What does the Bible say?

RedRoseSAI · #1 10-23-2004, 10:41 AM

If you're someone who takes the Bible literally, don't read this.
.
.
.
.
Still here? Then you'll probably enjoy this...

>The following letter appeared in the Lewiston Morning Tribune in Lewiston, Idaho on Sunday, September 5, 2004:
>
>Dear President Bush:
>
>Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's law. I have learned a great deal from you and understand why you would propose and support a constitutional amendment banning same sexmarriage. As you said, "In the eyes of God, marriage is based betweena man and a woman." When someone tries to defend homosexuals, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. I need more advice on following some other elements of God's laws:
>
>Lev 25:44 states that I may possess slaves provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Why can't I own Canadians?
>
>I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. What would be a fair price for her on today's market?
>
>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, or could I ask the police to do it?
>
>A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is anabomination, Lev 11:10 says it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there "degrees" of abomination?
>
>Lev 21:20 states that I many not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20 or is there some wiggle-room here?
>
>I know you have considerable expertise in such matters, and I'mc onfident you will help. Thanks for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
>
>Helen P. Henry
>Lewiston

AGDee · #2 10-23-2004, 02:55 PM

I had to forward this to a couple people! Thanks for that one!

BSP_Nicole · #3 10-23-2004, 09:28 PM

GREAT article!!! Really gave my hubby and I a good laugh!!!

Optimist Prime · #4 10-24-2004, 08:42 PM

hahhaha

Pike1483 · #5 10-25-2004, 02:22 AM

It should be noted that all of these quotes from the Bible are from the Old Testament, and are rules of the Old Law. Now, I'm not one of those Christians who only thinks we should use the New Testament, because I think the Old Testament is very important and still very applicable to us today, but I do feel that when Christ came, many things were changed. This is the reason Christians don't sacrifice animals, can work on the Sabbath, etc. This lady obviously has not studied the full Bible and is trying to take things out of context in an attempt to discredit the President.

For instance,
Matthew 5:38-42
38 "You have heard that it was said, `AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' 39 "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

Also, Acts 10 and 11 are where God tells Peter that it is okay to eat previously unclean animals (the reasons Christians can eat Pork and Jews cannot).

The importance and application of the Old Testament and New Testament has been a much-studied and much-debated issue among Christians, and I really don't want to get into the whole thing, but if anyone has further questions, you can e-mail me or PM me or something.

AGDee · #6 10-25-2004, 06:02 AM

I think that's the point... that there are Christians who toss out the Old Testament as justification, but pick and choose which sections they will live by.

Dee

IowaStatePhiPsi · #7 10-25-2004, 10:11 AM

I wish God spoke to me like he does this "prophet":

"God told me to strike at al-Qaida and I struck them, and then He instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did, and now I am determined to solve the problem in the Middle East." -- George W. Bush

I think he stole the idea from a George Burns movie...

OrigamiTulip · #8 10-25-2004, 10:34 AM

This letter was originally written a few years ago as a response to Dr. Laura's anti-gay remarks she made on her show. Its nice to see that people have revivied it for President Bush, but they left a lot of the original letter out. Here it is in its original form:

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 him 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 specific laws and how to best follow them.

a) 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?

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 offense.

d) 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?

e) 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?

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.

Love_Spell_6 · #9 10-25-2004, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pike1483
It should be noted that all of these quotes from the Bible are from the Old Testament, and are rules of the Old Law. Now, I'm not one of those Christians who only thinks we should use the New Testament, because I think the Old Testament is very important and still very applicable to us today, but I do feel that when Christ came, many things were changed. This is the reason Christians don't sacrifice animals, can work on the Sabbath, etc. This lady obviously has not studied the full Bible and is trying to take things out of context in an attempt to discredit the President.

For instance,
Matthew 5:38-42
38 "You have heard that it was said, `AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' 39 "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

Also, Acts 10 and 11 are where God tells Peter that it is okay to eat previously unclean animals (the reasons Christians can eat Pork and Jews cannot).

The importance and application of the Old Testament and New Testament has been a much-studied and much-debated issue among Christians, and I really don't want to get into the whole thing, but if anyone has further questions, you can e-mail me or PM me or something.

You point out some very great points. Many people that use propaganda like this aren't really interested in understanding the Bible..just using it to make one of "their" points.

IowaStatePhiPsi · #10 10-25-2004, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BetaRose
Dr. Laura

Ah, good old Dr. Laura

I like the West Wing's take on the issue:
http://www.bradstevens.com/movies/westwing.wmv

ZTAngel · #11 10-25-2004, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by IowaStatePhiPsi
I wish God spoke to me like he does this "prophet":

"God told me to strike at al-Qaida and I struck them, and then He instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did, and now I am determined to solve the problem in the Middle East." -- George W. Bush

I wish God spoke to me, too. I guess I'm not as worthy. This makes me sad.

Rudey · #12 10-25-2004, 11:24 AM

Some of you are the most close-minded idiots ever.

I don't expect any of you to pick up the writing of Rashi and try and understand anything, but I also don't expect you to try and pretend you are "open-minded" by being close-minded.

And the best part is that you have done nothing but copy-and-paste.

If your goal was to say that President Bush and certain Christian voters pick and choose from the bible without understanding quite a bit of it, you could have done that. Instead what you did was essentially throw a jab at Judaism. You really got what you wanted. Congrats.

-Rudey

RedRoseSAI · #13 10-25-2004, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rudey
If your goal was to say that President Bush and certain Christian voters pick and choose from the bible without understanding quite a bit of it, you could have done that.

That was precisely what I got out of reading this letter. I think anytime someone tries to literally apply a historic document (the new and old testaments, the magna carta, the constitution....) to modern day life, they fall tragically short. Times change, and intelligently applying these ancient documents to our current lives is what's important. I think the author of this letter was poking fun at those who don't do that.

Rudey · #14 10-25-2004, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RedRoseSAI
That was precisely what I got out of reading this letter. I think anytime someone tries to literally apply a historic document (the new and old testaments, the magna carta, the constitution....) to modern day life, they fall tragically short. Times change, and intelligently applying these ancient documents to our current lives is what's important. I think the author of this letter was poking fun at those who don't do that.

Times dictate that your ignorance stop here.

-Rudey

KSig RC · #15 10-25-2004, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RedRoseSAI
That was precisely what I got out of reading this letter. I think anytime someone tries to literally apply a historic document (the new and old testaments, the magna carta, the constitution....) to modern day life, they fall tragically short. Times change, and intelligently applying these ancient documents to our current lives is what's important. I think the author of this letter was poking fun at those who don't do that.

A.) What part of the Bible is Bush et al trying to literally interpret and literally translate into law?

B.) What part of the US Constitution should be ignored by, say, the Supreme Court as being anachronistic or out of date? -or- When literally interpreted, which parts don't hold up today?

C.) Have you honestly ever met someone who uses strict interpretation of the magna carta?

I guess I think you're reaching here - this was a cut at the president, which is cool, we allow that here. However, some of the implications for, say, other followers of the Old Testament (not just Christians, remember?) seem a little . . . .low?

Strange choices made so far in this thread . . .