Here in the modern era, acceptance of others is upheld to the highest level by many on all levels of society. It is claimed that we have learned from the mistakes of the past. Many could cite the Civil War as an example, how we once treated Native Americans, or any other race for that matter. Still, I don't see it happening quickly enough. The latest debate? Gay marriage and civil unions.
The argument I hear again and again is one based out of Leviticus. Many in society scream about how we need to return to "Biblical values". But what are biblical values to be exact? Much of Leviticus talks of how women are little more than property, and calls for death for even the most ridiculous of infractions. Here, in writing, is what I speak of: "Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy. If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother, and his blood will be on his own head. If a man commits adultery with another man's wife--with the wife of his neighbor--both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death. If a man sleeps with his father's wife, he has dishonored his father. Both the man and the woman must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. If a man sleeps with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death. What they have done is a perversion; their blood will be on their own heads. If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. If a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is wicked. Both he and they must be burned in the fire, so that no wickedness will be among you. If a man has sexual relations with an animal, he must be put to death, and you must kill the animal. If a woman approaches an animal to have sexual relations with it, kill both the woman and the animal. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. If a man marries his sister, the daughter of either his father or his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They must be cut off before the eyes of their people. He has dishonored his sister and will be held responsible. If a man lies with a woman during her monthly period and has sexual relations with her, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has also uncovered it. Both of them must be cut off from their people. Do not have sexual relations with the sister of either your mother or your father, for that would dishonor a close relative; both of you would be held responsible. If a man sleeps with his aunt, he has dishonored his uncle. They will be held responsible; they will die childless. If a man marries his brother's wife, it is an act of impurity; he has dishonored his brother. They will be childless. Keep all my decrees and laws and follow them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out."
Think about what this says for a moment. This entire passage calls for death for adultery and homosexuality, while much of the rest of Leviticus deals with what you can and cannot do with respect to sacrifices, priesthood ordination, clothing, "skin" diseases, and even more insanely, how women are to be treated (which a simple reading will tell you that they are akin to property). Is this really what conservative christians want? For us to live according to Old Testament mythology? I find it incredible to believe that Conservative "Christians", if you can even call them as such, think that they have every right in the world to try and force their pre-modern beliefs down everyone's throat. I find it incredible to think that they believe Jesus actually condemned homosexuality when the truth of the matter is that he spoke nothing of the topic, whereareas Paul forcefully condemned it.
The point? We are facing a growing and very vocal segment of society that, if left ignored continously, will work their way into power. They care nothing of democracy, and care every bit about theocracy. Another way of putting it is this: tolerance does not simply exist for these individuals. To them, women are property, nothing more than breeding objects akin to animals. To them, race is an issue, whether or not they'll admit it - after all, at one point in history the Bible was used to justify slavery, and many Southerners I have met still see it that way. To them, homosexuals, bisexuals, lesbians, and transgendered persons are not even human, and thus deserving of death simply for the reason that they do not love someone of the opposite sex, but found love with someone from their own sex. To me, there is nothing wrong with that. To them, children are also property, to be used and abused as necessary in the pursuit of greed. To them, empathy, compassion and a desire to care for one's fellow persons are of no real concern - all, in their mind, are to be slaves to those who preach hatred and love of power through the clothed wording of religion.
We must be wary of this segment of society, for they are dangerous. They must be watched closely, lest they slip away unnoticed and seize power. For in their mind, freedom of religion only applies to them. Freedom of speech is rebelliousness "against God" (when the truth is that freedom of speech offends them simply because they can be called out as racist hypocrites by others who see their true colors). The remaining protections the Constitution affords all of us simply do not exist in their minds, either. It is not far fetched to think that these people would have anyone who went against their biblical values put to death. To them, tolerance, dissidence, open-mindedness and skepticism are all punishable by death.
Who are these people I speak of? Dominionists, and they are the gravest threat to democracy unlike any other in the history of the world. Keep watch, my friends, and keep the fight up against them.
The argument I hear again and again is one based out of Leviticus. Many in society scream about how we need to return to "Biblical values". But what are biblical values to be exact? Much of Leviticus talks of how women are little more than property, and calls for death for even the most ridiculous of infractions. Here, in writing, is what I speak of: "Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy. If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother, and his blood will be on his own head. If a man commits adultery with another man's wife--with the wife of his neighbor--both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death. If a man sleeps with his father's wife, he has dishonored his father. Both the man and the woman must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. If a man sleeps with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death. What they have done is a perversion; their blood will be on their own heads. If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. If a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is wicked. Both he and they must be burned in the fire, so that no wickedness will be among you. If a man has sexual relations with an animal, he must be put to death, and you must kill the animal. If a woman approaches an animal to have sexual relations with it, kill both the woman and the animal. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. If a man marries his sister, the daughter of either his father or his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They must be cut off before the eyes of their people. He has dishonored his sister and will be held responsible. If a man lies with a woman during her monthly period and has sexual relations with her, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has also uncovered it. Both of them must be cut off from their people. Do not have sexual relations with the sister of either your mother or your father, for that would dishonor a close relative; both of you would be held responsible. If a man sleeps with his aunt, he has dishonored his uncle. They will be held responsible; they will die childless. If a man marries his brother's wife, it is an act of impurity; he has dishonored his brother. They will be childless. Keep all my decrees and laws and follow them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out."
Think about what this says for a moment. This entire passage calls for death for adultery and homosexuality, while much of the rest of Leviticus deals with what you can and cannot do with respect to sacrifices, priesthood ordination, clothing, "skin" diseases, and even more insanely, how women are to be treated (which a simple reading will tell you that they are akin to property). Is this really what conservative christians want? For us to live according to Old Testament mythology? I find it incredible to believe that Conservative "Christians", if you can even call them as such, think that they have every right in the world to try and force their pre-modern beliefs down everyone's throat. I find it incredible to think that they believe Jesus actually condemned homosexuality when the truth of the matter is that he spoke nothing of the topic, whereareas Paul forcefully condemned it.
The point? We are facing a growing and very vocal segment of society that, if left ignored continously, will work their way into power. They care nothing of democracy, and care every bit about theocracy. Another way of putting it is this: tolerance does not simply exist for these individuals. To them, women are property, nothing more than breeding objects akin to animals. To them, race is an issue, whether or not they'll admit it - after all, at one point in history the Bible was used to justify slavery, and many Southerners I have met still see it that way. To them, homosexuals, bisexuals, lesbians, and transgendered persons are not even human, and thus deserving of death simply for the reason that they do not love someone of the opposite sex, but found love with someone from their own sex. To me, there is nothing wrong with that. To them, children are also property, to be used and abused as necessary in the pursuit of greed. To them, empathy, compassion and a desire to care for one's fellow persons are of no real concern - all, in their mind, are to be slaves to those who preach hatred and love of power through the clothed wording of religion.
We must be wary of this segment of society, for they are dangerous. They must be watched closely, lest they slip away unnoticed and seize power. For in their mind, freedom of religion only applies to them. Freedom of speech is rebelliousness "against God" (when the truth is that freedom of speech offends them simply because they can be called out as racist hypocrites by others who see their true colors). The remaining protections the Constitution affords all of us simply do not exist in their minds, either. It is not far fetched to think that these people would have anyone who went against their biblical values put to death. To them, tolerance, dissidence, open-mindedness and skepticism are all punishable by death.
Who are these people I speak of? Dominionists, and they are the gravest threat to democracy unlike any other in the history of the world. Keep watch, my friends, and keep the fight up against them.
kay:
springshunter:
Aww thanks!