going to church on easter

[Amberryl]

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. How should I deal with this?

b) I would like to sell my daughter to slavery, as it suggests 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 women while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lv. 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

d) Leviticus 25:44 states that I may buy slaves from the nations that are around us. A friend of mine claims this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify?

e) I have a neighbor who insists on work on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clears 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. 10:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

g) Leviticus 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?

[Zutroy]

I don't think you can judge laws that were written 3000 years ago by today's standards, Amb. The issue of slavery itself wasn't even considered controversial until about 200 years ago.

Also, I think you fail to understand the concept of wealth in the era this was written. There was no coin or paper currency so wealth was generally measured in animals, land and slaves. Sacrificing a healthy animal back then was essentially the same thing as putting money in a collection plate today.

Don't get the idea I'm some sort of religous zealot for defending this, I just hate to see people impugn the actions of those in the past based on today's ethics.

[Amberryl]

it was a joke, take it easy dude

[Caohmin]

The issue is whether or not the Bible is the inerrant word of god.

[Zutroy]

I knew it was a joke, just seemed ill-timed cause of the title.

You struck a nerve with it I guess, I'm generally not that easily offended by stuff. /shrug

[Zutroy]

caoh - I'm not a religious person so I'll never argue that point. I don't even believe it. But I don't try to offend people that do.

[Kirin]

theres alot of tension in this thread.. Maybe if Sodom starts posting here it will die

[Caohmin]

Those quotes come from someone writing to Dr. Laura in response to her quoting the bible as part of her 'advice' for someone as if the book gave her advice some sort of authority. The guy basically said 'The bible tells us to do these things too!' It pretty much made her look silly and I got another good chuckle reading it again. /shrug

Here's a bit more on that:

http://www.positiveatheism.org/writ/drlaura.htm

[Zutroy]

It was the title and the timing of the post that offended me caoh, not the actual content of it. I agree, those passages are rediculous by today's standards.

Hmm... I must be getting pretty close to 1000 posts by now.

Edit - damn! 130 posts still to go

(Edited by Zutroy at 12:09 pm on April 12, 2004)

[Sodom]

Yee-haw, finally a discussion on the bible!

/em runs to his study to gather his journals and folios

[Zutroy]

aren't you supposed to be at work?

[Sodom]

Who are you to step on our discussion of the bible...Satan?

[Zutroy]

hey sod, if I put you on the admin list for my house can you pay my rent for me while I'm gone?

[Axecleaver]

You can set a group up that includes everyone (Guest group I think) then give that group rights to pay rent. Then you can come here and beg.

Venge house lets anyone pay rent (can use bounty tokens too) but I dont think any of you have taken advantage of this yet.

[Sodom]

Aren't we supposed to get a message at login telling us that rent is due?

Sure Zut. The only thing Sod has ever bought with bounty points is a water-breathing potion, so I'm sure he has plenty sitting around.