There are two issues which have dominated the hard-core Christian right's thoughts in recent years - abortion and homosexuality. This has played a very large role in their refusing to vote for Democratic candidates and instead opting to support the pro-life, anti-gay marriage Republican candidates. The two phrases which have been repeated by them more than "Go team!" by a group of high school cheerleaders suffering from a combination Alzheimer's and Tourette's Syndrome are "They're baby-killers" and "homosexuality is an abomination!" Yeah, because if a person is pro-choice and supports a woman's right to choose what she does with her body post-pregnancy, then obviously this person supports the killing of babies. It's just like if they support people's right to eat what they please (within reason, that is...), they're obviously animal-killers.
The reason many of them seem so insistent homosexuality being an abomination is due to a couple of passages in the book of Leviticus in The Bible.
In Leviticus 18:22, it states, "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination."
In Leviticus 20:13, it's written that, "If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death, their blood is upon them."
I could argue that these quotes have been taken out of context or misinterpreted, but what fun would that be? What I find humorous is that there are 66 other "abominations" mentioned in The Bible. Why, oh why, do far-right conservative evangelicals focus on just this one? Is it because of how convenient it is to further their political agenda? They're unaware of the other 66 abominations? Perhaps because they've been preached to do so? Whatever the case, let's look at the facts at hand here. Now, I'm not going to say that homosexuality is an abomination (I don't believe it to be), but let's just suppose for a second that this is exactly what The Bible declares. Why should this "abomination" be separated from all the others as being the only one out of 67 which should be taken literally and carry with it eternal significance? Where's the consistency? If we go by many of these people's argument, which is, "It's an abomination. It says so in The Bible," wouldn't we have to treat the other 66 "abominations" similarly? Keeping that in mind, I'm going to list a few other biblical "abominations" and provide some commentary for each.
In Leviticus 11:10-19, it says, "But anything in the seas or the rivers that has not fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is an abomination to you. They shall remain an abomination to you; of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall have in abomination. Everything in the waters that has not fins and scales is an abomination to you."
"And these you shall have in abomination among the birds, they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey, the kite, the falcon according to its kind, every raven according to its kind, the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk according to its kind, the owl, the cormorant, the ibis, the water hen, the pelican, the carrion vulture, the stork, the heron according to its kind, the hoopoe, and the bat."
I did read a study somewhere in a dream I had one evening which said that, "100% of Christian conservatives are vegetarians," so that's good. I've also seen hundreds of such individuals protesting at Kentucky Fried Chicken's all across the country. Hmm... Speaking of which, I wonder if Rick Santorum has ever eaten chicken. If so, he's doomed!
In Leviticus 11:42, it reads, "Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, all the swarming things that swarm upon the earth, you shall not eat; for they are an abomination."
I'm from Nebraska, so I know how Americans love their beef. We even had an Arena Football team by the name of the Omaha Beef. Yeah, I think it's safe to say in light of the next natural disaster in this country, Pat Robertson will say, "This is God's punishment for all those beef-eaters in Nebraska! It's an abomination and this will continue until they stop eating beef!"
Moving on to the book of Isaiah 66:17, it's written that, "Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following the one in the midst of those who eat the flesh of pigs and rats and other abominable things--they will meet their end together, says the LORD."
Wow, we can't eat bacon either? Geez... Well, I guess all dogs don't go to heaven then. Also, no rats? That won't please New Yorkers any; that's for sure.
Moving away from food, let us go to Deuteronomy 22:5, where it says, "A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's garment; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God."
Well, this is nice. Drunk men can now tell women, "Off with your pants" and then say, "...for they are an abomination to God!"
In Proverbs 12:22, it says, "Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight."
Well, this is a relief. We're all safe, for no one has ever lied. I know I haven't. Crap. I'm screwed (and not in the good way).
If hard-core Christian conservatives learned about all of these biblical "abominations" and treated them similarly, it could make for an interesting discussion and difficult decision come election day. I'm thinking the conversation may go something like this:
George: "So, who are you voting for? I'm having trouble deciding."
Joseph: "Me too. I mean, I can't vote for Obama. He's all about gay stuff and that's an abomination."
George: "Yeah, I know. What about Romney, though? I saw him eating steak one time at an Outback restaurant. I can't vote for him either. What do you think, Chester?"
Chester: "I don't know. That Nader fella wore a skirt at a costume party in college one time, so he's out too. Who's that leave?"
Joseph: "Some guy named Johnson. Rumor has it he lied one time, though. He told his mom in high school he was at a friend's doing homework when he was in his treehouse reading The Bible. That's an abomination too, you know..."
George: "Well, this is depressing. Do you guys wanna go out and grab a burger?"
Chester: "Yeah, sure. That sounds good."
Joseph: "I'm in too. A burger never hurt anyone."
http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/abomination.htm
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