The Laws In The Old Testament: Still Applicable?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 14 Apr 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kiama	14 Apr 2002
I found this very funny thing on another forum. It made me wonder whether or not, if you are a Christian, the Old Testament Laws still apply? I'm guessing not, but... It seems a bit weird, cuz Christians use the Old Testament Commandments, but no the rest of the Old Testament law.... Here's the funny thing. Background: Laura Schlesinger is a U.S. radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Recently, she said that as an observant Orthodox Jew, she believes that homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22 and cannot be condoned in any circumstance. The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a U.S. resident, and posted on the Internet. o-o-O-o-o 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 I 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. However, I do need some advice from you regarding some of the specific laws and how to follow them. a) 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? b) 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? c) 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. d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed 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? e) 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? f) 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? g) 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? h) 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? i) 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? j) 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, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging. Your devoted disciple and adoring fan, Jake Enjoy! Kiama

Diana	14 Apr 2002
Oh Kiama, this is priceless. Thanks so much. I haven't enjoyed something so much for ages. I'm sending this to all my friends this evening. (Can you change some of the colours, please. Some are pretty hard to read.)

Kiama	14 Apr 2002
I changed the green, cuz that was pretty anoying! Sorry! Is it okay now though? Kiama *Who wants to own a Canadian!*

Marion	14 Apr 2002
Actually I am pretty sure the entire country is for sale, people and all. Make an offer. Though I *am* certain that used tarot decks won't cut it. :D

VGimlet	14 Apr 2002
I am sure she never answered - too bad. That's one of the things I really dislike about some folks, picking and choosing what they want from what the bible says. Just like movie blurbs. i.e. "This movie...rocks!" - Daily Blab when what the review really said was... "This movie was horrible - my time would have been better spent at the lake skipping rocks!" From what I can tell, there are bible scholars who do basically the same thing. :D

truthsayer	14 Apr 2002
this piece couldn't be more timely for me, kiama. i'm in a snit about an editorial done in the local paper. as soon as i read it i knew she had twisted facts so i spent 3 hours this morning looking for information to support her claims. i couldn't find any evidence among the sources she quoted. the one source i did find used questional research methods. now i'm trying to decide to write a tactful editorial and request that she advise me where she found her facts b/c i want to read them for myself. since this is an issue that many fundamentalist are vehemently against i hesistate to do anything that will further alienate me in this community. but then i'm really furious i feel too intimidated to express my right of free speech just like she did. anyhow while looking, i found some interesting sites about dealing w/ the religious right. the best is: http://elroy.net brian elroy mckinley contradicts just about everything fundies say with Biblical quotes. he goes into extensive detail how to dismantle fundamentalist arguments. he is a recovered fundamentalist who is now a liberal. now i just have to study what he said and learn if for my own later defense. i am tired of being silent. i plan to email him and see if i get any response. right now he is my hero! i wonder if this jake who has all these arguments for dr. laura is a protegee of elroy...

Kiama	14 Apr 2002
Truth: WOWOWOWOW! That guy's guide to defending yourself against The Fundies is my new Bible! I've read it through TWICE already, and hope I can memorise all those amazing quotes and facts... (I esp. enjoyed reading the bit which said that, according to The Fundies' logic, the Bible is actually pornography!) Anyway, I'm gonna read it and read it and read it! Thankyou! Kiama

gloworm102	15 Apr 2002
Oh Kiama I did enjoy! If you read bible further you will find that God corrected some of the old laws. I've read through & found it interesting? Sexy? Lots good advice/laws in places would help society today. Contradictions? Lots. Mysteries, yes. Remember it was writ by man. Man made religion God didn't. Wonder if I could buy a Canadian or two. How do they go on dishes & gardening? Can they kill snakes? Plenty around garden.

Kiama	16 Apr 2002
Quote: Originally posted by gloworm102 Remember it was writ by man. Man made religion God didn't. There are thousands of Christians who would disagree with this. They believe that since the Bible is 'Gods Word' it is infallible, and there are no contradictions. But I think that, even if God did inspire the Bible, it was witten by man, and therefore open to that man's interpretation, change, etc... Man is finite, so how on Earth is he supposed to write down something that comes from an infinite mind? Ah well. Elroy gives a great argument against the infallibility of the Bible. Kiama PS- I feel the need to quote Voltaire: "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him"

Umbrae	17 Apr 2002
The Bible. Written in Hebrew, translated to Greek, translated to German (more than once), translated to English (a bunch of times)… It is now the work of many egotistical humans. Few Christians have ever truly read the bible with anything but blind eyes. I attempted to set up my own small business once, importing Canadians (available for very reasonable prices), but due to their poor resale value, I could not make a good profit. In addition, the Canadian VAT tax will kill ya.

gloworm102	17 Apr 2002
Voltaire definitly knew what he was talking about as will be proven by research "Creator Gods". I guess though they had to have some rules to live by in those days purported to come from a higher mind than us mere mortals. Have a good qout on this somewhere must look it up for you.

amyel	17 Apr 2002
Quote: Originally posted by gloworm102 Wonder if I could buy a Canadian or two. How do they go on dishes & gardening? Can they kill snakes? Plenty around garden. Canadians are ok at gardening. When they can break through the ground-freeze, that is. Of course, this doesn't apply to the western species or those who live in the "banana belt" of the Windsor - Toronto corridor..:D As for snakes, you'd be best to purchase a prairie species, as I've heard there are alot of snakes in Medicine Hat, Alberta. However, the Albertan species are no good at killing rats, as the province claims to have piped them all out of the borders. So I guess, dear gloworm, you best spend some time defining the specific tasks you need done, or be prepare to spend alot on re-educating your purchase. But most Canadians are pretty adaptable, so I'm told, and should do nicely if you start them off slowly.

Marion	18 Apr 2002
Nice summary amyel, I mentally drew up something like that myself but hadn't posted yet. :D Okay, I don't kill snakes because they have a place in the food chain, in fact they kill rodents. Though I may be influenced by us not having poisonous snakes in Canada so I see them as 'good' not 'bad'. I don't do windows either. I do my own, but only under extreme duress. Also, at least two of my neighbours are for sale, hehe, but don't tell them. Please, buy them, take them away and let their dog bark under *your* window every evening. They do have a nice garden, so could be very helpful that way.

The The Laws In The Old Testament: Still Applicable? thread was originally posted on 14 Apr 2002 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.