Counterarguments to Leviticus 20:13

[Ben Kenobi]

Then let's make this book just a few more pages and call it the Bible.

Not a bad argument, except for the fact that modern translations just go from the original Hebrew and the Greek, to English.

Secondly, any differences can be checked against other translations.

Other languages are more of a concern, but that will depend on the language. All the Russian bibles that I have seen, are not quite up to par with the English versions.

[Nubclear]

My main argument is the whole "Thousands of years" bit.
Things are bound to get a little fudged up both due to time and to human interference

[Dry]

If it is the funny arguments you want, here is a text that once came in my mailbox:

Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a US radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Recently, she 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 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 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 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 by 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 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 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 this 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 in 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 confindent you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging. Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.

[curtsibling]

On topic:

So, someone writes in some old book that people cannot do a certain thing, and it becomes law?

My counterargument?
"The words of long dead primitive men are outdated garbage."

Religionists should update their dogma handbook.
It should also add some lines deploring the clegymen
who prey on innocence, and about that evil crime I shall not go into detail here.

Just pick up a newsheet and you will see a new holy scanadal every week.

These people have no right to judge anyone!

[The Mad Monk]

Who said that we did?

[curtsibling]

Their bible says they have.

Hence why they hurl the term 'sinner' at all and sundry!

I reject that label utterly from corrupt human churches.

[The Mad Monk]

Their Bible?

My Bible.

Paul has much to say on the subject of judging others in Romans; unfortunately, I do not have time to deal with the matter now, so I will comment in detail later.

[curtsibling]

You are welcome to keep that bible.

I have my own opinions, but I appreciate your perspective on the matter, when you have the time.

At the end of the day, religion is about controlling the unthinking masses.

[Jaguar]

Originally posted by Zevico
Er...guys, he's Jewish. I assume his classmates are too, as he lives in Israel. So the New Testament is not of any assistance.

Actually I am a Jew living in Washington DC. The rest of my classmates are Christian.

[Jaguar]

These people have no right to judge anyone!

Who said that we did?

Originally posted by curtsibling
Their bible says they have.

Aaaah!!!!!!!!! The Ignorance!!!!! It's blinding!!!

Matthew 7:1
Judge not, that you be not judged.

[Jaguar]

Originally posted by Comrade Tassadar
OK. I dare ANYONE to take a, say, 25 paged book (pretty small), translate it to Japanese, Chinese, Russian, back to English, and repeat this over thousands of years with hundreds of people doing their own translations and tell me the book would remain exactly the same.

Then let's make this book just a few more pages and call it the Bible.

To be fair, the Bible has only been translated once. It's been copied for thousands of years, though. The Old Testament we know today was written in Hebrew, and was translated directly from Hebrew to English in 1529. Judaism has a large number of copies of the Old Testament in the original Hebrew, known as the Tanakh. The New Testament was written in both Greek and Aramaic. Then it was translated to Latin in 405, I think. The version we know today was translated from the original Greek straight to English, also in 1529.


I think I got those facts straight. Correct me if I am wrong.

[Verto]

Originally posted by Comrade Tassadar
OK. I dare ANYONE to take a, say, 25 paged book (pretty small), translate it to Japanese, Chinese, Russian, back to English, and repeat this over thousands of years with hundreds of people doing their own translations and tell me the book would remain exactly the same.

Then let's make this book just a few more pages and call it the Bible.

How ya doing Brother Tass?

[Verto]

Originally posted by Jaguar Warrior

To be fair, the Bible has only been translated once. It's been copied for thousands of years, though. The Old Testament we know today was written in Hebrew, and was translated directly from Hebrew to English in 1529. Judaism has a large number of copies of the Old Testament in the original Hebrew, known as the Tanakh. The New Testament was written in both Greek and Aramaic. Then it was translated to Latin in 405, I think. The version we know today was translated from the original Greek straight to English, also in 1529.


I think I got those facts straight. Correct me if I am wrong.

A 'Bible', that is, a collection of the books of prophets, apostles, etc was not created until 3-400 years after the death of Christ and the Apostles, using whatever books could be found, many of which had already lost pages, etc. Add to that priests who took it upon themselves to edit the Bible to fit their views, as well as simple human error, and you find a book that, while still containing God's Word, is imperfect and flawed.

[Capt Dizle]

I didn't read every word of this thread but from what I did I missed any mention of inspiration. Does anyone want to comment on that?

[Az]

Answer to question about discontinuation of Animal sacrifice:

as of ~700BC, with the centralization of Worship in Judea, It has been strictly forbidden to make sacrifices anywhere but inside the temple, and I have a note from god to prove it.

Since there is no temple, and none of the temple golden artifacts have been found ( Though the tinfoil plated black hat ultraorthodox will say that it's hidden in the Vatican, I call BS ), you cannot build neither a mobile shrine, nor the temple. Thus, no sacrifice.

QED.