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>>"All the rules in Leviticus are still in effect?"<<

Now, you and I both know there is not enough space or time to go into ALL the Levitical laws! Plus, we've gone off the original subject of the thread, which will understandably annoy others. But, you asked, so here are a few to think about...

Many of the Levitical laws concern sexuality, specifically sexual immorality. If sexual immorality in the form of, say homosexuality or adultery are to be promoted and encouraged as an acceptable option in our society, then what about bestiality (sex with animals); incest; pedophilia (sex with children, which, like ancient Rome, is on the rise); prostitution; abortion (opps, that one IS being promoted and encouraged!). Many of the laws in Leviticus concerning sexuality address all these issues. Sexual immorality leads to disease, deformity, degradation, and death. It disrupts and degrades families, children, and society. It reveals a low regard of the value of oneself and of others. Sex in and of itself is not wrong. It's the way humans have twisted sexuality and justified immorality that makes it wrong.

Another example: Lev 15:19-24, laws concerning bloody discharges. Bloody discharges are unclean, ask anyone who's got AIDS; ask any healthcare provider who deals with hundreds of governmental regulations for the handling and disposal of bloody instruments. A deeper reading of the Bible shows that this issue of uncleanliness during menstruation is in no way a dis of women nor is it saying that women are unclean. But bloody discharges in an era without the knowledge we now have of, for example, the ways in which infectious diseases are spread would have to be viewed as unclean. Even with modern medical knowledge, bloody discharges are unclean. You'll find upon an in-depth reading of the Bible cover-to-cover that many of the Levitical laws are simply common sense sanitary laws. (Other sanitary laws: Rules for handling food; prevention of spread of viral/bacterial and sexually transmitted diseases; prevention of mildew [ever known a child with allergies to mold/mildew?]; purification of the body [this would have spiritual connotations as well as the obvious physical health-related issues] to name a few.

Sacrificial laws (burnt and blood offerings) – for example Lev 1:9. There were offerings to God as atonement/apology of sins; the best of ones' livestock, etc. were offered in exchange for forgiveness; a way to express sorrow and repentance for sins; was a form of worship. In the New Testament, this practice of offering atonement/apology by blood sacrifice was satisfied (replaced) by grace and was fulfilled by Jesus' death--His blood and His sacrifice replaced the blood and sacrifice of animals. There is no longer any need for blood/burnt offerings; we no longer have to abide by Old Testament blood sacrifices 'cuz Jesus gave Himself as the ultimate and final sacrifice for us.

Any opinion on the fate of poor ol' Onan?

Genesis:
38:8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
38:9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.
38:10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.

I have no intentention of diverting the thread towards theology, but you said several times that your faith in the accuracy of the Bible is due in part to the fact that it does not contain a lot of stuff that has become obsolete.

I would ask you to consult with an Orthodox Jew as to the intention of dietary laws. Some are, in fact practical in a time before refrigeration, but sanitation is not the primary intent of these laws. Ask those who still obey them.

The Bible explicitly condones slavery in several situations. You might well argue that these situations no longer exist, but people, in my opinion, have not changed enough so that slavery was once a good thing. A lot of trouble could have been saved by adding an eleventh commandment when the chance was available.

Where did the laws against shellfish come in? I have a hard time picturing shellfish causing any sort of problems.

Great post. These are more examples of good science in the Bible.