The Book of Leviticus Contains Many Silly Ideas

Once again, I meet the esteemed Galiban. I'd like to start by addressing his incomplete definition. I shall accept his source for the definition of silly. However, we re going to use ALL of his source, and not merely the part convenient for him. From his source: Silly - adjective 1archaic : helpless , weak 2 a: rustic , plain bobsolete : lowly in station : humble 3 a: weak in intellect : foolish b: exhibiting or indicative of a lack of common sense or sound judgment c: trifling , frivolous 4: being stunned or dazed Galiban has posited merely part 3a of this definition. At the very least, we shall consider the entirety of definition 3. ************************************************************* Some responses: >> "Gen 17:11 "You are to undergo circumcision , and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you."" Immaterial - we are talking about ONLY the book of Leviticus. >> "Jer 9:26 For all these nations are really uncircumcised, and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart ."" Immaterial - we are talking about ONLY the book of Leviticus. >> "All the "acts" and requirements stated in Leviticus have another meaning... All of the acts represent something. All of the commands represent something." This is all well and good, except that my opponent does not say anything about what that meaning IS. Thus, without elucidated further meaning, they qualify as trifling or frivolous and fulfill the resolution. >> "Ps 40:6-8" Again... immaterial. >> "Gen 38:9-10 " Yet again... immaterial. >> "Gal 3:24 24 " Really? >> "Isaiah 1:12" Are you done yet? >> "I have shown there was massive intellect that placed wisdom behind symbols. To show that we do this today with intellect I can appeal to advertising." Actually, my opponent has asserted that the laws in Leviticus must have some further meaning, mostly centered around keeping the Israelites faithful to God. >> "Though their initial purpose is not apparent we cannot deny that symbolic imagery does have intellect behind them and can not be considered silly." My opponent asserts that something done with intelligence behind it cannot be silly. This is simply false, as I'm sure every person reading this debate is seen someone intelligent do something silly. **************************************** My opponent has not really addressed any of the examples I have given, but merely asserts that since there is intelligence behind the notions in Leviticus, they cannot be silly. However, this is the same line of reasoning as to consider slavery to not be a silly idea simply because the people that HAD the idea were intelligent. Let us address some of the silly notions in Leviticus: 1. God spends 9 chapters detailing how to kill animals in sacrifice (even though other places in the Bible say he doesn't like sacrifices... but that's immaterial to this debate...) 2. God seems to especially like the smell of burning fat, as it is a "sweet savour" to him. 3. If you touch something unclean (animal or bug or the "uncleanliness of man") then you will be unclean. 4. Moses dresses Aaron with the "curious girdle of the ephod" (similar to a loincloth or sword belt). 5. Jews are not to eat seafood because it is an "abomination." They can't even move the carcasses. 6. All four-legged fowls (which would be...?) are abominations. 7. So are all other four-legged flying creeping things (which would be...?). 8. Weasels, mice, turtles, ferrets, and chameleons are all unclean, even when dead. 9. Chapter 14 has some silly medical advice for lepers. 10. If it slithers, creeps on four feet, or has more than four feet you can't eat it. 11. If you masturbate or pull out too soon and get any sperm on yourself or your clothing, you are unclean. 12. Homosexual activity is an abomination. 13. Bestiality is "confusion." 14. Don't look at your naked relatives. And especially don't take their clothes off. 15. The fruit of freshly planted trees is "uncircumcised" and cannot be eaten for 3 years. 16. If you have a threesome with your wife and mother in law, you will all be burned. 17. Priests must take a virgin for a wife, but not profane their seed among the people. 18. Handicapped people can't go to church, even if it is just a "flat nose." 19. Men with damaged testicles can't go to church either. 20. God details the punishment for breaking these laws including animals that eat your children and forced cannibalism. I ask the readers.... do any of these make you giggle? Some of them are clearly quite silly. Indicative of a lack of common sense or sound judgment... Such sound judgment, keeping the flat-nosed people out of church. I'm still chuckling at this abbreviated list of the silly things in Leviticus...