[Sola Veritas]

"Use your persona to ask how you as a Christian can reconcile hating gays with eating shrimp, per Leviticus."

OK, time for some basic theology 101. What is being alluded to here is that in the Pentateuch(first five books of Old Testament), homosexuality is a capital crime, but the eating of things like shrimp was also forbidden. This is supposed to "stump" a Christian who, rightfully, holds a disdain for homosexuality, but still eat things forbidden.

This was dealt with a very long time ago by theologians - long before "homosexual rights" were ever an issue. The Pentateuch (AKA "Law of Moses") can be thought of being three parts.

The first part is the ceremonial law - how to sacrifice animals, give offerings, clean and unclean things, etc. These are things that set the Hebrews apart from other nations. Well, the ceremonial law ended with Christ. By Christian theology, Christ forever ended that by his death of the cross. The prohibition of eating "shrimp" would be part of the ceremonial law.

The second part would be the judicial or civil law. These are things dealings with property law, punishments for certain crimes, etc. It is the same as the governmental and civil laws of this land. Christian theologians have long recognized that, although it is a good model to follow, the civil/judicial law of ancient Israel was specific and binding only on that nation. In essence, it is not in effect any more. A great deal of our law is based upon it though.

Thirdly, there is the Moral Law, which is summarized in the Ten Commandments. The Moral Law is still considered binding on all, as a judge on right and wrong. The commandment that is quoted as "Thou shall not commit adultery" is better translated/stated as "Do not engage in sexual immorality." Adultery is just one type, homosexuality is another. Other parts of these five books go into more detail about the many varieties of sexual immorality - incest, bestiality, fornication, etc.

[Steve_Stifler]

Why aren't we smart enough to do some reverse-Moby activities ourselves? Can anyone start a list of leftwing sites like FR that we can then infiltrate as moderate Dims and then as the election grows closer start indicating that we're voting Republican because Kerry is just so awful?

[little jeremiah]

Excellent comments.

[Future Snake Eater]

Very interesting stuff. I'd never seen it spelled out like that before. Thanks!

[VRWC_minion]

See Acts 15. The laws in Lev, that survive are in there. They happen to be ones that existed before the 10 commandments known as Noahide laws and they also happen to be ones specifically mentioned in Lev to be for ALL souls as well as jewish strangers.

[Twinkie]

Homosexuality is condemned in the New Testament in a
very clear way, as is lying, and other sins. The
NT is not as specific on the food deal, except that
Jesus said that a man is not made unclean by the food
that goes into his mouth, but what comes forth from
his heart, also that food is rendered clean by prayer
and thanksgiving.