A gap in Leviticus?

[Anonymous]

The New York vote against same-sex marriage left me curious about where in the Bible same-sex marriage is forbidden. Google led me to Leviticus 18:22, where God tells Moses "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable." Three things I find odd: First, that 21 sections detail all the various relatives a man must not have sex with, and only then is it briefly mentioned that a guy should not do it with another guy; second, that almost every relative's daughter is listed as a no-no except your own; and third, that God seems to have nothing against lesbians.

BTW, strictly speaking, most gays don't lie with a man as they would lie with a woman (because they don't want women that way) -- it seems to me that bisexuality is what God is forbidding here. I have not heard of a movement to allow one to have two spouses of different sexes, so what's the problem?

That Leviticus 18 sure is weird!

[Anonymous]

Religion is weird. It's best just to stay away.

[Anonymous]

I know. Back in the day some fundamentalists used to argue that HIV was God's punishment against gays. But they never seemed to address the inconvenient fact that the rate for woman-to-woman transmission is the lowest of all! Seems to me that if we're judging God's love based on HIV rates that God must want me to be a lesbian!

Sorry, God, I'm still in love with my husband. Please don't punish me and give me HIV by making him have an affair with an HIV positive woman or exchange needles with an HIV positive drug addict.

[Anonymous]

Interesting point, OP. Im going to have to research this. Thanks for bringing it to attention.

[Anonymous]

Is New York outlawing everything Leviticus forbids? Or just conveniently cherry-picking?

[Anonymous]

Speaking of cherry-picking, this is a really old, but still really funny "open letter to Dr. Laura" following some inflammatory position she took.

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.

1. 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?

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 cleanliness-Lev.15:19-24. The problem is, how do
I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed 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?

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?

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?

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, 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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Speaking of cherry-picking, this is a really old, but still really funny "open letter to Dr. Laura" following some inflammatory position she took.

Dear Dr. Laura:
...

It may be old, but as one who had not seen it, I thank you for posting it.

[Anonymous]

I also liked it