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November 23, 2004A Question of ValuesThe phrase, “A Question of Values” reminds me of something from my college days, a symposium or something like that. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Whatever it was, it seems as if “A Question of Values” is something we need to thinking about. At Wooster, I started off a religion major and ended up becoming a philosophy major. Back then, I read a wide spectrum of magazines about Christianity from Christian Century, to Christianity Today to Sojourners. As people start talking about the ‘moral values’ that some polls say was such an important aspect of the past election, I was interested to read this article in Sojourners. It has a good exploration into what people really think about ‘moral values’, aided by this poll from Zogby. Zogby’s poll found that the most urgent moral problem in American culture was greed and materialism, followed by poverty and economic justice. All of this has been kicking around in my mind this week, as we prepare for Thanksgiving, and look forward to Christmas. As I surfed blogs, using BlogExplosion, which I highly recommend as a way of seeing many blogs outside of whatever political echo chamber one might reside in, I found this entry entitled Merry Consumerism.. So, where do I go with all of this? This Thanksgiving, I will be thankful for everyone who remains concerned about the greed and materialism that a culture of Consumerism and Corporatism is promoting, and I will rededicate myself to the struggle against this greed and materialism. Comments
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from you and understand why you would propose and support a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage. As you said "in the eyes of God marriage is based between a man a woman." I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination... End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them. 1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians? 2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her? 3. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is, my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them? 4. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. clearly states he should be put death, should I do it or should I ask the police to do it? 5. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Aren't there 'degrees' of abomination? 6. Lev.21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20 or is there a little wiggle room there? 7. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die? 8. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves? 9. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14) I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging. Originally posted by: Jock Gill Posted by: aRuss at November 23, 2004 10:52 PMPost a comment
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