{"id":37,"date":"2013-02-10T18:17:00","date_gmt":"2013-02-10T18:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/beckypalmer.thecomputerguy.bz\/2013\/02\/im-confused\/"},"modified":"2015-11-10T03:50:55","modified_gmt":"2015-11-10T03:50:55","slug":"im-confused","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beckypalmer.me\/?p=37","title":{"rendered":"I’m confused"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today I’m asking for help. \u00a0Specifically I’m asking for help from my friends who are deeply religious. \u00a0Most of you will be Christians, but I’m quoting from the Old Testament, a book also revered by Jews and Muslims, so please feel free to comment if you are of either of those beliefs as well. \u00a0Yes, I know I’m leaving some of you on the curb on this one. \u00a0Sorry.<\/span>
\n
\nI’vee said it before and I’ll say it again- I am in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage. For me it’s not a religious issue at all- it’s about everyone having equal rights under the law which is supposed to be what the USA is all about. \u00a0However, I know this IS a religious issue for many others- including people I care deeply about- and that’s why I’m asking these questions today.<\/span>
\n
\nLeviticus 18 verse 22 says “Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman;<\/span>\u00a0that is detestable”. \u00a0This verse<\/span>\u00a0is commonly quoted by people who are against legalizing same-sex marriage. But here s where I struggle with that- there are a lot of other things in Leviticus- even Leviticus 18!- that no ones quotes or lives by today. \u00a0Here are just a few examples:<\/span>
\n
\nLev 18 verse 19:\u00a0Do not approach a woman to have sexual relations during the uncleanness<\/span>\u00a0of her monthly period.<\/span><\/span>
\n
\nLev 19 verse 19:\u00a0<\/span>Do not mate different kinds of animals\u00a0<\/span>Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed.\u00a0<\/span>Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.<\/span><\/span>
\n
\nLev 17 verse 13:\u00a0Anyone among you who hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth.<\/span><\/span>
\n
\nHere are a couple from Deuteronomy as well:<\/span>
\n
\nDet 22, verses 28- 29: \u00a0<\/sup>If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered,<\/span>\u00a0<\/sup>he shall pay her father fifty shekels\u00a0<\/span>of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives.<\/span><\/span>
\n
\nDet 22, verses 23-24:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/sup>If a man happens to meet in a town a virgin pledged to be married and he sleeps with her,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/sup>you shall take both of them to the gate of that town and stone them to death\u2014the young woman because she was in a town and did not scream for help, and the man because he violated another man\u2019s wife.<\/span><\/span>
\n
\nI don’t think anyone with even half a brain thinks forcing a rapist to marry his victim is a good idea. \u00a0I’ve never seen anyone protesting t shirts that are a 50-50 blend of cotton and polyester. I’ve never heard a sermon condemning couples choosing to make love during “that time of the month”. \u00a0But this is exactly where it gets me- if we have decided as religious law that Leviticus 18 verse 19 doesn’t apply to us in the year 2013, then why does Leviticus 18 verse 22?\u00a0<\/span>
\n
\nThis is a serious question that has been bothering me for quite a while now and I am hoping and praying for serious answers.<\/span>
\nThank you.<\/span>
\n
\n<\/span>All Bible verses are quoted from the NIV translation of the Holy Bible.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\n
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today I’m asking for help. \u00a0Specifically I’m asking for help from my friends who are deeply religious. \u00a0Most of you will be Christians, but I’m quoting from the Old Testament, a book also revered by Jews and Muslims, so please feel free to comment if you are of either of those beliefs as well. \u00a0Yes, I know I’m leaving some… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-faith","category-issues"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t