Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Recently, she 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 is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a east coast 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 of the other specific laws and how to follow them:
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?
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?
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.
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?
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?
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?
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?
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 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?
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 fan,
Jim
All of this is honestly in the bible. To find the quotes, go here: http://bible.cc/
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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 of the other specific laws and how to follow them:
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?
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?
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.
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?
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?
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?
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?
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 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?
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 fan,
Jim
All of this is honestly in the bible. To find the quotes, go here: http://bible.cc/
/>
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Posted: 2010-12-20 02:36:36
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the fact people think they can flip through the bible, find some passages, use it to explain a religion, and think they know more than the people who studied specific parts of the bible their entire lives, and still didnt learn all of it. just shows how ignorant, pompous, and egotistical people like that really are.
there is a reason you dont see jewish countries doing those things today. its not that they havnt read it. it's about context. if you want to argue with someone, instead of bothering a radioshow host with limited knowledge on the subject, try arguing your points to a rabbi, see how far you get. maybe youll learn something.
Everyone with a brain knows the bible is mainly just stories and morals and it's not to be taken completely literally all of the time, which is exactly why he made her look like an idiot.
I can respect people who take guidance from the bible in moral aspects etc. like do unto others as you would have them do unto you (although I don't think it's worded like that), but I can have little to no respect for people who take all of the the bible as literal law (and no respect whatsoever to people who pick and choose like this woman), because, as shown in this post, it's gibberish when taken literally.
keep in mind, it is never a sin to "be gay" as most would put it, however, "the church's" official stance on "being gay" is that youre not gay until you have partaken in sodomy. or as they word it "commited a gay act" because people can't help who they are, but they can control their bodies.
so instead of looking up "passages about being gay" look up "passages about sodomy". its all over the bible... about how sodomy is considered sexual immorality.
so next time youre taking arms up against "their" opinion on "gays". remember, youre not fighting so gay men can live peacefully, youre fighting so nobody will be allowed to think ill of gay men banging eachothers asses.
edit: when i said "commited a gay act" i mean and not saught forgiveness... everyone gives in to temptation. their are no such things as unforgivable sins. we are human.
--But I absolutely do! : D. If you don't mind me picking up the rains a bit Mikey, I will have tons of fun here. If you wanna continue the convo yourself and have me stop replying, just lemme know and it's all yours.
c8r15-"but what she said wasn't taken out of context. their reply was."
--This seems like a fairly arbitrary distinction. She is saying that since something is condemned in Leviticus, it applies to real, modern life. The open letter takes this opinion/idea and simply fleshes it out, applying it to multiple verses rather than just one. A common practice to test the mettle of an idea.
"it isnt just in the areas with old jewish tribal laws, its listed all over the bible."
--What is listed all over the bible? Condemnation of homosexuality? If you think that's true, you need to read it over again. Less than .001% of the Bible mentions homosexuality, and Jesus doesn't say a single word on the subject.
"so instead of looking up "passages about being gay" look up "passages about sodomy". its all over the bible... about how sodomy is considered sexual immorality."
--Oh, I see. Can you give verses as to where sexual immorality is equated to sodomy? Because I truly see none. Despite my ten reads of the whole shebang : ). There was, a few hundred years ago, a consistently published Book (by which I mean reprinted to denote current understanding) of kind of... "Biblical answers." Seeking to explain translations/words and such that may be confusing in Biblical text. There was a mistranslation of sexual immorality to homosexuality in one of the publications, partly due to personal bias of the translator. Often, this is where the idea that sexual immorality means homosexuality is attributed. But I guess that's off-topic, no need to reply to that.
"so next time youre taking arms up against "their" opinion on "gays". remember, youre not fighting so gay men can live peacefully, youre fighting so nobody will be allowed to think ill of gay men banging eachothers asses."
--How do you feel about straight men banging women's asses? Or is that forbidden as well? Can they finger them? Does it really matter what someone does in their own bedroom as long as it doesn't harm themselves or someone else???
"edit: when i said "commited a gay act" i mean and not saught forgiveness... everyone gives in to temptation. their are no such things as unforgivable sins. we are human."
--Except blasphemy. Blasphemy is not forgiven. You can cause mass genocide and repent just fine, but if you express your doubt about God's existence, you're just fucked.
1.leviticus was not the ONLY place in the bible sodomy was mentioned as being considered sexual immorality.
2.jesus does not mention homosexuality, but he does mention sexual immorality. look it up. and sodomy is considered sexual immorality. along with orgies, etc. why would the bible focus on it so much? it says sodomy is immoral in all of the key books. its not the most important subject talked about in the bible. moving on....
3.that wasnt off topic. but inaccurate. read the story of sodom and gomorrah.
FACT = in the bible, sodomy = sexual immorality. jesus condemned sexual immorality. for example: adultery, sodomy, rape, orgies, etc. its fairly easy to look up. try a website called "google" and first type in "bible passages about sodomy" then type in "bible passages about sexual immorality".
4.yes. sodomy is immoral. animal, woman, man, doesnt matter. can you finger them? is that a serious question? if so: the official stance on xxx foreplay is that if its between a married couple it's ok, as long as that is not the "goal" of your engagment. in other words... keep foreplay as foreplay, not a primary means of sex to get your rocks off... thats the churches official stance (my words, of course) the primary goal of sex should be reproduction. all other forms of it are sinful.
there are different levels of sin. obviously drunken rape orgies are going to be higher on the list than jim getting a blowjob from his wife. youre missing the point and focusing on details. IRRELEVANT DETAILS. the fact of the matter is that it says in more place than one, that sodomy is sexually immoral, and to live a clean life, one should stray from that. if you believe in God, and arent going to throw out everything over something so small that is stressed so little, that you happen to disagree with, you dont have to worry about us. they teach God has infinite mercy, and that we are human, human's cant be perfect
5.blashemy is forgiven. if asked for. the only theoretical unforgivable sin is suicide. but youre speaking about if you live in a state of blasphemy... in which case, you didnt ask for forgiveness, because if you actively dont believe in God. who are you asking? exactly.
i dont even know why i typed any of that. ive argued with alot of people like you. with their minds already made up. you will never be convinced unless you convince yourself. youll keep nit-picking at minor irrelevant details, mining for inconsistencies and contradictions, missing out on all the major points, simply because it is imbedded in your mind to not believe it. instead of approaching it like "how are they wrong?" look for the truth from both sides. youll find passages in the bible are well documented. read them yourself like i did. all you mentioned earlier... about how it's not mentioned... i've read it all myself. it's all there. in black and yellowish white.
edit: when reading the bible yourself... context context context. read about the book itself; its origins, etc.
nobody knows who is and who is not going for hell. in fact, it is a sin for a human to condemn people to hell. nobody knows who goes to hell. only God can make that judgement.
You just described the entire bible.
Awesome! I love that hell doesn't exist then : D.
Where are you getting that the Old Testament was purely meant as historical record? Seems pretty damn authoritative to me. And to Biblical Scholars. : P.
haha XD
EDIT: I see this was downrated. If someone disagrees, I'd love to hear it : ).