** BIBLE.DOC ** One of the things which bothers me about certain Fundamentalist Christians is their insistance on the Bible as the ultimate authority. Yet they selectively read it to support their beliefs and opinions against whatever minority, group, or activitity they happen to be attacking. In their efforts to criticise viewpoints and lifestyles different from their own, they are fond of Biblical quotes from the Old Testament; especially from the books of Leviticus and Deutotomy. The Old Testament contains important ethical and moral provisions such as the 'Ten Commandments', which have had a strong impact upon Western culture. Yet, it should be remembered that the Bible, especially the Old Testament is an historical document. I suggest that much of the Old Testament has no relavancy to modern society. And that it is 'faulty logic' to selectively quote from it, while ignoring the rest (most) of the material. Accordingly, I searched through the Old Testament myself, and picked out some of the more colorful admonisments. It was great fun. And I hope it will help put the Old Testament into its proper perspective... ANIMAL SACRIFICE was considered an important way of atoning for one's sins. A number of complete chapters in the Old Testament describe the practice. Yet I know of no contemporary Christian or Jew who practices animal sacrifice. Here are some examples... 1) You should make burnt offerings of cattle, sheep, doves, and pigions. (Lev. 1.3, et al) 2) You should sprinkle animal blood upon the altar. (Lev. 5.9, et al) 3) The priests and their garments should be anointed with oil and blood. (Lev. 8.30, et al) DIETARY RESTRICTIONS may have been more relavent before refrigeration. While it is true that Orthodox Jews do follow some of these dietary restrictions, nobody else does... 1) Do not eat sheep fat, lest your soul be cut off from your people. (Lev. 7.24) 2) Eat no manner of blood, lest your soul be cut off from your people. (Lev. 7.26, Deut. 12.23, 15.23) 3) Do not eat camels, rabbits, or pigs. Neither should you touch them, for they are unclean beasts. (Lev. 11.4, 11.6, 11.7, Deut. 14.7, 8, Isa. 65.4) 4) Do not eat crab, lobsters, oysters, nor any other seafood except for fish. (Lev. 11.10, Deut. 14.10) 5) Of course you may eat locusts, beetles, and grasshoppers. (Lev. 11.22) OTHER RESTRICTIONS... 1) Do not go to the temple drunk, lest you die. (Lev. 10.9) 2) Do not shave your head or beard, for it is a defilement to do so. (Lev. 21.4, 5) 3) You should not wear garments of different kinds together, such as wool with cotton. (Deut. 22.11) 4) No tatoos. (Lev. 20.28) 5) Any man with a pimple should be quarantined for seven days. (Lev. 13.2-4) 6) You should not touch dogs or cats, for they will make you unclean. (Lev. 11.27) 7) You should not touch the mouse, tortoise, lizard, or snail, for they will make you unclean. (Lev. 11.29, 11.30) PUNISHMENT in the Old Testament is very severe by today's standards. In fact one might wonder how the Jewish people survived at all... 1) If you have a rebellious son who does not obey you, you should take him to the elders of the city who will stone him to death. (Deut. 21.18-21) 2) The penalty for blasphemy is stoning to death. (Lev. 24.10) 3) If a man finds out that his new wife is not a virgin, he may take her to the elders of the city who will stone her to death. (Deut. 22.13-21) FINANCIAL ISSUES in the Old Testament are completely overlooked today... 1) The land (Israel?) shall not be sold. This would seem to prevent all private ownership of property. (Lev. 25.23) 2) Creditors shall write off all debts every 7 years (unless they are foreign debts...There goes the mortgage!). (Deut. 15.1, 2) OTHER PRACTICES which are now (largely) frowned upon... 1) Having more than one wife. (I Sam. 30.5) 2) Purchase of and ownership of slaves. (Deut. 15.12) 3) If your slave wants to stay when you offer him freedom, you should thrust an awl through his ear so that he will be your slave forever. (Deut. 15.16, 17) MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. There are many other admonisments and rules... 1) Do not plant a grove of trees near the temple. (The grove of trees was associated with Ashtarte). (Deut. 16.21) 2) He who has been castrated may not enter the temple. (Deut. 23.1) --4/18/88 Phil Hansford Mysteria (818) 353-8891 (modem only)