(no subject)
May. 6th, 2005 06:17 pmI'm reminded of a discussion the other day when I was at my sister's place. There was a bible sitting on the table and mother decided to start reading it, out loud, starting at the beginning.
We didn't get very far though. Seems that God created all the creatures of the sea, all the birds, all the wild animals, cattle and insects. Which sort of leaves a few animals out of the picture, doesn't it? And from here we had a argument with mother who insisted that because she doesn't take Creation literally, neither should anyone else.
Shouldn't get into argument with religious types :| I guess I should show her the Creationist Mueseum website.
Then I pointed sister at Leviticus and she started reading that out loud, which was quite interesting read in long sections. There's the part that details who a man shouldn't sleep with because it shames him/her/others. It sounds like it was put together by a harassed priest.
Priest: Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother. Do not have sexual relations with your sister--"
Bystander: Look, by sister you mean a sibling with the same mother and father as me, right?
Priest: Do not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father's daughter or your mother's daughter--
Bystander: Even if they were born on the other side of the mountain after your father ran off with the cowherder and you've never met her?
Priest: Do not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.
Bystander: But what about her daughter? In a couple of years, I mean, that's OK isn't it?
Priest scribbles quickly.
Bystander: And my brother's wife, I mean he's never there, so that shouldn't be a problem
Priest (after more scribbles): Right, you can't have sexual relations with any woman born to your father or your mother or born to those women because they are your sisters; or your brother's wife because that will shame him, or anyone born to either of them because they are your near relatives, or anyone born to you because they are, where was I, oh your children. Got it?
Bystander2: Oh sure, but my brother's wife's sister has this good looking daughter and--
Priest: You ever thought about becoming a priest?
Then there's the bit that describes certain diseases and how they should be treated (isolatation, exiled, not a problem).
Or what animals you can eat or not eat else you'll be unclean. And if anything is left of your sacrifice after three days you shouldn't eat it. (Why? Because it's abominable and I said so, that's why, now stop asking questions.) You also shouldn't eat most four legged, flying creatures, which is nice to know.
It's an ancient guide to healthy living.
We didn't get very far though. Seems that God created all the creatures of the sea, all the birds, all the wild animals, cattle and insects. Which sort of leaves a few animals out of the picture, doesn't it? And from here we had a argument with mother who insisted that because she doesn't take Creation literally, neither should anyone else.
Shouldn't get into argument with religious types :| I guess I should show her the Creationist Mueseum website.
Then I pointed sister at Leviticus and she started reading that out loud, which was quite interesting read in long sections. There's the part that details who a man shouldn't sleep with because it shames him/her/others. It sounds like it was put together by a harassed priest.
Priest: Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother. Do not have sexual relations with your sister--"
Bystander: Look, by sister you mean a sibling with the same mother and father as me, right?
Priest: Do not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father's daughter or your mother's daughter--
Bystander: Even if they were born on the other side of the mountain after your father ran off with the cowherder and you've never met her?
Priest: Do not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.
Bystander: But what about her daughter? In a couple of years, I mean, that's OK isn't it?
Priest scribbles quickly.
Bystander: And my brother's wife, I mean he's never there, so that shouldn't be a problem
Priest (after more scribbles): Right, you can't have sexual relations with any woman born to your father or your mother or born to those women because they are your sisters; or your brother's wife because that will shame him, or anyone born to either of them because they are your near relatives, or anyone born to you because they are, where was I, oh your children. Got it?
Bystander2: Oh sure, but my brother's wife's sister has this good looking daughter and--
Priest: You ever thought about becoming a priest?
Then there's the bit that describes certain diseases and how they should be treated (isolatation, exiled, not a problem).
Or what animals you can eat or not eat else you'll be unclean. And if anything is left of your sacrifice after three days you shouldn't eat it. (Why? Because it's abominable and I said so, that's why, now stop asking questions.) You also shouldn't eat most four legged, flying creatures, which is nice to know.
It's an ancient guide to healthy living.
