Tsurmon

As I said in another thread, I'll be debating gay marriage in a class on Tuesday. I asked my teacher about the format: Open forum, class divides into sides. this should put me and about 2-3 other people vs. the rest of the class.

Anyways, one of my key arguements will be that Christians can't just pick and choose the laws in the bible that they want enforced. It's either one or the other. To help with this, I'll need some really stupid laws and the verses of said laws.

So, mind helping a guy out?

Chris Weimer

Exodus 21:22 - a foetus is not a human

Chili

It isn't. Our humanity comes later with the formation of the ego consciousness.

Chris Weimer

Chili - I'm sorry man, but I can't take it anymore. I've got to put you on ignore. Sorry dude.

Viti

Just read through Exodus and Leviticus for the food and worship laws. Eating shelfish is an abomination (not just unlawful, and abomination just like homosexuality) as is wearing blended fabrics (cotton/poly is an abomination!), women not covering their heads, men with long hair, touching a menstruating woman....all punishable by death.

Also mention that Jesus didn't say a single word about homosexuality, but he preached vehemently against divorce and remarriage, which is not only legal, but heavily practiced by Christians. His speech about it is in Matthew, towards the end (don't have my Bible handy), there are several online though, should be no problem to search the keyword "divorce"

Also, go to the Skeptics Annotated Bible for help.

Toto

Skeptics Annotated Bible may be a place to start, but it seems to lack a category for "stupid laws."

Take this quiz from the Freedom From Religion Foundation which highlights some absurd laws.

But you will find that Christians have an answer for most of these. They will tell you that the laws in Leviticus were meant for the Jews at a certain stage of history, and are not of universal value.

If you search for Homosexuality in this Forum, you will find threads that discuss whether the prohibition of homosexuality is different from the other parts of the "holiness code," such as the prohibition on eating shrimp or wearing a cotton-polyester blend. The Christians have an argument that it is different.

The most devastating comparison for anti-gay Christians is divorce. Divorce without cause is clearly forbidden by Jesus in the gospels, but no-fault divorce is accepted by almost all Christians, or at least is not considered a terrible sin.

Latest Thread on Homosexuality

Toto

There is no current legal code that considers a foetus a person. I don't think that this provision is so absurd, although you may think you do not agree with it.

inquisitive01

Ummm, an abomination is defined as a "disgusting or unlawful act." The word unclean is NOT the same as the word abomination. That said, the Leviticus laws use the word unclean (NOT the word abomination) most likely to describe the potentially negative effects on the body of eating certain things (i.e., disease, clogged arteries, etc.).

However, the act of homosexuality is definitely described as an abomination in the Bible.

As for divorce, a person is allowed to divorce (without committing adultery), and then remarry another if he/she finds another to marry, IF fornication (i.e., adultery) by the other spouse occurs. Marriage is meant to be "until death do us part," and is not meant to be taken lightly. Therefore, if one is not 100% sure that getting married is the thing to be doing, then he/she should not be getting married. Of course, if one does not believe in God or the Bible, then this can easily (or, conveniently) be "thrown out" and ignored.

Magus55

How does Ex 21:22 say a fetus is not a human? The verse calls an unborn baby a child.

Derec

Yes, there is, in California. You can be charged with a murder of a fetus, unless you are the mother (sexist unequal treatment under law again)

UMoC