marriage, cohabitation, and parenthood

Marriage, Cohabitation, and Parenthood

The YouTube video The Defenders made me think of the controversy surrounding Laura Schlessinger, radio talk-show therapist who offers advice to people who call in to her radio show. On her show she said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet:

Dear Dr. Laura,

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and 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 him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.

a) 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?

b) 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?

c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.

d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed 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?

e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

f) 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?

g) 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 some wiggle room here?

h) 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?

i) 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?

j) 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, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.

In terms of Patterson’s article on the family relationships of lesbians and gay men, I had no idea that so many studies had been done on lesbian and gay parents and their children due to judicial concerns such as “the psychological health and well-being of divorced lesbian mothers and their children compared with that of divorced heterosexual mothers and their children” (p.1050). Results of the studies are basically what I expected, showing little or no differences. But I guess that’s just our society; someone, some group, or some institution is bound to raise issues surrounding the ways of living which differ from the traditional way or the nuclear family. For example, as Patterson says, gay families may raise an issue in a case where a judge presides over custody disputes.

In Seltzers article about cohabitation and nonmarital childbearing, it seems that one great challenge is in keeping up with the rapid rise in the number of families forming outside of marriage. I have to say that almost all families I know were once/are formed within a marriage, however I am not surprised that it is becoming more and more common for people to no longer feel obligated to stick to the marriage tradition, whatever their reasons may be. I babysit for a family where the parents are not married, and I most certainly see them as a family, as more and more people would agree since it is more acceptable than ever before. I once asked the mother if they were planning on getting married, she informed me that the father wouldn’t mind getting married, however she says she is not interested and is perfectly content with the way things are.