Dr. Laura Schlessinger and Leviticus Revisited

I Just added a "Table of Contents Function" To my Blogs, it is easier to browse the posts' titles and dates, well, I was checking out how the TOC worked at "TUYA", viewing it I saw a post which reminded me of the Same-Sex Marriage... I don't even know how to call it, 'brouhaha?' or 'much ado about nothing?', the one I like the best for being the most descriptive is: 'the supreme exercise in christian hypocrisy', but whatever I call it, when I think about it, I get a wicked fascination and gratefulness at their showing to all the world, the best example of what I have been saying for years.

Anyway, I saw the post titled "Dr. Laura Schlessinger and Leviticus" published Monday, February 25, 2008, I thought that 10 months later was still current and timely so I decided to dust it up and share it again.

This piece came to me via email, it is from a man who identified himself as 'Jim', this message really made the internet rounds at the time, so I never did determined if this was his real name or anything else about the author, the piece was so well written and, albeit it dealt with very serious matters, I found it as hilarious then as I do now.

Funny as it is, this is a very serious matter, indeed, when we just endured the sad spectacle of three States changing their Constitution to ban 'same-sex marriage' on the basis that it goes contrary to 'God's Law'.

Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a 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 an east coast resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative and thought-provoking:

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:

When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness - Lev.15:19- 24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

I have a neighbor 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?

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?

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 my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

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?

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?

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 at 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 confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your devoted fan,
Jim
Posted by Aurora at 3:55 PM

Many, many christians are what Jesus of Nazareth despised the most; Hypocrites.

I always get a kick out of witnessing these ignorant zealots, please forgive the oxymoron, perform what I call 'contortions in logic', 'intellectual acrobatics' and 'spiritual masturbation', oooooh, I love to say these terms which so aptly describe what these christians are doing in this and other religious issues, I love to say them, they are so accurately descriptive and kind of poetic, c'mon, say it with me, slowly, 'contortions in logic, intellectual acrobatics and spiritual masturbation', ooooooooooh.

There is another expression that I run into while researching another huge example of christian hypocrisy, DIVORCE!!! THE BIGGEST KILLER OF HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGE, THE REAL THREAT TO THE 'SANCTITY OF CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE' (I need to make a pause here to have a few guffaws'

As I was saying... I found a post with a very long title of which I selected the first few words and an excerpt of it (immediately below), it was posted on a Blog Titled: "Thoughts Of A Conservative Christian" who, as is the case with most of us, has at least a tinge of what we accuse others of, here is a quote he?, she?, has in this post "Those of us who still believe the Bible is the rule book for marriage, sexuality, moral character and church discipline must confront this craziness."", the post's title starts with "The Fuzzy-Wuzzy World of Charismatic Morality –Christian leaders who flippantly divorce..."

Then we have Bishop Thomas Weeks III, the estranged husband of celebrity preacher Juanita Bynum. Their marriage crashed and burned last August when she accused him of beating her in an Atlanta hotel parking lot. Weeks and Bynum have continued preaching since they announced plans to divorce, and Weeks told Gospel Today magazine last month that he’s looking forward to finding wife No. 3 while he continues to oversee several churches. When asked what he needed to change, the bow-tied preacher replied: "I have to take vacations."

In my research on divorce, I found out that a lot of criticism on it is coming from fundamentalist christians which focus not in divorce itself, but in divorce among christian leaders (Classic christan selectiveness), here is a post which still focuses and makes the point that some denominations, i. e., 'liberal', have a higher divorce rate than others, including the baptists with a very high rate of it, the post goes on to absolve sinners but stops short of agreeing that leaders who divorce should continue in their ministry, but I believe that what he is saying is that for members of the congregation it is ok to divorce and marry again, shouldn't the prescription they suggest for gays apply to them? they say that Homosexuality itself is not a sin, but homosexual acts are, so, be celibate and spend a lifetime without a special person in your life - when a divorcee remarries, isn't he/she committing adultery? Here is a comment on this post "'voice crying in the wilderness' Says: August 23, 2007 at 6:35 pm I wonder how my fellow christians can get a divorce and remarry and not think they’re committing adultery"

Here is the title to the post I just mentioned Divorce Is Rampant Among Christian Leaders, see what I mean?

Post after christian post, they focus on divorce by preachers and ministers and very little in divorce per se, here is another one on "The Baptist" - "BIBLE TRUMPET For Fundamentalism In South Caroline" What About Divorced Preachers?

How about Evangelical leader John Hagee, remember him? He was the one whose endorsement John McCain sought and got during the Presidential Primaries of this year and later denounced him to separate his campaign from the horrible wackiness of this preacher.

He also weighed in by 'taking action' on this, hmmmm... 'divorce is bad only for preachers' issue, he, he, he.
Hagee, divorced preachers are distant

A pair of divorces among prominent preachers in Florida and San Antonio has prompted evangelical leader John Hagee to cool ties with the two, who are linked through a San Antonio church called the Epicenter.

Rick Hawkins, who founded the Epicenter (until recently called the Family Praise Center), divorced his wife last year. Several months later, TV evangelist Paula White divorced her husband; she later joined the board of directors at Hawkins' church.

But he is not being a hypocrite, is he? Check this out

"Hagee, 67, considered an esteemed veteran in Pentecostal and charismatic circles, divorced his first wife when he was a young pastor and remarried."

Has anybody actually confronted him on this blatant contradiction? (One of many)

Let's just close this post with a few afterthoughts and reminders on divorce, period! While divorce itself it is not adultery (Remember abstinence) remarriage is. (The Patriarchal Bible gives a pass on many things to men, but not on this one)

1. -Jesus describes divorce and remarriage as an act of adultery. ... Adultery with a married woman (Leviticus 20:10-11; Deuteronomy 22:22-24)


2. - Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery. (Mark 10:11-12)


3. - Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery. (Luke 16:18)


4. - Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. (Hebrews 13:4; see also 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Revelation 21:8)

How about number 4? This is a good one, according to it, "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled;", I don't see any exceptions for homosexuals listed, so, why are christians opposed to same-sex marriage so same-sex couples can be as honorable as they are?
I may be wrong on the second part of it "but fornicators and adulterers God will judge", shouldn't christians, the self-proclaimed "Guardians of Society's Morals", be at the forefront in pro of same-sex marriage to stop single homosexuals from fornicating? Just a thought.


If anybody ever feels the need to be utterly confused and amused by the logical contortions, intellectual acrobatics and spiritual masturbation of the christians, just check out Leviticus on this and other issues and you will find a plethora of christian examples in hypocrisy.

Aurora Grajeda
SFCA 122808

Ratzinger's Unholy Inquisition, is there any other kind?

Did he learned some lessons and is applying them?

He claims that he had to join the Hitler Youth because it was compulsory and that he didn't agree with Nazy ideals, the details are murky but there is enough to glimpse that he has been less than candid.

Joseph Ratzinger joined the Hitler Youth in 1941 when, according to him and his supporters, it became compulsory for all German boys. Millions of Germans were in a position similar to that of Joseph Ratzinger and his family, so why spend so much time focusing on him? Because he is no longer merely Joseph Ratzinger, or even a Catholic Cardinal — he is now Pope Benedict XVI. None of the other Germans who joined the Hitler Youth, were part of the military in Nazi Germany, lived near a concentration camp, and watched Jews being rounded up for death camps has ever become pope.

Ratzinger’s recollections of his youth in Nazi Germany makes it seem as though all the problems, violence, and hatred existed outside his local community. There is no recognition that resistance to the Nazis existed — or was needed — just outside his door.

The pope is supposed to be the successor of Peter, leader of the Christian Church, and symbol of unity for all Christendom. The past actions — or inactions — of such a person matter a great deal if anyone is going to treat him as any sort of moral authority. Ratzinger’s recollections of his youth in Nazi Germany makes it seem as though all the problems, violence, and hatred existed outside his local community. There is no recognition that resistance to the Nazis existed — or was needed — just outside his door.

Hitler Jugend: Joseph Ratzinger’s claims about the Hitler Youth are not true. Compulsory membership was first defined in 1936 and reinforced in 1939, not in 1941 as he says. Ratzinger also says that he was “still too young” at the time, but he was 14 in 1941 and not too young at all: between the ages of 10 and 14, membership in the Deutsche Jungvolk (a group for younger children) was mandatory. Yet there is no mention of Raztinger belonging. If he had managed to avoid the required membership in the Deutsche Jungvolk, why did he suddenly join the Hitler Youth in 1941?

-- About.Com

One of the things that I find difficult to come to grips with RE his campaign against Queer Folk, is the fact that he witnessed the Anti-Jew Nazi propaganda, the effect it had in zealots and it's consequences, he is the Pope, a learned man and author, it is quite a stretch of the imagination to conclude that he doesn't understand the dangers that this hypocritical intolerance poses in his truly unholy Jihad, at a time when the anti-homosexual hate crimes are on the rise, doesn't he understand that this is akin to throwing fuel into the fire? Or maybe, that's the whole idea.

This are the options for the most simplistic way to define him, the Pope is either dumb or evil, and for the apologists, I offer an alternate option, he is being irresponsible, let's not forget that he saw what happened in Germany to the Jews, Unionists, Communists and other groups that the Nazis found unacceptable, and now, he is doing the same.

A lesson well learned? He saw how successful the Nazi Propaganda machine was in consolidating power by galvanizing the fears, phobias, biases, etc., of the populace living in a era on uncertainty, economic and bellicose climate and blaming somebody for the problems, IT IS THE JEWS' FAULT! GET THEM!

He may no have agreed with the Nazis, his family didn't, but today, he has a cause and culprits to blame it on, IT IS THE HOMOSEXUALS' FAULT! GET THEM!.

"Homosexuality is Destroying Human Race, says Pope" Scream the headlines.

In his end-of-the-year address, Pope Benedict XVI said that "saving humanity from homosexual or transsexual behaviour is just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction."

He added that "defending God's creation was not limited to saving the environment, but also about protecting man from self-destruction."

Rev Sharon Ferguson from the British Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement said statements like this one fuel violence against homosexuals: "When you have religious leaders like that making that sort of statement then followers feel they are justified in behaving in an aggressive and violent way because they feel that they are doing God's work in ridding the world of these people."

A representative of the British Pink Triangle Trust said "this must be the most outrageous and bizarre claim yet made by the Pope who has already got a well-deserved reputation as one the most viciously homophobic world leaders on a par with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe."

Well, what else to expect from a former member of the Hitler Youth?!

WOW, that is power, my community is destroying the human race, what is the difference between him and the religious wacko leaders in the US blaming homosexuality for 911, Katrina, Hurricanes, etc.? He has joined the ranks of the likes of Michael Savage who blames sex-change operations for 911 'that was God speaking' he pontificated.

I may be a lot dumber that I thought, for the life of me I can't see the connection and no details are ever given on the particulars of how we accomplish what we are being blamed for.

So now he is an enviromentalist and wants to save the rainforest, but he is against science, pluralism, Liberation Theology, preventing AIDs by using condoms, oh dear God, the list is so long of what is wrong with this Pope.

I'll never forget how in the US 2004 Presidential Election, he didn't say anything when his Bishops were waging a campaign against Kerry for his stance on Reproductive Rights, they supported Bush even after 4 years of learning of the lies for the invasion in Irak, the crimes against humanity, the war crimes, with all that being public knowledge, he didn't reign in his zealots in positions of power, I hold him responsible for helping give Bush four more years of criminality, he is an accomplice after the facts for thousands of deaths.

It is not because he is a Nazi, I don't think he is, his behavior follows the ultra conservative religious beliefs, for the ones who don't know and the ones who feel it is not important, I'd like to remind you that at the time of his election as Pope, Benedict had been Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, least be left unsaid, this is the historically malignant "Holy Inquisition" of our times, yeah, these were the zealot goons who killed so many people in the name of Christ.

"The Blessed", the arrogance of this man in selecting this name, blessed by whom? And for what?

This "Holy War" He is waging is not new, back of Sep 19, 2005, I wrote a Daily Kos Diary after the sentencing of the young men who killed my young Transgender sister Gwen Araujo titled "Gay Panic Defense? My Ass! - This Pope was busy conducting a 'witch-hunt' for homosexuals in the seminaries.

Excerpt:

Yes, two were convicted, Silvia (Gwen's Mother), says that a murder conviction is a murder conviction, mandatory 15 yrs. to life (Hate crime would add only 4 yrs. to sentence) But the issue of Hate Crimes needs to be included, even as a symbolic conviction so at least it becomes part of the narrative. We need to highlight the circumstances. I fully agree and I'd be satisfied.

So, why am I so angry? I am full of righteous indignation because the instigators, the ones that perpetuate a climate of exclusion, discrimination and hate, the ones that commit Spiritual Violence, the ones that in my book have the tears and blood of my sisters and brothers on their hands, are free. And they are just as guilty, if not more.

Yes, I'm talking about the blobs of wasted human DNA such as the hatemongering preachers in the US and abroad, Repugnicans, specially "If I can't dazzle you with my brilliance, I'll baffle you with my bullshit Bush" Yes all of them, MAY THEY BE DAMMED TO THE HOTTEST PLACE IN HELL!
Oh! We are also responsible for 9/11 and Katrina among other disasters.

The Vatican is going "Faggot hunting" Apparently we're guilty of pedophilia.
"Things do not look very promising under the leadership of Pope Benedict XVI: the Catholic Church has instigated a witch-hunt against homosexual seminarians. The Vatican has launched an inspection of Roman Catholic seminaries in the United States to search for "evidence of homosexuality."
The inspections of hundreds of seminaries and theological schools was authorized as a response to the church's child molestation scandal."

I haven't the foggiest idea as to how they'll identify seminarians' homosexual "tendencies" Really, how are they going to conduct this witch hunt? I don't think the "Throw them in the water and if...." Method will work this time. Hey! Wait a cotton-picking-minute, it never did and as a result some of your predecessors shed the blood of, no, no, I'm wrong, the "Holy" Inquisition was not supposed to spill blood, it was verboten, so they devised the more "Moral" method of burning so no blood would be spilled. Neat feat of intellectual acrobatics and spiritual masturbation. Cooool, you guys are some piece of work.

As a Catholic I have some choice words for Ratzinger, him that controls the Holy Inquisition version 2.0.0.5.

Ratzinger, you charlatan, calling yourself the Vicar Of Christ, you claim to represent Jesus of Nazareth, I have news for you, you DENIGRATE HIM! Were he to come back, there'd be a replay of throwing the merchants out of the temple with a whip, he'd do it himself, just as he did so long ago. You and the priests of your ilk have helped make My Fathers' House in a rathole of corruption, when are you going to clean up the corruption in the Vatican Bank? When will you pay decent wages to lay workers? You exploiter - When will you get a divorce from the Murderer of so many? Yes, I'm talking about Bush, you well know that the Catholic Church is fiercely opposed to unjust wars and the death penalty, when will you denounce him? You hypocritical coward and self-serving misleader, you helped him with the '04 election, your bishops were condemning Kerry and anybody who voted for him and as a result many Catholics voted for Bush, do you have any concept of your guilt at the deaths that occurred since then? Do you realize that you are an accomplice to murder and crimes against humanity?
Do you ever consider the pain and suffering that your policies against birth control cause throughout the world? Specially in poor countries, if you don't, pity you, if you do, you sanctimonious bastard!

No, Jesus is not here to throw you out, but I'm here, I DO believe in Jesus of Nazareth and as a follower and in HIS name I'm ordering you out of our house of Prayer, I'm doing it in the finest tradition of a true Catholic, With the respect that I have, not for you, but to the Holly office that you occupy, I'm kneeling in front of you, I kiss your ring, I stand up and shaking my stretched index finger two inches from your nose, I say unto you: "The stench of corruption and sin surrounds you, you are hurting God's creation, clean up your act or leave!"

If you want to control the masses, control their sexuality, this is the reason this Pope is doing this, no question about it, for thousands of years, religion has made something ugly of one of the most beautiful gifts of creation and one of the most powerful natural instincts, be it for procreation or recreation, it is a most powerful drive and the urge to harness it appeared in early religion, propagated for centuries with lies and misinformation for one purpuse and one purpose only, CONTROL.

THESE ARE THE BASIS FOR RATZINGER'S 21ST CENTURY CRUSADE

This is a little piece that I wrote for a dear friend of mine's Newsletter, it was supposed to be around 200 words, came up with 231:

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Albeit this issue pales in comparison to the momentous impact to the US Population that the Economy, Education, Employment, Health Insurance and War have, nevertheless, it is the hottest item in the political landscape.

The three basic problems that makes this possible are: Ignorance, Hypocrisy and plain Bigotry.

1. Ignorance: Homosexuality goes against Nature, it does not conform to creation's rule of a male and a female (For Obvious reasons the procreation argument mostly has been dropped)

There have been countless field studies RE 'Homosexuality in nature' to list them all, but scientifically it is no longer in question that it does exist, Bruce Bagemihl, PhD wrote in his 1999 book "Biological Exuberance, Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity" that homosexual and/or transgender activity has been observed in "over 450 species"

2. Hypocrisy: While Leviticus clearly states that homosexuality is an abomination, similarly classifies eating pork and shellfish in addition to clearly condemn divorce as adultery, the penalty for this infraction is death by stoning, in the town's main square no less.

Religious leaders and their followers are blatantly selecting which precepts are applied, hence, they are being hypocritical.

3. Bigotry: Not much to say here other than research on the subject has shown that it is mostly cultural, rooted in traditional religious beliefs handed down for generations and also that, in it's most virulent expression, it is reflection manifested in projection.

The reason for this "Holy War" Is that we Queers pose a real threat, not to humankind, but to the power that these Ultra Conservative Fundamentalists and Greedy Violence Mongers wield and they don't want to lose it.

There is a new book by an ex-Jesuit Priest that I believe I had the chance to meet at Dignity San Francisco, where I attend functions occasionally, it is about sexuality, sex, the Bible, religion, etc., I need to read it.

In his review, Steve Rothaus says of the book - Citing the generally overlooked Biblical book The Songs of Songs, McNeill argues that human sexual activity represents a form of "play" that provides a source of pleasure, joy and love. From the beginning, he says, this is what God intended sex to be, not a cause of judgment, oppression, and resentment.

Friday, December 26, 2008

New book from John J. McNeill: 'Sex as God Intended'

SOURCE:

Steve Rothaus' Gay South Florida

www.MiamiHerald.com/gay - For and about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people throughout Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
December 25, 2008
Miami Herald Blog

A new book from John J. McNeill: Sex as God Intended. McNeill will be signing books Jan. 11 at Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale. Here's the news release:

Lethe Press is proud to release the latest work from the acclaimed Biblical scholar John J. McNeill.

You can order at
Queerbooks.com or at TLABooks or through Amazon or ask your local bookseller to carry John's latest book.

Aurora Grajeda

SFCA 122708