Agnostic.com

9 26

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, 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 neighboring 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 offense.

  4. 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?

  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, 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

Flyingsaucesir 8 Nov 20
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9 comments

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1

Redistributed.

1

The letter has serious questions that should be settled. Was there a response?

I don't know if Dr. Schlesinger ever replied. Being as how the questions were sarcastic and meant to illustrate how ridiculous her citing of Biblical law is, I imagine she was content to let the matter fade into the mists of time.

@Flyingsaucesir The questions were based on actual biblical passages and as such should be taken seriously.

2

An"observant orthodox jew" following the Bible.???

The Old Testament is a Jewish document. Or was, before multiple translations.

4

Ahh, those evil orthodox Jews, just look how they keep stoning poor gay people to death! Outrageous.
BTW, no gay man has anything to fear in Israel. There are probably more gay bars in Tel Aviv alone than in all muslim countries combined.
Where are all the courageous public intellectuals like Professor Kauffman writing open letters to criticize the treatment of gays or slaves in the Muslim world? Maybe they are too cowardly, because everybody knows that Muslims, especially the illiberal variety (which is not a small minority) , do not like to be criticized?

Huh. That's an interesting interpretation. But the letter is addressed to Laura Schlesinger, an American pundit and Orthodox Jew speaking for many American, Bible-thumping, fundamentalist-Christian homophobes. The period cartoon images do depict (I guess) Old Testament Jews. However, in adding them to the post, it was not my intention to represent modern people. Just sayin'. But you are certainly free to take away whatever meaning you like (one of my favorite aspects of democracy). 😂

THAT was quite racist, mister.

@KateOahu Of course. Given that I am white, EVERYTHING I do or say has to be racist....
even if I state the obvious - - for example that gays are really a persecuted, threatened minority in the Muslim world (in Iran alone, about 5000 (!) gays and lesbians have been executed since 1979)

0

No, we just need to torture motherfuckers for digging up a potato

[washingtonpost.com]

Can't see your article behind pay wall. Care to sketch out your point in your own words?

5

Dr Laura is a real bitch.

There you go defaming female dogs.

@Mooolah I had to check if she was still alive, if not I wouldn't have insulted her, but the bitch is still alive.

5

There's a West Wing episode that does that content.

I loved that show! 😂

I wonder if the West Wing writers had Dr. Laura in mind when they invented the Dr. Janet Jacobs character.

I was going to point out that this has been around for years

6

Keep in mind that Leviticus can only speak of men in this fashion. Women are considered property so no one thought much about lesbians at that time. By 300 AD both sexes were know to practice with same sex partners. I'm going to add my greatest upset about all of this. Here goes:

I do not understand people wanting to remain religious if they have same sex partners. Get away from that bible and live your lives!

Very true. Although it may also be true that, in the totally male centric world of old testament law givers sex between women was not banned simply because, sex is a thing men do, if it does not involve a man it is not sex.

9

The buybull is either all or none. All of it is the word of what's his name, or none of it is. They have to chose, and they have to follow it, or STFU.

Follow it or STFU?

They do neither.

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