| highwaystar101 said: Yes, I know I said it in my earlier post, they consider it infallible. So why don't they kill bullocks and lambs when they prey any more? Why don't they actively repress women? Why don't they stone blasphemers to death? Why don't they own slaves? These things have equal/greater footing than condemning homosexuality in Leviticus, so why is it acceptable for people choose one quote from Leviticus and not another if the book is infallible? It's just a homophobic agenda set out by the religions that condemn it, it has nothing to do with the religious texts. They have tried to justify their hatred by finding quotes from a book which is completely redundant. -edit- I guess what I'm trying to say is that by justifying their position by quoting Leviticus 18:22 and asserting that it is infallible is in effect saying that the whole book is infallible. If someone believes that Leviticus is infallible then they shouldn't be allowed to bring their hate crimes into our modern society. Maybe I am creating a bit of a quasi-strawman argument, but I don't see how it can be any other way. |
You're right, highwaystar. It's very inconsistent to use part of Leviticus and not the whole thing. I do think that Christians who try to use Leviticus in the aforementioned manner are extremely misguided. I will try to shed some light on the subject....
The purpose of Leviticus is confirmed in the final chapters: "These are the decrees, the laws and the regulations that the LORD established on Mount Sinai between himself and the Israelites through Moses" (Lev 26:46). The instructions and requirements outlined in the book govern the relationship between God and Israel only. They are not universal. This message is confirmed in the final verse of the book: "These are the commandments the LORD gave Moses on Mount Sinai for the Israelites" (Lev 27:34).
The rules given in Leviticus were designed to keep Israel separate from the rest of the world, to protect Israel from the influence of other cultures, such as that of Egypt. These things all contributed to the uniqueness of Israel, but they have been fulfilled by Jesus, so they are not mandatory in the modern world. Holiness through cultural separation no longer applies.
Any Christian who tries to use anything in Leviticus (a book of instructions for Israel!!) to condemn others is absolutely in the wrong and is not treating people the way Jesus teaches.
