-ish/Buddhist-ish
Well Paul's verses that seem to be about homosexuality, can actually be read in other contexts
 
B

Benoni

Well-Known Member

The sword of the Spirit, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD"
(Eph. 6:17). Then the writer to the Hebrews declares that the sword of
God’s word is "QUICK." Quick means living and active — LIFE-GIVING! "For the word of God that speaks is alive and full of power — making it
active, operative, energizing and effective; it is sharper than any
two-edged sword" (Heb. 4:12, Amplified). Here is the sword that
conquers the death in us and GIVES LIFE! As it is written, "It is the
spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing…for the letter
killeth, but the spirit giveth life!" (Jn. 6:63; II Cor. 3:6).

The sword of the Spirit is the quickening, energizing, life-giving WORD OF GOD!
Like I said there are twoaspects of the Word of God. Jesus Christ is the Word

— the Logos —

THE LIVING, CREATIVE WORD! But there is also that word which Paul calls "the letter." The letter is the outer hull, the record and history, the laws
and commandments, the rules and regulations, the types, shadows and
figures, the external ordinances, rituals, ceremonies, and feasts; the
visible form of the word which tells us, in terms understandable by the
natural mind, many things about the Living Word, Jesus Christ. "
Christ is the Word, the Living Word, and IN HIM IS LIFE!

Moses received a word from God. Many, many scriptures confirm that it was the very Lord Himself who spoke to Moses giving him the laws, commandments, judgments, and ordinances. Therefore it is called "the law of the Lord."

Yet Paul, in speaking of this word from God, calls it "the ministration of death, written and engraved in stones." Then he further designates it "the ministration of condemnation." You, see, the law could only condemn! The only way the law could give life was if one perfectly kept it, but for every broken law there was a penalty. And no one was ever able to keep it! "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Therefore the law with all of its commandments, ceremonies, rituals, sacrifices, and observances is a dead word, it is form without essence, law without life, shadow without substance, chaff without kernel, it is the letter that killeth! It is "a word" about "The Word" and therefore shuts men up unto the dominion of death. It should not be difficult to understand that as Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God, the sword of the Spirit that quickens, so is the Letter of the Word a deadly sword, killing rather than quickening. Ah, two words and two swords! The flaming sword of the Cherubim is the word of the law which is a ministration of condemnation and death. It keeps men out of Eden, away from the tree of life! But the sword out of the mouth of God’s Christ is a living sword that excelled in glory as the ministration of Life!

 
Zardoz

Zardoz

Wonderful Wizard
Premium Member
Benoni said:
The sword of the Spirit, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD"

bla bla bla...

...excelled in glory as the ministration of Life!
Click to expand...

Hey, welcome to RF and all that, but kindly take some time and check out the forum rules, links at the top right.

Next time, don't just copy-paste some post you made on another forum...

The law

write something that's on-topic.
 
dogsgod

dogsgod

Well-Known Member
I remember when one could view Laura Schlesinger naked, on the internet. That was a while ago and even then the pictures were older. She was alright in her day. Now she eats lemons for breakfast.
 
K

kingdombuilder

Member
Merlin said:
...

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 neighbouring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

- Leviticus 25:44 actually states that you (an Isrealite - you are an Isrealite right?) may "aquire" or "buy" slaves from "pagan" nations. You must also bear in mind that this is also the 3rd listed case in Leviticus 25 that deals with slavery/servitude for indebtedness. The first case is found in Leviticus 25:35 -38; the 2nd is Lev. 25:39-43.

- This 3rd case must also be read and understood in light of Exodus 21:16 which explicitely prohibits kidnaping a person in order to bring them into slavery. In other words, no one is to become a slave of yours unless they willingly become your slave or only as a last resort to satisfy the contractual legal requirements for payment of an outstanding debt.

- It must also be kept in mind that any slave that you do have can at anytime cease being your slave when ever they feel like and you can not get them back unless they decide to on their own. See Dueteronomy 23:15.

- I hope this clarifies things for you a bit dealing with this subject matter.

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?

- Who is the lucky husband to be? How much of a dowry is being given in return? This is a marriage arrangement you are talking about right?

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 offence.

- Have you tried asking her? Most women are well aware of when their monthly cycle is occuring. Keep in mind that this regulation is in place for her protection as well.

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

- Why are you sacrificing bulls again? You must not be a Christian since you would know full well that this regulation has been superceded by Jesus's perfect sacrifice.

5. I have a neighbour 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?

- I would ask him when he believes the Sabbath is Friday or Sunday or some other day. I would also ask him if he knew why there is a sabbath regulation to begin with. But before asking these questions I would ask myself if anything has changed concerning this specific regulation since the time of the Exodus to today if I were you.

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?

- Yes there is, the Bible makes clear that some sins are deserving of greater or lesser punishment than others. Do not worry about this regulation though. The reasoning for it is that many of the listed fish that were not to be eatten were parasite carriers and were just not completely safe to eat. Today though with the advances in hygene and food preparations many animals that were not safe to eat back then is ok to eat now, for the most part.

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?

- See response to question 4 above.

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?

- Perhaps you can clearify the question for me. Where does it say exactly that your friends should be put to death for trimming their hair because I can not find it anywhere in your reference here or in any of the surrounding verses.

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?

- Yea, I see no problem in that.

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)

- Again, I need clarification, where is the penalty of death for violating the mixture of crops and clothes because again, I do not see the penalty in this verse or the surrounding verses.

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


PS: It would be a shame if we couldn't own a Canadian :)
Click to expand...


- I hope some of my answers above help you in your sincere questioning! Thank you for taking the time to write me, it is always nice to get fan mail. :)
 
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