The Bible/Torah and Homosexuality

On her American radio show recently, homophobic Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus18:22, 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 ‘net. I thought I had to re-share it even though it’s not mine! It’s funny, as well as informative, and just goes to prove how people cherry-pick quotes in order to cover for their own inner racism, sexism, and homophobia:

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 Law and how to follow them. 

1. 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? 

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 offence. 

4. (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? 

5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. (Exodus 35:2). The passage 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? 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 am confident you can help.

2 comments

  1. I missed this at the time you posted it; however it is very good. And I say that as someone of religion! The bible (which, like it or not also contains much wisdom) itself warns against being quick to judge – about trying to remove a speck in someone else's eye while there is a plank in your own eye – and advises “turning the other cheek”. It's all too easy to ignore these bits – both for people supposedly “of religion” and the people that are riled by their activities.

    My own problem with organised religion is similar to that of Groucho Marx – who famously said “I would not want to belong to any club that would have me as a member”.

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  2. There are many ways to mock and defame those people who believe in God and the Bible. One very common way is such a kind of in which people mix up all commands of the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. In this writing, I bring forth that how mockers distort, take things out of the context and mix up order of the Old and New Covenant.

    I bring forth few arguments that mockers use. My answers are according to the order of the New Covenant, and I rectify few misunderstandings and misrepresented things.

    Source; http://koti.phnet.fi/petripaavola/answeringtomockersoftheBible.html

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