Forbes  +  137632 Thu, 15 Sep 05 12:24 PM The bible is often quoted in support of someone's position. I would like to know if those who follow the bible follow the whole bible or just the parts that are convenient to them. I quote from Leviticus 19:9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. Whilst I constanly hear Leviticus quoted to explain why homosexuality should not be practised, I have never heard anyone crying out for farmers to stop reaping the corners of their fields, an act clearly contary to God's holy ordinance. Are those who eat food made from flour manufactured from wheat harvested from a corner-cut field committing a sin? Forbes Joined on Thu, Jun 16 2005 Regular Member 895

	nona the brit  +  137810 Thu, 15 Sep 05 07:39 PM And you'd better not eat prawns or shellfish either! nona the brit Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004 England Veteran Member 11,713 The name says it all.

	davkett  +  137816 Thu, 15 Sep 05 07:46 PM Whoopi Goldberg (HBO) did a funny stand-up piece on Leviticus, Forbes.  Perfectly to the point, too.   davkett Joined on Tue, Jun 7 2005 Pennsylvania, USA Senior Member 2,788 "The rose stays fresh in its name..." -Bernard of Morlay

	Robyn Terri  +  137907 Fri, 16 Sep 05 01:58 AM Humankind has always taken pieces of scripture be it the Bible, Koran or other text, out of context and used it to support their own view. The extent to which any person follows any holy scripture varies with each individual. If we want to know what the text is really saying, we must first try to understand the circumstances and culture of the person who wrote it and of whom they were writing to. What did it mean then? Because it can't mean now what it didn't mean then. The context of these verses in Leviticus are setting up a welfare system to feed the poor.  Most, hopefully all, countries now have systems to help our poor which is todays equivelent to the laws mentioned in Leviticus. Personally what we can gain from this verse is an attitude of being aware of the needs of others and willing to give or share. Robyn Terri Joined on Sat, Apr 16 2005 Western Australia Full Member 323 Words don't have meanings, meanings have words. Whom

	Forbes  +  137923 Fri, 16 Sep 05 03:03 AM  Robyn Terri wrote: The context of these verses in Leviticus are setting up a welfare system to feed the poor.  Most, hopefully all, countries now have systems to help our poor which is todays equivelent to the laws mentioned in Leviticus. Personally what we can gain from this verse is an attitude of being aware of the needs of others and willing to give or share. I am sure you are right. But where is the contextualising to end? Are you happy for me to argue, for example, that the sexual morality of the Old Testament is appropriate for desert dwelling nomads who wish to maintain a patriarchal system that has no relevance to the modern world? I am happy to gain from the Bible the general principle that I should be aware of the needs of others in my relationships with them, but not that I should follow the letter. Forbes

	Clive Woodward  +  137930 Fri, 16 Sep 05 03:38 AM Users should take note that we do not allow excessive religious promotion. On the same hand, we do not allow the excessive criticism or denigration of religion/s either. Users who are repeatedly offensive in either of these areas may have privileges withdrawn. Thank you for your observance of the sensitivities of others in such matters. Clive Woodward Joined on Mon, Nov 17 2003 Veteran Member 242 Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity Promotions

	Robyn Terri  +  137948 Fri, 16 Sep 05 04:57 AM The intention of the scripture in Leviticus then was to take care of the poor. We should apply the same attitude today. Many scriptures should be applied the same way, it really does depend on the scripture. We could go on arguing other specific versus ad infinitum and I really do not have the knowlege, time or inclination. I would suggest Forbes, that instead of reading scripture looking for what offends you, look for what you can gain from it. Robyn Terri

	Robyn Terri  +  137961 Fri, 16 Sep 05 05:37 AM Clive, This is the Controversial subjects forum, which is 'dedicated to continual re-education and our search for a unified and greater understanging of life'. Religion is the most obvious thing to fit that category. Forbes subject was allowed because it fit the criteria. How else can I respond but to refer to the Bible? I tried to keep my response short so as to not appear to be doing any 'excessive religious promotion'. I am not interested in excessive religious promotion. That just bores everyone. I am however, very interested in the opinions and ideas of people who's ideas are different from mine. I can talk to people who think similar ideas to me every day. What do I gain from that? What I love about this forum is that I can interact with people outside my culture. I have been surprised at how much Christian content there is here and would be interested to learn of the attitudes and ideas of people of other religious backgrounds, but I can only respond to what is posted that I know something about or have some thoughts on. Sorry if I have failed to be sensitive to the sensitivities of others, I'm only trying to contribute and be helpful. Robyn Terri Promotions